Stark and Rugged - Waterfowl Lake, Banff National Park

Mount Chephren and Waterfowl Lake, Icefields Parkway, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Over the past month, I have been posting some photos of the amazing lakes that line the Icefields Parkway in Alberta. It is hard to pick a favorite lake, as they all are different in their own way. This lake is Waterfowl Lake, and it is literally mere steps from the highway. What makes this lake different from the rest is the stark and rugged Mount Chephren in the background that dominates the scene. The mountain's original name was Pyramid Lake, but was renamed (after an Egyptian Pharaoh) because of confusion with Pyramid Mountain in Jasper National Park, a few hours to the north. 

We visited this location quite a number of times during our time in Banff. The scene can be dramatically different depending on the light, weather and sky. This image was taken when the skies were overcast, but the clouds were pretty decent and did not obscure the mountains peak. I scrambled down to the shoreline of the lake, where there were some great reeds that I felt would be a great foreground. Because of the light, I processed this in black and white, as it brings out the starkness of the scene. Click on the image itself to get a better look at the details in it.

 

And Now for Something Completely Different - Sagrada Família, Barcelona

Sagrada Família, Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is renowned for its unique architecture, and, when we visited there for the first time, we couldn't help being amazed. The diversity of the architecture is everywhere. The centerpiece of Barcelona's architecture is Sagrada Família (a Roman Catholic Church) that is not even finished,  despite the fact that the construction began in 1882. About a year after construction started, the famed architect Antoni Gaudi took over the project and design, combining Gothic and Art Nouveau design. Gaudi  worked on the church until his death in 1926. Final completion of the church is estimated to be in 2028.

Seeing it for the first time from a few blocks away, my first thought was that this is the biggest church I have ever seen, by far. The outside spires had so many cranes around it that they outnumbered the eighteen spires (you read that right) by a large margin. As we got closer to it, there are so many statues, intricate designs and nuances that it is hard to take it in. The designs are quite unique and, pardon the pun, a bit gaudy. In fact, most of the structure looks that way. That is why I shot this particular photo of the ceiling right as we walked through the front doors. It was one of the few parts of the church that did not have that intricate and garish look to it. I will post another image later this week of Sagrada Família's ceiling that will better display the uniqueness of the building.

Golden Glow - Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Door Trail, Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Just past the eastern entrance to Badlands National Park are a couple of trails that take you to some great sunrise locations. We were staying in one of the two motels near there (the eastern end is remote), so, on my first morning at the park, I headed out for a short drive to the trails. There is a very large parking lot there, and I headed out on the Deer Trail. The trail is actually only about a half-mile of boardwalk, and, at the end, there are stairs where you can walk in the surreal landscape. That is a must if you are going to photograph there.

There was only one other photographer there (it was mid-September), and I had my pick of locations. For this shot, I climbed up on one of the mounds, and just took in the formations, as the rising sun created this amazing orange glow to them. The blue sky and clouds gave a great color contrast to the scene.

Sailing into the Sunset - Key West, Florida

Mallory Square, Key West, Florida

Quick post and run today. This is a view from Mallory Square in Key West, Florida. For those of you who haven't been there, it is quite the party city. There is one street, Duvall Street, where most of the action occurs. Late in the day, as sunset approaches, people (and photographers like me), gather in Mallory Square to enjoy the sunset. 

The Astronomical Clock - Strasbourg, France

Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France

European architecture always fascinates me, especially the awesome cathedrals that almost every city seems to have. There are always surprises that await me when we tour them. On this particular trip, we took a river cruise on the Rhine River that originated in Amsterdam. One of the stops was in the town of Strasbourg, France, located in the Alsace region. It is quite a wonderful city, and I wish we had more than one day to spend there. 

As in most European cities, the dominating building is the Cathédrale Notre-Dame. You can see it's spires from just about anywhere. Of course, I had to go in and take a few shots. Unfortunately, it seemed like every tourist within a mile was in the cathedral when I was. I noticed this huge crowd in the corner waiting for the Astronomical Clock to begin it's procession of the figures of Christ and the Apostles. I was able to inch in and capture this procession, which starts daily at half past midday. 

Dying Leaves - Lake Waramaug State Park, Connecticut

Lake Waramaug State Park, Kent, Connecticut

Almost can't believe that we are halfway through the summer already. When I was browsing through my Lightroom catalog looking for images to edit, I came across this shot that reminded me of how fast this summer has sped by. Before you know it, the Connecticut countryside will be lit with the bright colors of dying leaves. This photo is from one of my favorite locations during foliage season, Lake Waramaug State Park. Located about an hour from my house, I can always take a run out there to see if the foliage is peaking. It is a very pleasant drive, and I have often driven there a few weeks in a row to get the best of the fall colors. This particular area is actually just around the corner from the park and is privately owned. The property is large and I wish that I had the run of the place to photograph it. Perhaps one day, I will get the courage to drive the very long driveway, knock on the door, and ask permission.

Spiral - Hunting Island Lighthouse, South Carolina

Hunting Island Lighthouse, Hunting Island, South Carolina

For those of you who have followed my blog for a while, you know of my love for lighthouses. As soon as I start to plan a trip, one of the first things I do is to see if there is a lighthouse anywhere within driving distance. So when we planned a trip to Hilton Head, South Carolina, last year, I found the Hunting Island Lighthouse was only an hour away. Located in a state park, it is the only publicly accessible lighthouse in South Carolina. For a minimal fee, visitors can climb the 167 steps (almost 140 feet) to the top. This photo shows the view from the bottom of the climb.

The lighthouse was originally built in 1859, but was destroyed during the Civil War. It was rebuilt in 1875. Due to severe beach erosion, it was relocated about 1 mile away from the original site, thanks to it's unique "segmented cast-iron" construction that allowed it to be moved in pieces. Although it is not operational today, when it was, the light could be seen from 17 miles away.

Peyto Lake Beauty - Icefields Parkway, Banff National Park

Icefields Parkway, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

By now you are probably getting tired of seeing images from my trip to Alberta a couple of weeks ago. I will be going back to varying my postings to include different locations, starting tomorrow. Today, however, is a different story. This uniquely shaped lake (It sort of looks like Italy from above) is Peyto Lake, and it can be found just off of the Icefields Parkway north of Lake Louise. Besides its unique shape, many may wonder if the lake is really that color (it is). The turquoise color is caused by suspended rock particles from glacier melt. This view is from Bow Summit and is arguably one of Alberta's iconic views. 

I have shot from this location at sunrise, mid-day, and sunset, and  I have come to the conclusion that mid-day (when I shot this photo) is the best time to shoot Peyto. At sunrise, the valley is too dark, and, at sunset, the glare shooting into the sun is not ideal. The mid-day light, as can be seen in this photo, lights up the valley wonderfully. 

Canoes for Rent - Lake Louise, Banff National Park

Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

It just occurred to me that I have blogged three posts this week that featured canoes. It was not intentional, but there was probably something in my subconscious. Anyway, when we got to Lake Louise, it was mid-morning, and the crowds were out in force. We knew we were in trouble just by the number of tour buses in the parking lot. After surveying the lake, it was clear that there were few places that wouldn't have hundreds of people in the shot. From my stay there in 2006, I knew that the best place to shoot was by the boat house. I quickly headed there, and the boats were being rented out at a frantic pace. There were only six canoes left to be rented, and I knew I had little time to capture them before they were gobbled up. I quickly shot off a few brackets and before I knew it, they were gone.

For those wanting to capture the lake, glacier, Chateau and mountains without the crowds, my suggestion is to either stay at the Chateau (quite pricy) or get up quite early in Banff and get there at sunrise. Having stayed at the Chateau my last time in Banff, if you are there at dawn, you practically have the lake to yourself.

Leisurely Afternoon - Emerald Lake, Yoho National Park, BC

Emerald Lake, Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Canada

A quick writeup today on our visit to Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park. Emerald Lake is located in British Columbia about 40 minutes west of Lake Louise, Alberta. To get there, you drive over the Continental Divide and it is well worth the time to visit. The color of the lake is deep emerald (hence its name), and when we got there, it was quite crowded. The time of day wasn't the greatest for photography, and the lake's surface was quite rippled. Despite that, it was still a beautiful place to visit. I decided the best way to capture the lake was by shooting visitors doing what they come here to do: rent a canoe and spend a leisurely afternoon paddling the lake taking in the surrounding beauty.

Town of Banff View - Banff National Park, Alberta

View from Mount Norquay, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

When I tell people that one of my favorite destinations is Banff, they often ask me where it is and why do I like it so much. One of the ways to explain it is to talk about Banff's location and history. Banff is not really that old as far as history goes. It was founded in the early 1880s when the Canadian Pacific Railway was built through the Bow Valley. The name Banff was given to it by the president of the railroad, who was born in Banff, Scotland.

Banff is situated in the Canadian Rockies and is at the second highest elevation in Alberta. It is surrounded by mountains, lakes, waterfalls, hot springs and all of the other beauty that nature provides. Banff became a municipality, and is the first Canadian municipality to be located in a Canadian national park (Banff National Park was formed in 1885). The town is surrounded by mountains (Sulphur Mountain, Mount Norquay, Mount Rundle and Cascade Mountain). There are two rivers that flow through it (Spray and Bow); one waterfall (Bow Falls) and numerous lakes (most notably the Vermilion Lakes). For these reasons, Banff has become a huge resort destination, and the people visiting this small town have grown greatly since I first visited it in the mid-1990s.

One of the best compositions that gives an idea of what surrounds the town is this one, shot from Mount Norquay. It shows the town (not very large by town standards), with Mount Rundle towering over it on the left. The clouds were great in this early evening shot and hopefully it conveys why this is one of my favorite destinations.

Nice Rack - Bull Elk, Town of Banff, Banff National Park

Bull Elk, Banff Townsite, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Most photographers will tell you to have a camera with you at all times, as you will never miss a shot if one happens to appear in front of you. It is the unexpected photo opportunity that you will always remember the most. Just like this occasion, when we encountered this bull elk. First a little background. Jeff Clow and I had just finished our shooting together--five days of intense shooting. Jeff was heading home the next day and I, being a glutton for sleep deprivation, was heading north to Jasper for another three days of shooting by myself. We were heading to our hotel, and, as we passed the train station in the town of Banff, we spotted this bull elk sitting in the weeds. Being very careful (these animals are big and fast), we dug out our cameras that were put away for the day and began taking photos of this beautiful specimen. After about 15 minutes (it seemed a lot longer), the elk got up to graze a bit. I inched up behind a tree and was able to get this shot. I know he saw me with my head and camera sticking out from behind the tree, but, thankfully, he was more interested in munching on the very delectable (at least for elks) dandelions in the field.

Iconic Moraine - Moraine Lake, Banff National Park

Moraine Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Moraine Lake is a great photo destination that every photographer should visit. The lake is 16 kilometers from Lake Louise, which is more well known, but, in my humble opinion, it can't hold a candle to Moraine. One of the reasons is that Moraine is located in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, which tower around it.

As a photographer, there are four things that you wish for when shooting there: 1) great light; 2) still water for a reflection of the mountains in the lake; 3) enough clouds in the sky to add interest to it; and 4) a good foreground element. On my trip to Banff last month, despite visiting several times, I never got to shoot with all four elements present. The one I missed every day was the still water. I think the photography gods were not smiling down on me, as on the last day of my stay in Banff, I got to the lake and all four were there. I quickly hiked the trail to the top of the "rock pile", and, in the short 10 minutes it took to get there, ripples appeared across the lake.

Although dismayed, I composed this image and minimized the lake's surface. I took advantage (as so many photographers have before me), and used the great color of the canoes to anchor the shot.

Torrent - Athabasca Falls, Jasper National Park

Athabasca Falls, Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

There are two waterfalls that can be found within walking distance along the Icefields Parkway in Jasper National Park. One of those is Athabasca Falls, pictured in this image. The falls are located about 18 miles south of the town of Jasper, and are known for the amount of water that quickly flows from the Athabasca River. There are a number of viewing platforms where visitors can get close and see (and hear) the speed and force that is generated. 

I stopped here as I made my way from Banff to Jasper. I had taken about three shots when the heavens opened up and I headed back to my car. Undeterred, I returned the next day when the weather improved. I knew that to capture the falls properly, long exposure was called for. I popped on a 6-stop ND filter and began photographing. When trying to get the "right" exposure to get that silky smooth effect, I would suggest experimenting with the aperture. It is more of a hit or miss approach but if you take enough shots with different apertures, you will get one that works for you. Don't rely on your camera's LCD screen--just experiment.

I processed this in black and white as I find these type of shots look better, especially when there isn't a lot of color anyway.  For the best look at the image, look at it on a black background by clicking on the photo. 

Yoho Dining - Yoho National Park, British Columbia

Cilantro Café, Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Canada

When shooting for 12 hours a day, there are times when the light just isn't right and it is time to get some fuel in the form of food. We had stopped at Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park to photograph this pristine lake. At the right time, the emerald color is magnificent. Unfortunately for us, the light was not good, and, to make matters worse, the lake's surface was fully rippled, which eliminated any reflections.

Being around lunch time, we headed toward the only dining option in the area, the Cilantro Café. As we walked toward the restaurant door, I looked up and spotted this reflection in the windows. 

Trailer Park View - Canmore, Alberta

The Three Sisters, Canmore, Alberta

Yesterday, I had a little fun at Jeff Clow's expense, and today I mean to make up for it. I have known Jeff online since 2007, when I joined Flickr. He is quite the photographer and has quite a few followers there (and on other social media) and rightly so - his photography is superb. I knew he ran a photo tour business and I finally signed up for one of his tours last July. To say the experience was great would be an understatement (I have been on two more since). Jeff has a way of engaging all of the tour participants, no matter what level of skill, and makes them feel comfortable. At the end of the tour, I headed out to Yellowstone National Park on my own, while Jeff had a second tour in Grand Teton National Park. At the end of my visit to Yellowstone, I headed back to Jackson and just happened to run into Jeff at the hotel. He had just finished his second tour, and he was talking to the hotel clerk, who told him that there were eagles sighted about a half hour south of Jackson. Without pause, Jeff turned to me as I was checking in and said, "Hey, do you want to join me?" Of course I said yes and off we went exploring. During the rest of the afternoon and evening we bonded. I found out a lot about him and he found out a lot about me. It was a great experience. The one thing I learned about Jeff is that he is quite curious and is always looking for new locations for he and his clients to shoot. Suffice to say, I highly recommend Jeff's photo tours. To access his tours click on this link.

This brings me to today's photo. Jeff had stayed in Canmore the day prior to me arriving in Banff. There is not much in Canmore except for the mountains known as the Three Sisters. Of course, he spent some time in Canmore trying to find a place to photograph it at its best. Fast forward to our last evening together. We were planning to shoot around the town of Banff, but the weather was quite threatening with dark clouds looming. He suggested that we head south to Canmore and maybe get a few shots of the Three Sisters before the storm hit. As we were driving in town, he abruptly made a right turn, and we found ourselves in the middle of this big trailer park. It is this kind of curiosity that I love about Jeff.  After passing a number of big trailers with no decent view of the mountains, we decided to look elsewhere. Just as we were leaving, we spotted an opening. It might have been just an empty lot, but when we got out of the car, this was the scene ahead of us. Had I not told this story, you wouldn't have known that there was this trailer park and storm clouds behind us by looking at this photo. Please keep our secret, okay?

Road Shot - Icefields Parkway, Alberta

Icefields Parkway, Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

Whenever I am shooting with my buddy Jeff Clow, one thing is for sure. We are going to shoot a bunch of road shots. Jeff is the Jedi Master of this type of shot and he is known for them. I don't know how many he has sold, but I know it is more than a few. I was planning to count the number of times we pulled over to take these shots but, to be quite honest, I ran out of fingers and toes.

Jeff has a few "rules" that he likes to follow. First, the road must be straight.  I agree, but I also like roads that curve. He was reluctant to shoot a curved road, but I think I actually thought I saw him do one. Second, there must be something at the end of the road worth seeing (I agree with that). Third, you should shoot from the middle of the road from different heights (eye level, halfway to the ground and laying on the ground). I usually follow this rule, but have been known to also shoot from the  side of the road, depending on the road. Fourth, there should be some vehicle in the road to give the image some scale. I don't always do this but I understand the benefits. Finally, and most importantly, always have a spotter with you when shooting road shots. Cars travel the road quite quickly and no photo is worth getting hurt for.

For those of you that have followed along, I wrote this with my tongue firmly against my cheek. Jeff has no idea I am posting this and I just wanted to have a little fun with him. Seriously, following these "rules" will definitely make your road shots better, but, don't forget, rules are made to be broken.

Rocky Mountain Ruggedness - Jasper National Park, Alberta

Columbia Icefields, Icefields Parkway, Jasper National Park

Of all of the drives I have been on, there are none more spectacular than the Icefields Parkway in Alberta. The road starts just north of Lake Louise in Banff National Park, and traverses through the heart of the Canadian Rockies for 143 miles until it reaches it's end in Jasper National Park. Along the way there is everything a landscape photographer would want:

  • Towering mountains covered in snow and ice.
  • Pristine lakes fed by snow melt that have such color they almost seem unnatural.
  • Glaciers and icefields wherever you look, and even one that you can walk on.
  • Waterfalls that rush by like New York City traffic.
  • Hikes that transport you to places that you do not want to leave,.

So, have I whetted your appetite yet? That is why, as soon as I leave Alberta, I want to go back. There is so much to explore and see, and the seasons and weather bring different looks and feels to the landscape.

This image was taken along a stretch of the parkway just north of the Columbian Icefields. I think it is a great representation of the drive and gives one an idea of what driving it is like. I processed this in black and white, as I felt it makes the ruggedness of the mountains and the parkway itself stand out more. For the best look at the image, look at it on a black background by clicking on the photo. 

Oh What a Beautiful Morning - Banff National Park

Herbert Lake, Icefields Parkway, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

The title of this blog post came from the old song of the same name. It aptly describes my feeling and mood when we set out before dawn and headed up the Icefields Parkway. The drive from the town of Banff to Lake Louise is about 40 minutes, and, while it has very nice scenery, it doesn't have the star power of the Icefields Parkway. About three kilometers north of Lake Louise, the first magical landscape emerges, and that is little Herbert Lake pictured in this image. It is literally three feet off the road. You might drive past it, and, if you weren't paying attention, miss it completely. 

This is a sunrise location, when the sun begins to glow off the mountain peaks. If you are lucky, like Jeff Clow and I were this morning, the water is glass-like and gives you a beautiful reflection. This is a panorama taken with the Sony A7 with it's automatic pano feature. While the quality is not up to the standards of doing a proper panorama, it sure is easier and less time consuming. It works by taking about 10-20 photos, stitches them together in camera, and then produces a JPEG file. The one thing I wished it did was save all of the separate files that make up the panorama so that they could be put together in Photoshop.

This was the first morning Jeff and I shot and was a portent of what was to come in the following days.

A True Kodak Moment - Spirit Island, Jasper National Park

This very small island located on the southern shore of Maligne Lake is one of the most iconic and most photographed subjects in the Canadian Rockies. I am sure many of you have seen photos of it but didn't know where it was. How did this tiny island get so famous? We can thank Eastman Kodak. As part of a marketing effort, Kodak sent out one of their photographers, Peter Gales, to find remote locations that would help promote the sale of their film. He stumbled upon the island, which was only reachable by boat. His image became part of Kodak's Colorama display (larger than life photos in Grand Central Station). Over the more than 40 years that it hung there, millions upon millions of people viewed the photo.

To photograph it today, you have three choices. First, you can rent a kayak and paddle most of the day just to reach the island. You can either paddle back that night or camp out (with a permit). This is the best way to photograph it during great light. Second, you can take a boat tour that goes for 1.5 hours, but you only get 15 minutes at the island to photograph it before heading back to the boat. Lastly, they offer a photographer's tour (must be relatively new as it wasn't available last time I was here in 2006) that lasts for 2.5 hours, giving you plenty of time to shoot the island. You know which one I was up for (and it wasn't paddling all day and night). Of course, when I went to book the photographer's tour, I found out that it wasn't offered in June and so I had to get as many shots as I could in my allotted 15 minutes.

Regardless of how much time you have, I would highly recommend a visit to the island. I know the next time I go there, it will definitely be in July.