Meeting of the Two Rivers

Every year I need to drive up Yoho Valley, to enjoy the great drive, to see the Takakkaw Falls and even more falls when hiking in this area. Beginning of the season, I’ll pop down to the confluence of Yoho and Kicking Horse Rivers. Spending an hour or two to enjoy watching the water and to see if I can get a few good pictures. The sound of the water passing through the area dominates all other sounds, except on occasion I might hear a train going by.

It was the middle of the day when I was there last. With the overcast sky, the conditions were perfect for long exposures. You tend to lose more details when directly the light the water. Much of the green water was thanks to the Yoho River, bringing in the rock flour from the glaciers, reflecting the beautiful colour. Yoho River coming in from the left.  Kicking Horse River is straight ahead in the picture, starting as an outlet at the nearby Wapta Lake.  A few days after I had taken the pictures, the melt water had kicked in, all the rocks in front of me were under the water. I got there just in time to safely enjoy and get the pictures I wanted.

Mistaya Canyon

Spent a quiet time at the Mistaya Canyon taking pictures. A popular place along 93 North, but during colder days not the case. There was enough ice and snow to give the area a winter look. After taking the pictures, I spent some time watching the water makes its way into the canyon and listen to the sound of rushing water.

Marble Canyon

I had popped into Kootenay National Park to look for Mountain Goats high up on the mountain side. I lucked out, spotting five goats, then I was off to Marble Canyon. There was lots of snow in Kootenay, in some areas hip deep. After looking around I decided I wanted to take picture of the mountains to the East. I did a quick ten meters walk in the deep snow so I could get the water in the foreground and took the picture.

Milky Water

Playing with water again behind the Bow Lake this time. Trying different long exposure at different angles to get a picture I like. 

Mistaya Canyon

I was up early and headed for 93 North, looking to take pictures. But the overcast weather changed those plans, it was time to head for Mistaya Canyon. A great place to be first thing in the morning, had the whole place to myself taking long exposures of the water. 

Marble Canyon

I was up early in the morning exploring and taking pictures at the Marble Canyon. Spent about an hour there, enjoyed the quietness of the morning , listening to the fast moving water and the sounds of few birds. The sky was clear, so decided just to focus on the water, rocks and the vegetation. Getting few pictures.

Mistaya Canyon

I was out shooting landscape pictures while exploring 93 North. I started with the sunrise and then with dark clouds moving in, I was able to shoot various falls throughout the day. I shot Mistaya Falls before the weather changed.

Until next moment,

Amar

Silverhorn Creek

I have to spend more time taking pictures of falls, every year I have plans but I just don't carry through. This is a small one, but I like the surrounding colours of the rocks that really help make this picture.

Until next moment,

Amar

Cavell Pond

We were hoping to walk up to the Cavell Pond located below the Ghost and Angel Glaciers. But the path was closed due to the possible danger of glacier calving and landing in the pond below. In summer of 2012, 60 percent of Ghost Glacier collapsed and ended up in the pond, causing a flood. So we took pictures from a safe place overlooking the area.

Until next moment

Amar

Marble Canyon

Amar

Every year during the snowmelt, I try make it to Marble Canyon to watch the falls and to take few pictures. I was joined by a friend, as we headed for the canyon in Kootenay NP dark clouds were gathering. Conditions were perfect for long exposures, water in full force, low light and background music provided by dippers. Got the pictures just in time, clouds opened up soon after the car left the parking lot. 

Until next moment,

Amar

Mistaya Canyon

There are few places in Banff National Park I like to visit over and over again. One of those is Mistaya Canyon, particularly when the snow is melting and lot of water is making its way through the canyon. That was the case when I was out there with a friend as the sun was rising.

Until next moment,

Amar

Upper Falls

Johnston Canyon is a fun and a popular place to hike, few days ago I was there about 6 am, had the whole trail to myself. After reaching the Lower Falls, a 1.1 km walk, I quickly hiked another 1.6km to the Upper Falls. Did not even try to take pictures from the base of this fall, too much water being sprayed in my face. Even from the view top of the fall, the mist was of concerned, but not enough to stop me from taking few pictures.

Until next moment,

Amar

Marble Canyon

Often I'll find myself enjoying the morning middle of the mountains, the sounds and the early morning views are very special. I was visiting the Marble Canyon to watch, listen and feel the power of melt water making its way through the canyon. Slowly made my way to the waterfall at the start or back of the canyon, depending on your perspective. Watched for several minutes, as well the two American Dippers who were there before me, flying in and out of the canyon. Then it was time to start taking pictures, with overcast sky,flowing water was going to play the main role. Moved around to get different views, stopped every few minutes to look around for any predators in the area. With the sound of water, I was not going to hear anything until something was right next to me. All went well, as it alway does, got my pictures and enjoyed another morning in the mountains

Until next moment,

Amar

Water and Rocks

As most morning when taking pictures, I have the whole area to myself. It was no different when I was visiting the Marble Canyon in Kootenay National Park. I just get a kick out of thinking how the water played a role building the mountains we enjoy and also plays a role breaking them down. The goal that morning was to include just the water and  limestone surrounding it. Just as its important deciding what to include, its also important deciding what not to include to get a interesting  image. After getting the images I was hopping for, I went for a hike in the valley.

Until next moment,

Amar

Mistaya Canyon

Few weeks back I had three days off in the row. What did I do, get up ay 3:30 AM, quick breakfast consisting of glass of juice and glass of milk with two bananas and I'm off to the car. I'm not a coffee drinker, so music is what I drink to wakes up the senses as I make my way into the mountains. As the morning starts getting brighter, dark outlines of the mountains is replaced with colours, getting excited as I start anticipating what I might come across. Never had a dull outing. When I'm just focused on photography, its me and nature, its what works for me when it comes to photography.  I like my brain and body to wander and interact with the surrounding. Mother nature always has something new to show me. Its a short walk to Mistaya Canyon, a quick 3 to 4 minute walk for me. But I ended up spending few hours exploring, talking this and other pictures.

Until next moment,

Amar

Small Falls

When I go back to an area I had been to before, I try to come up with a pictures that are different then the ones taken on my previous visits. Sometime the weather makes the process much easier, this time it was going to be about the water. I always have certain templates in my head for a picture, but far more fun being original. I was visiting Johnston Canyon early in the morning. As I was heading for the upper fall, I kept looking at the water to see what would work, it would be nice to include the fall colours. On the way back I started to take the pictures, along the way I would change lens to take pictures of the birds and the leaves that had their fall colours. But I would focus back to the water, to come up with a picture I had not taken before. I was able to and the added bonus of the fall colours.

Until next moment,

Amar

Marble Canyon

1993 was the year I moved to Banff, after about two weeks I knew where I would spent rest of my life. The mountains had hold of me and were not going to let me go. This hold, this connection has only gotten stronger over the years. I not only want to be surrounded by the Canadian Rockies, I also want to capture it with my camera. The more time passes from my last walk on a trail with my camera, the more my off balance I feel. 

 This was the case when over the last several days I was away form the Rockies for couple of reasons. On my day back, responsibilities kept me away form the trails, but I have made up for it since then. This morning I was up at 4:30 AM and off to Kootenay Park, to see Marble Canyon. Along the way I stopped to take pictures of the warm colours coming up with the sunrise, but it was the melt water I wanted to see at the canyon. As I made my way on the trail, sounds of Robins, White crowned Sparrows, Dark eyed Junkos kept me company. I reached my spot and the water was in full force, shaping its surrounding. Soon started to take pictures one after another as American Dipper went about feeding and picking up construction material for its nest. I was home.

Until next moment,

Amar