Moose

When I decided to get serious about photography, the idea was to do something that would bring balance to life. A hobby (now my passion) that I could do on my spare time and a hobby I would have complete control over. I had a steep learning curve, being self-taught and inspired by nature. I have made my share of technical mistakes at the start, but it was all part of the process and I would not change anything.

 

One of my approach to nature photography that’s hard to understand for many and even more so with the way many of us connected through social media. Was to go out along when I want to take pictures. I feel it’s the main reason why my pictures got better and why I have a silly smile on my face most of the time. We all need a certain amount of solitude in life, a time with no human related distraction to solve life and work problems and to be fully aware of my surrounding and in my own way being creative. Even before I read the research, nature was bringing peace or a term that’s often used today, wellness. Nature photography bringing a smile to my face.

 

That was the case when I headed out on a cold morning, walking in knee deep snow. I came out of the trees and looked to my right, a moose calf was startled and moved closer to its mother. The mother looked at me for a few seconds, I decided to create some space between us. As I was moving away, I had an idea for a picture that would include the moose, trees, the Alpen glow in the sky and part of the snow covered river. The female moose and her calf were back to eating twigs and I was relaxed enjoying the morning. The heavy blanket of snow was also doing a great job keeping distracting sounds away. Made some setting adjustment and got the pictures I wanted. I had a smile on my face as I looked around, I had three options for a unique sunrise picture as well.

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Cascade Mountain

I don't have to go far to see nature. Over the years I have seen so much within km from my home. Just within 1000 meters from the spot I try to get 8 hours of sleep each night. I have seen over 100 species of birds, black bears, grizzlies, wolves, coyotes, foxes, a lynx and one evening a cougar while hiking down Tunnel Mtn. A frog, toad, salamander and a handful of fish, much of the time the fish were spotted in the mouths of a waterfowls. Various insects, all having an important role to play, even the ones who like to feed on our chocolate rich blood. Various, trees, shrubs, grasses and all those wildflowers. Still lots more, part of the families I have talked about and others I have not even mentioned. So much nature in such small space, let along the whole Banff National Park. Same goes for all those beautiful views, there is no end, this one was after two days of snowing.

Cascade Mountain

Castle Mtn

During the winter there are more or at least different options when trying to take pictures of the same mountain in the morning and the evening. The sunlight is coming from a different angle, thus different part of the mountain lights up first thing in the morning and same when the sun is setting. During the summer the open water may decide where I can go and not go to get the picture. But with colder temperatures, being careful, I can easily walk over the frozen water to gain different opportunities. In this case picture of Castle Mtn in the middle of winter.

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Sundogs

One of the reason I still venture outside on very cold days, is to see something I may not see other days. In this case it was seeing sundogs, I had been seeing them over number of days as the cold temperatures had settled in Banff. The day I got this picture, I went for a quick hike with the hopes of finding a spot where I could get a clear pictures of both sundogs. Once I got the picture, it was a quick walk back to the car before the cold air got to me. 

Sundogs

Cascade Mountain

When driving through the mountains I often comes across beautiful views from the road, I would tell myself I'll take that picture another time. I stop waiting for the next time and started taking those pictures as the opportunities come. I was returning on the Minnewanka Lake Road loop, Cascade Mtn and the surrounding looked great with the snow that fell the night before.

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Light and the Fog

The temperature was around minus 35 Celsius in the morning when I was out there looking for things to photography. I was hoping to come across wildlife or perhaps see something around the river that would be interesting. Wildlife opportunity came after I saw the fog that was created by the cold air moving over the much warmer running water in the Bow River. And I liked the way light was coming through the fog around the trees located next to the river. I grabbed few pictures until it got to0 cold, this one was my keeper.

Until next moment,

Amar

Light and the Fog

Cascade Mountain

Its always good to get back to landscape photography, that's where it all started for me many years ago.  Around the town of Banff there are two mountains that get most of the attention for landscape photography, Mount Rundle and Cascade. I have hundreds of pictures of Rundle but only in the tens for Cascade. In my effort to change that balance, I have been looking at different ways I can take pictures of Cascade. Cascade Mountain always looks better in winter, this one is during a sunrise

 

Until next moment, 

Amar

Cascade Mountain

Nature's Art

Nature was putting on a art show, the medium was ice. Using methane gas bubbles and crack to come up with unlimited variety of abstract images to look at. One could spend days and still not capture what was there. This picture is just a taste of what I saw.

Until next moment,

Amar

American Marten

The American marten, a North American member of the Mustelidae (the weasel family).  Sometime it's referred to as a pine marten, a name which came about from the slightly different Eurasian species of Martes. The Mustelidae family includes the very small  least weasels to the very large giant otters. The martens are entertaining to watch year around, this one was hanging out on a branch, keeping its eyes on me. More then likely it saw me first and made its way up the tree for safety. As much as I wanted to hang out and watch it, I'm sure it was hoping I would make my way so it could come down the tree and carry on with its business. I moved on.

Until next moment,

Amar

Near Helen Lake Trail

Most of my landscape pictures are taken with the light of a sunset or a sunrise. This low light produces a better contrast between shadow and light. Sunset and sunrise light is horizontal, parallel to the horizon, giving the landscape a three dimensional feel. The horizontal light also has to go through various layers of dust, haze and in some cases pollution. This reduces the intensity of the light, producing a softer look when it comes in contact with the landscape. The filtering of light going through various layers, removing much of the green and blue part of the visible light, leaving mainly the red part of the light, thereby producing light with warm look and feel. 

But with that said, the camera should not be put away between sunrise and sunset for landscape photography. In the winter the sunlight is hitting the northern hemisphere at a much lower angle then it would in the summer, producing a longer window for landscape photography. As well snow and rocks produce nice contrast between each other, contrast magnified when the colours are removed.

Until next moment,

Amar

Hoar Frost

Hot Springs, even on the coldest days the water runs, producing amazing hoar frost. Longer the cold lasts more amazing it looks, layer upon layer of frost. Earth is full of wonders and this is one of them. 

Until next moment,

Amar

Still Standing

It was early in the morning and the sunlight was starting to make its presence as I explored along the Vermilion River area in Kootenay National Park. There were clearly visible few days old bear tracks in the area, felt safe having my bear spray. Took few pictures as the light was coming down on Mount Verendrye. The river was starting to open up in the area with the several days of  above freezing temperature, stayed closed to the edge.

I was making my way toward Honeymoon Pass Trail as I enjoyed nature's ice sculptures along the river. Shortly after leaving the trailhead to head up the trail, I was surrounded by some of the 12.6% burned Kootenay National Park, caused by the fire that took place in the summer of 2003. I can still clearly remember driving through the area with a friend days after the fire had subsided by hard work from many and the changing weather. The once dominate forest green had given way to the grey colour everywhere we looked.

But fire is an important natural process of the ecosystem, takes life on one hand, giving back on the other.  Even on this day walking on knee to thigh high deep snow, among the standing dead trees, I could hear the sounds of wildlife and see tops of young pines that rely on fire to regenerate. Sun was starting to make an impact on the trail, I stopped to remove a layer before continuing my journey. On the trails my eyes were free to wander, taking in the visual images created by the light coming in contact with shapes and curves created by fire some seven years ago. I reached the location where I want to take my pictures I was hoping for. After taking in food and water, I went to work.

Until next moment,

Amar

Mount Chephren

I started the days adventure at upper Waterfowl Lake, with the goal to snowshoe to Mistaya Lake. Snowfall in the mountains has been below average this winter, but here along the Waputik Mountains below average is still enough to play with. But first thing first, need to capture the morning light. Standing on the east side o the lake, I started to take pictures of the mountains across the lake, as the light made its way toward the bottom of the valley.

It was a cool morning, I wanted to start moving and to get back some of the heat I lost taking the picture of the sunrise. Was hopping to head for the other side of the lake where the sunlight would be hitting soon, but was having way too much fun exploring the side of the lake I was on. Exploring places I wanted to come back to take pictures in winter and during the summer. 

I made my way toward the small section of the Mistaya River that connects Waterfowl Lake to the Mistaya Lake. Due to low temperature mist was rising from the open running water, visible from a distance as the the sunlight came in contact with it. Being careful to stay on solid surface as I walked along the running water, open in some area and covered by ice and snow in others. Water was cool and clear as the surrounding landscape reflected off the water. Walking with snowshoes, made it easier to walk on the snow and at the same time carry the camera on the tripod.

So many place to take pictures, would be great to return and capture the early light on the mountains being reflected in the water. I was seeing so many possibilities for pictures, every few steps produced a unique opportunity for pictures. I was so involved taking pictures of the landscape , did not the mountains were holding a surprise for around the corner. A surprise that heard me coming. To be contuined... .

Until next moment,

Amar