Storm Mountain is located on the continental divide in the Bow Valley. It shares the boundary with Kootenay National Park and Banff National Park. I have never scrambled to the top but have enjoyed the hikes around the mountain. The last one was to Twin Lakes a few years back during the larch season. The mountain really stands out, thanks to its height (3,158 meters) and location. I’ll often look toward it in the morning for possible photo opportunities and whenever I can get to the mountain with the moon. For this image, I had forgotten to take a look at the mountain from a pull-off that gives a nice view of its Bow Valley facing side. A few minutes later, when I looked toward it, I realized I had to do a 180 to get the pictures of Storm Mountain. A black and white image was waiting for me at the pull-off.
Mount Rundle
Landscape photography, I find, is the most relaxing part of nature photography. I would go as far as saying it’s rather peaceful. It helps when I tend to look for spots with no one else around. That way, I can enjoy the sounds of nature while watching the scenery change and waiting for the sky or peaks to light up. Waiting and picking out the sounds of birds I can hear as my mind identifies them. That morning, thanks to all the spruce cones on the trees, crossbills were filling the air with their calls.
When I got to the parking lot for this image, no one else was in the area. I still went to a location where no one would follow. There were still twenty minutes to go before I thought the colours would pop on the clouds. There was one possible problem on that very windy morning. The ice I was standing on was not going anywhere, but the clouds were moving fast, heading east. The set of clouds that were there when I arrived, would be gone when the sunlight would hit them. But would the next set of clouds move into place? In the end, I missed out on the reds, but I did get the warm yellow colours to end the peaceful outing.
Lake Louise
Lake Louise was one of the first places I hiked in the Canadian Rockies and since then I have gone over all the trails a few times. It does not seem long ago when we would show up in the middle of the day and get parking and go for a hike. Now you have to plan ahead. I still like to hike there, at least once a year. For me, it's not just the landscape that’s the attraction, but the wildlife too. I have been able to see large megafauna, the likes of goats and bears. As well, seeing birds and smaller mammals, including coming across a porcupine sticking its head out of the den. The day this picture was taken. I might have been the only one taking pictures of Cliff Swallows, flying and catching insects just over the lake’s turquoise waters.
But the craziest adventure was when the three of us scrambled to the summit of Mount Niblock in July. Clouds moved in with snow, but we also heard a buzzing sound. We quickly realized it was an electrical cloud and quickly ran downward. One of us got a nice electrical shock to the head, other than that, we were safe. We watched the clouds move away, followed by blue skies when we reached a safe spot. We then headed for Mount Whyte's summit. The best part of that day was descending toward the Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House. We slid on a long patch of snow leftover from the previous winter. A much bigger patch of snow is waiting for this hiking season.
Fairholme Range
Having patience is a big part of nature photography, but staying composed while dealing with the elements also plays a big role. That was the case when I got this sunrise picture. It was a cold morning with heavy winds blowing snow over the frozen lake. I was taking small steps on the open ice so as not to slip and I tried not to face the wind to keep warm. After being out there for half an hour and after the bright part of the sunrise, the light was getting softer but I still wanted to take one more picture. The hands were cold and the toes were making their way in that direction as I searched for a different foreground. I noticed the tracks in the snow, they belonged to the wolf pack, they were about a week old. The light was fading, so quickly I set up the equipment and then composed the shot. Another sunrise was enjoyed, followed by a walk to the warmth of the car.
Massive Range
For the last few hours of the day I was looking up toward the sky. If the last light got below the clouds, the whole sky was going to light up. Work came to an end, while everyone else were making their way to their vehicles, I headed for the nearby trails. I was starting to see what was coming, excited, I moved quickly. For the next half an hour I moved back and forth on a small section of the trail. It was not the ideal spot for sunset pictures that evening, but no time to walk anywhere else. I knew the area and I was going to get a few good pictures. The river ice was questionable that evening, so that removed some options. I took a few pictures looking northeast, and then looking east. But back of my head the big show was going to be to the west. The big ending to the day started. There was no interesting foreground, I knew that as soon I had hit the trail. But the sky looked amazing, it was going to be the highlight and below it the outline of the Massive Range. Keeping it simple was the way to go that evening.
One reason I enjoy nature photography is the way I feel inside as I’m watching something beautiful. It’s like a visual energy entering the eyes and going right into the brain and from there spreading to the rest of the body. I have no drug experience I can relate it to, other than, you guess it, good chocolate after a long hard hike. It does not matter if it’s a sunrise, sunset or flora or fauna. The hit always lasts longer than the moment and I can’t wait until the next one. Fifteen minutes after I took this picture, I was walking over the bridge with a visual high and looked west. Faded, there were still some colours in the sky. Even the sky did not want to forget that evening.
Mount Rundle
Originally I started taking pictures like most people, to remind me of the hike I had done and what I saw. Not much effort was made, the goal was to get a few quick pictures of the place and of friends I was hiking with. When it became a hobby, it was to motivate me to get out more. That was a big success, it's now harder to be inside, no matter the season. As I worked toward getting better and better pictures, I realized it was more likely to happen when I was out there on my own. No talking, just letting the mind wander until I saw a picture in front of me to take. From that I quickly figured out it was a great way to mentally relax. Nature photography not only provides me physical good health but also for mental health. I can even feel the difference when it's just for a few minutes. For example, watching a kinglet move from branch to branch in search of food. The world becomes small, it’s just about the bird, how it moves to find food.
So when life seems to be out of control, I head toward nature for balance. The more I do the better I feel. I have yet to overdose on this natural drug, I have come close with chocolate though. I tend to smile and laugh a lot, this makes for an easier life. Benefit of a healthy mind. This is the reason why I fully control where I take pictures, how I take pictures and why I take pictures. For me now, nature photography is a passion and I think we should all have a passion to keep us on a strong foundation.
When I took this image, it was a very cold windy morning. Holding onto the tripod with the camera on it, wandering on the frozen lake until I came across an image. I took the picture and repeated the process a few more times. The hands got a bit cold after I was done, but the rest of me felt great.
Tower Lake
Two years ago I reached the Tower Lake an hour after the sunrise during the larch season. But, with the overcast sky I was not able get the picture I hoped for. This year I was a km away and I could see the first light hitting the top of the tower, it was getting through the clouds and the lingering fire smoke east of me. But, the direct light was gone by the time I reached the lake. I set up the equipment on the tripod and moved to the location I wanted to take the picture from, with the hope the light was going return. I wanted for the light to not only hit the mountain, but also the larch trees with their golden needles below the tower. The light did arrive, but thanks to the clouds the light only touched the top of the mountain and the ground to light up the larch trees. Providing my first larch picture for the season.
Skoki Mountain
By far my favourite activity in the mountains is hiking. Some of the hikes I have had are better than others, but I have enjoyed all of them. Including this one where the larches were showing the fall colours.
Crowfoot Glacier
Another picture from one of my visit to 93 North. Spent much of the first half of the day taking pictures of various locations before going for a hike.
Mount Rundle
Just before taking this picture, not much light was getting through the heavy clouds and the light that did, had no warmth to it. After taking the picture, much of the light was gone and the wind picked up, taking the reflection with it. Nature photography is all about timing.
Mount Rundle
The last few weeks I have been spending lot of time around the Bow Valley, near the water. That's where many of the birds can be found, they are my main focus during the spring bird migration. But I do cheat. I was hanging out by the Vermilion Lakes, waiting for the sun to rise. Bird photography does not start until I have light, until then I can take pictures of the sunrises. There was a light breeze creating ripples in the water. I kept my fingers crossed the wind would stop. This time mother nature listened, the clouds lit up, water was clam and the mountains were covered with fresh snow in April.
Until next moment,
Amar
