Few nights back the temperature was minus 30 degree celsius and the forecast was for the winds to pick up and take the temperature to minus 41. Perfect time for night photography. I put on as many layers as I could and then headed out. The plan was to take 16 thirty seconds consecutive exposures, then return home and combine them all together with the magic of software to create star trails. With first quarter of the moon out, not all the stars were going to be visible, which was what I wanted. What was a nice surprise were the low clouds, they add to the mood. After setting up the equipment and taking few test shots. I let the camera handle the rest while I did my best to stay warm by dancing in the dark. I should have called it a night after the last image, but I decided to play around more with few different locations and shots before heading home as the winds started to pick up.
Peyto Lake
After watching a beautiful sunset at Peyto lake, I then decided to sit down among the rocks and watch the sky get darker and the stars make an appearance. Only sounds I could hear as the brighter stars were making their appearance, was of the vehicles when they would go over the rumble strips on the road in the distance, the water making its way down from Peyto Glacier and more then likely a pika moving among the rocks near me in the dark. I was still able to see some of the warm colours from the setting sun in the distance, in the clouds and in the fire smoke from the west. In the sky I could also see a glow, just a hint of northern lights. Once my camera had taken the pictures I had planned, I packed up and and made my way to the car. Half way there, a small owl flew front of me. Nice way to end the trip.
Northern Lights
Less then a week ago the night sky was lit up with Northern Lights, they were so bright in Banff National Park, one could see them in the town of Banff surrounded by street lights. It seems like half of the town was up to watch, while the other half slept, only to find out in the morning what they missed. There are far more reliable place to watch Northern Lights in Canada, but that night you would have thought Banff was on that list. When you can look south and or stand in town and still see the lights, then it was a special night.. If you missed it, eat chocolate everyday until the next aurora borealis night.
Northern Lights
As soon as I stepped outside around 11 pm, I could see the flicking of light in the dark sky, the Northern Lights were dancing. After a quick drive, I was on a trail I walked more times then I can count. With light on my head and in hand, I stopped along the the section of the rivers that had the calm water to take pictures from, I was the only one there taking pictures. I wanted to avoid where the crowds were, but after few hours I head in that direction, hoping most had made their way home. I was right, I found a quite spot shared by one other, who was out there for the same reason, to watch nature's firework.
Until next moment.
Amar
Northern Lights
Few nights ago we had an amazing Northern Lights show in the park. The lights were visible as soon it was dark and continued most of the night. I spent time on both side of the Bow Valley taking pictures, at times the lights were visible any direction I looked. I only left for home when the show winded down, what a night.
Until next moment,
Amar
Mount Rundle and Star Trails
Was out again during the night taking pictures of the night sky, always helped by having some clouds in the sky and in this case also helped with light coming from the rising moon behind the clouds.
Until next moment,
Amar
Mount Rundle
It was a calm night, not too cold, stayed out there for over an hour watching the night sky and taking pictures. After the eyes became accustomed to the darkness, that's when the sky lights up with the stars.
Until next moment,
Amar
Mount Rundle
I was hoping to catch the Northern Lights, but the bright moon light played a role keeping the lights intensity down. Instead I came back with a night picture of Mount Rundle and Fairholme Rage lit up by the moon and a bonus, Jupiter in the night sky.
Until next moment,
Amar
Mount Rundle
Starting to take advantages of shorter days to get out and take pictures of nightscapes. Here is one of Mount Rundle under star trails.
Until next moment,
Amar
Moon
I was not able to take any pictures of the supermoon lunar eclipse because of the clouds, but I was able to get one of the moon the following night rising over Tunnel Mountain.
Until next moment,
Amar
Northern Lights over Peyto Lake
It was a good thing I had the following day off, because the night was short the northern lights did not become visible until well after mid-night and few hours later dawn was on its way. But before that took place, many of us got to see a beautiful light show in the sky, thanks to the Northern lights. One of the brightest moment was seeing a very bright shooting star, did not get a picture of it, but something my brain will never let me forget. Once I was finish shooting the lights, I though I get an hour of rest before getting pictures of the sunrise. I was too excited to get any rest, before I knew it I was looking for a different spot to take pictures of the sunrise around Peyto Lake. The sunrise was great as well, picture of that a another time.
Until next moment,
Amar
Milky Way over Banff
I was watching the Lunar Eclipse taking place when I looked toward my right. As the Earth's shadow started to cover the moon, I was starting to see the Milky Way. I had to modify my plans of just taking the pictures of the eclipse, our galaxy was coming into play. The darker it got the better I was able to see it, so after taking few pictures of the eclipse, I moved over twenty meters and grabbed few 30 seconds images of the Milky Way going over the town of Banff.
Until next moment,
Amar
Until next moment,
Amar
Mount Rundle and Star Trails
One time or another we all looked up toward the dark sky and tried to count the stars. Growing up in the city you would think there are not many, the city lights making it difficult except for the bright ones to be seen. Here in the Banff National Park all that changed, there seems to be no end to how many can be seen on a clear dark night. Just in our galaxy the Milky Way along a conservative estimate is that are at least hundred billion stars. Beyond Milky Way there are at least hundred billion more galaxies, that's lot of fingers needed to count them all.
Until next moment,
Amar
Mount Rundle at Night
It was a surreal feel to the night, thanks to bit of a fog and low clouds in the valley. The lights from the town doing their part lighting up the surrounding. And throw in a bit of Northern Lights colour, it all added to a dramatic look and feel.
Until next moment,
Amar
Mount Rundle
Was out enjoying the cool night while practicing taking pictures of star trails. Everything else about photography is the same, it's about trying to decide how the start trails can enhance the overall picture. It will be fun to see what I can come up with, there is no limit to photography and imagination. Looking forward to more trials and errors.
Until next moment,
Amar
Mount Rundle
Middle of the night, all bundle up and standing next to open water. Could just make out the northern lights to my right and the town light coming up front of me. The northern lights were not going to spread any further, so I just went about playing with the camera's setting and kept taking pictures. Playing with the sensitivity of the sensor and taking exposures 10 to 20 seconds long. When happy with the results, it was time to head for a warm bed.
Until next moment,
Amar
Mount Rundle
Days are getting shorter, providing lot of time to go out and take pictures in the night before bed time. Being cold, all you need is to throw on a few layers and grab a trusty headlamp. Oh yeah, need a camera and a tripod. Then set up the equipment, put it on manual and play with the setting until you start getting something interesting on the camera's display and go from there.
Until next moment,
Amar
Northern Lights
Few nights ago I was outside looking and taking pictures of Northern Lights. They were not as bright as I have seen other nights this year, but the camera's sensor was doing its magic.
Until next moment,
Amar
Northern Lights over Mtn Rundle
I thought I was heading for my bed, but an email came through, indicating there was a possibility of Northern Lights. Ten minutes later I was on my way out and another ten minutes more, I was taking pictures of Northern Lights. Even though the camera's sensor sees lot more then my naked eyes, the more my eyes got used to the night, the better the lights got.
Until next moment,
Amar
Northern Lights
We had a beautiful night in Banff, the sky was full of Northern Lights. The mind wanted to stay out but the body needed rest.
Until next moment,
Amar