Moraine Tranquility
1/3 sec, f/13, ISO 64
It has been 5 years since I first visited the Canadian Rockies. Within days of the first summer trip, despite mixed weather, I fell in love with the beauty of this region and have been coming back at least once a year ever since. Despite living on the other side of the continent, far from the mountains in the West, I've been fortunate to have spent a considerable amount of time here over the years, and to see the mountains in all four seasons - my favourite being summer and fall for their warmth and colours.
So I'd like to take the opportunity in this edition of the blog to share a few of my favourite images from some iconic locations in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta.
What better place to start than Moraine Lake! Sitting in the spectacular Valley of Ten Peaks, the shoreline of this beautiful lake offers views like no other in Banff National Park and is one of the most photographed locations in all of Canada. My most recent visit here was this past fall. We got up early on that mid-September morning to catch sunrise - one of the best places in the park to do so. It was quite chilly but the sky was completely clear. It's not every day that you get a clear view of the peaks at Moraine, not to mention calm enough waters to get a beautiful reflection of the mountains. As always, I started by taking the short hike up the Rockpile Trail to get this view of the valley with the first light touching the tops of the peaks. Once the sun was up, I went back down to the shore and made my way over to the boat dock, where I captured the first image with the canoes above.
Valley of Ten Peaks
1/3 sec, f/11, ISO 64
Next is a personal favourite of mine, back in Canmore, a place which was not so long ago this little town's best kept secret - now known as the Three Sisters Viewpoint at Policeman's Creek. I took this photograph in late September, as the autumn colours were coming into full swing, on a morning when the planet Jupiter was close to Earth and shining bright in the pre-dawn sky as seen here to the left of the Three Sisters peaks. It was a truly magical scene with the colourful foliage and pink-purple hues in the sky accentuating the iconic peaks.
Magic at Dawn
30 sec, f/8, ISO 400
Next, we're on the road north through Banff National Park on what is considered the most spectacular drive in Canada - the Icefields Parkway. A must stop along this road is Bow Lake. This view of Crowfoot Mountain at the shore of the lake, especially in fall colours, is nothing short of spectacular. I had initially come out here to catch sunrise but was not so lucky this time, with clouds covering the entire sky. However, some time into the morning the storm calmed somewhat and a few rays of light broke out from above, giving this ethereal glow on the mountain and colourful fall foliage in the foreground. A dramatic but beautiful scene.
Calm After the Storm
1/80 sec, f/10, ISO 160
In another corner of Banff, just off the road and a short walk along the rocky river shore lies this gem known as Castle Mountain. It can be seen from various angles as you drive on the highway through the park, but this particular spot is a favourite of mine. The pools of water occasionally found among the rocks along the shore of the Bow River can make for a beautiful reflection, if the conditions are just right. I set up a low wide angle shot at this water pool to frame a reflection of the mountain with the gorgeous evergreens in front, and waited for the day's last light to bring out the vibrant pinks in the skies. This shot was taken in late spring, shortly after the snow finally disappeared in the lower altitudes of the park.
Castle at Dusk
0.8 sec, f/14, ISO 64
On the drive back towards Calgary, taking a turn south before you leave the mountains entirely, brings you into Kananaskis Country - a wilderness area with vast expanse of nature and a rich wildlife population (keep an eye out for bears here, including grizzlies). This drive is stunning and, in my opinion, rivals even the Icefields Parkway. This photograph was taken on my first ever visit to the Canadian Rockies. It was a mixed summer day, but the clouds cleared just enough to light up the landscape and create this beautiful moody scene.
Castle at Dusk
1/1250 sec, f/7.1, ISO 250
Finally, another favourite spot of mine - Two Jack Lake. A popular place, especially in the summertime, it offers one of the best views of Mount Rundle in Banff National Park. After discovering it on my first visit to the Rockies, I've been returning ever since. The last ice had disappeared from the water the prior morning and as the skies lit up just before sunset the lake turned into a giant mirror, reflecting the gorgeous Mount Rundle with its ridges coated in snow, and rocks on the lake floor visible in the foreground through the crystal clear water.
Castle at Dusk
0.6 sec, f/11, ISO 64
Banff and the Canadian Rockies never cease to amaze me, even after many trips here.
Fall is by far my favourite season to be here, with late spring and summer a close second. Winter is beautiful in its own way, if you can handle the cold temperatures and are comfortable driving through the occasional snowstorm. Having seen most of Banff's more popular locations, and some of the easier to access spots in Kananaskis, I now want to explore more places off the beaten path, hidden lakes, and hikes in the backcountry.
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