Fall Colours

This hike to Healy Pass started on a cold morning, half an hour before the sunrise. After a few hundred meters in, the leg settled into a rhythm that would be maintained until I reached the pass I was aiming for. Only stopping to remove the shell and the fleece. Much of the hike was in the woodland, with each step I was anticipating the view I was going to have if the overcast sky let some light in. The woods were quiet, on the steep sections I could almost hear my heart beating. But I was feeling relaxed, the body was in the zone as the mind was focused on the surprise higher up. A kilometre or more from the top, the vegetation on either side of the trail was covered with a few centimetres of snow. I looked down on the trail, for the first time that morning I saw evidence that someone had stepped on the tail before me. 

 

On closer inspection, I realized a bear with two cubs had gone across the trail. The tracks were fresh, still soft to the touch. I looked in the direction they had gone, the view was obstructed with scattered larch trees. The trail I was on went well above their racks, I hoped perhaps I would see them from above. I kept looking for the family as I went up and across. No luck seeing them, but after a few hours of hiking that beautiful morning, I had the view in front of me that I had hoped for. 

Massive Range

On a cold morning I started walking on the Bow Valley Parkway. A section of the road that saw a lot of hikers and bikers over the summer, as it was closed to the vehicles as part of the COVID 19 restrictions. Walking is my preference when nature photography is on the mind, on foot I can see and hear more of what’s around me and quickly stop to take out the camera and hopefully get the picture. I picked up my pace to get the body warmed up. About a kilometre in I had to remove a layer. I have driven on this road more times than I can count, I tend to avoid the Trans Canada Highway, more to enjoy when the goal is not get from point A to b as fast as you can.

 

Not being on the BVP for over six months, it felt good walking on it. I know every section of the road and areas I like to explore by foot. I was making good time. There were various tracks in the snow and other evidence of wildlife that had moved through the areas I was walking by. Stopped to take pictures of birds I came across and others like the Bald Eagle, I just watched as it flew well above me. I came across grizzly bear tracks, it was heading in the same direction as me but about 24 hours ahead. I had some idea which large male it might be, a few hours later it was confirmed. But that’s a story for another time.

 

I was looking at the Massive Range, getting different views as I walked west on the road. The light was great and the snow covered peaks were hard to look away from. With the lack of wind that morning, my hope was to reach a certain bend in the Bow River, where if conditions stayed the same, it would provide me with the picture I wanted. I got there, the water was calm, I was looking at a beautiful fall landscape scene in front of me, which I thought would look great in black and white.

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Snowflake

Last winter I found an another way to enjoy snow, snowflake photography.  Most snowflakes are 1.3cm or less in size, come in many different shapes. I’m focused on the six sided snowflakes, the ones we think of during winter and even more during the holiday season. Bigger they are, easier to take their picture, but when I took this image, most were about 5mm or smaller. It was late morning and I was near the town of Banff, the temperature was just under minus 10 degrees Celsius and graupel was falling. Graupel is snow that looks like small white grain of sand. So I decided to head toward Lake Louise, part way there I stopped at a pull off. It was a few degrees colder, even better, gave me more time to locate and take a picture of the snowflakes before they had a chance to change. There I was next to my car, letting the snow fall on a glove liner. When I saw an interesting snowflake I would try to locate it with a hand held camera and micro lens combination. It’s a different but equally beautiful world. I had to make very small movements, I only had a millimetre or two of depth focus to work with. With this snowflake I took several pictures and still was not able to get everything in focus. Looking forward to many hours of practice, to improve my technique and as well my composition. But for now, here’s my first picture of a snowflake to share with you, a stellar dendrite.

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Mount Massive

You think by now I would chill when seeing a sunrise, I’m starting to understand that may never happen. Even on mornings when I can’t be outside, I’ll have a look to see what I’m missing. A few weeks back I stepped outside and can see the sky was going to light up. No vehicle was involved, I needed to get to a spot by foot that would get me an acceptable image.  When walking around town, there’s always a chance I’m going to meet people I know and thankfully they are understanding when I tell them I trying to get a picture. That was the case that morning as one was going to work another walking her dog and others who I know less getting a quick nod. I reached spot one, the clouds were red, but I did not like the foreground. I walked another 300 meters, with no open water in sight I focused on the trees, mountains and the beautiful sky. Another great start to the day.

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Ice Bubbles

I can honestly say I have never gotten tired of nature photography, with so much to choose from, there is always something to take pictures of and each season brings different opportunities. But I also want to keep growing as a photographer. So over the winter I started to look for the smaller pictures I was passing by. It’s hard at first, but it has and will get easier trying to find a picture with just some rocks and ice and snow, or instead of the whole forest from a distance, getting close and having only just few trees in the picture, or a single one from a distance. 

A couple of days before warm weather arrived I was on a small patch of open ice on the Bow River. The section was roughly 3 meters by 6, the ice was full of cracks with various shapes of ice bubbles.  Again, where ever below the water organic material is breaking down, there is a good chance methane gas is bubbling up and during winter getting trapped. It was very relaxing hour spend looking down at the ice and coming up with what I thought would make a good abstract image. Knowing the ice was solid, I was relaxed and spent a good hour getting different compositions, attached is my favorite. Art by nature, photo my moi.

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Bow Valley

Just a couple of weeks ago the leaves belonging to Trembling Aspen and Balsam Poplar were starting to turn colour. Since then we had a few snow storms and several minus temperature nights, resulting in many of the leaves ending up on the ground.

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93 North

Few weeks ago the fall colours started to appear. With the overcast weather and rain it has been a challenge getting pictures of the colours. That changed couple of days ago and more opportunities to come.

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Northern Lights

Last week Wednesday night the bright Northern Lights covered much of the sky for a short period of time. As soon as I stepped outside, the lights were clearly visible in town, even with the Banff street lights. I decided that was the night I was going to take pictures of the Northern Light from town. Went to few location including next to the Bow River. The brightness from the town lights  made it difficult getting the reflection on the water of the lightsbut I was able to for some of the stars, including the  big dipper. It was a night losing some sleep over.

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Cascade to Rundle

When you live in the town of Banff and can't get away, beautiful sunrises are  not far away. I was in between things and decided to take a break and watch the sunset from the town. I was standing on the frozen Bow River trying to come up with a interesting composition, front of me the sky was on fire. So I decided to capture as much of the view as possible. Took several pictures from left to right and then created this panorama of a beautiful sunrise.  

 

Until next moment, 
Amar

Cascade to Rundle

Johnston Canyon

Johnston Canyon is one of the busier place in Banff NP, but being there early in the morning I had more for less the place to myself. I was out there to take pictures of the falls, here is the lower falls.

Until next moment,

Amar

Johnston Canyon

Mount Rundle

I spent very little time in 2015 taking pictures of the sunrises and sunsets from the Vermilion Lakes, 2016 is about making up that time. This pictures of a sunset from few days ago.

Until next moment,

Amar

Mount Rundle

Moon

It was a cold morning and I was waiting for the moon to just get into the position when it was just starting to go back of the Sawback Range. As I waited I was deciding how to compose the images, what to include and what not to. Then took I took the picture when the moon was in the position.

Until next moment,

Amar

Moon

Fall Colours

I have been busy taking picture of the fall colours, here are the colours produced by a trembling aspen leaves. I can never get enough of the colours, where ever I go I'm looking out for them. In this case I was hiking to a lake and when I spotted this small aspen tree with beautiful colours on the leaves. Took my camera to take few pictures and then I was on my way.

Until next moment,

Amar

Fall Colours

Great Blue Heron

It was one of those fun morning, when you get up at 4am on your day off and be out before the sunrise looking for birds. By the time the light was in the sky, I had a Great Blue Heron to the right of me, various water fowls in front and warblers, sparrows and flycatchers behind me. I was being entertained by their calls and by their movements. With no bird blind, it helped I was out there along, after few minutes they all ignored me and they went about their morning business. After less then an hour I had several hundred images, I was in the zone. The hard part was deciding what picture to take first, birds in air, perched or in water. Kept taking all the possible images until the memory card felt heavy from all those bird pictures. 

Until next moment, 

Amar

 

 

Ring-necked Duck

I do have lot of fun when I am taking pictures of birds. They come in so many shape and sizes and in so many colours. When I take their picture, I want to show their beauty and the wonderful surrounding they are found in.

Until next moment,

Amar