Morning Glow

The spring brought a big change. I moved across the country to live my dreams in the dreamiest place in Canada., in the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Lake Louise, Alberta.  I’ve been lucky enough to spend the last 8 and a half months exploring my beautiful new home.

Ice Climbers

Dusty

Valley Rainbows

Wildflower Morn

One Sweet Day

Goodbye Day

Sundance Ridge

Kiss Of Light

Winter Wonderland

Expect 2012 to be even better! Many new places to go, mountains to climb and backcountry to explore!!

Have a Happy New Year!! Hope it is all you want it to be!!

-dani

This was mainly a fact finding mission, trying to find the best location and direction to shoot. While experimenting I noticed the moon wasn’t  distracting me with its bright blinding light anymore. I looked over and saw the moon was setting and giving Mt. Whyte a great halo!

Twinkle - Moon set and stars over Mt. Whyte and the Victoria Glacier

Standing looking up at the stars was surreal. I had never seen soo many stars before. No haze, no light pollution, no anything to hinder the perfection of the night. This so much different then Ontario where you have to drive several hours away due north from home to get away from the spreading light pollution.

My last shot of the night before I headed inside with paranoia of bears coming out to investigate my presence.  A 5 minute exposure capturing star trails and faint remnants of the milky way.

We Dance - small star trails in Lake Louise

Many more star exploring to do!

-dani

Dani walking on top of frozen Lake Louise

There is somewhat of an illusion when walking away from the shore. Of course the hotel gets smaller as you go farther away from it, but the ski hill a ways away behind the hotel gets bigger! Every time I looked back it was like the mountain was growing. At one point I had to stop looking back!

Lake Louise ski hill growing behind the Chateau Lake Louise

Once I got to the end of the lake I found small streams of water cutting through the several feet of snow. I followed some footprints to the edge. As I was trying to find a spot to compose an image, I ended up stepping on some not previously walked on snow. I fell right through it! Luckly only one leg went down and I only ended up sitting on the snow and now 6 feet below in water. Good thing about being short my leg wasn’t long enough to hit the water at the bottom.  While trying to make my way back to the safe snow I fell through again. Getting my leg eaten my snow was fun, but I had to go and take some pictures! So I quickly got out of the danger zone and on to real land!

I started to follow the Plain of Six Glaciers trail.

On the Plain of Six Glaciers trail

I did not venture too far into the trail. I only went 30 minutes in on the trail as I knew that trail was several hours and I had only brought enough water for a couple hours. On my way out, I noticed snow still on this side of the trees. The snow was already gone from the side I saw on the hike.

Wonderland in the unseen Lake Louise Wilderness

I really wanted to show this area to its fullest and single frames didn’t seem to capture the vastness of this place. So I took a 35 image panorama. This place is beautiful in the winter and not a lot of people get to see it. I feel luck I got to walk across the lake as today, 2 weeks later, it is melting.
I will be exploring this area again once the snow is gone and I can actually see the solid ground! Very much looking forward to that.

Lake Louise 35 image Panorama - 360 degree view

-dani

Waputik Peak in the Lake Louise Bow Valley Area. 2755 m / 9038 ft

This was a great start to my photography experience here in Lake Louise.

-dani

Ice climbers on the Iron Curtain in Yoho National Park, BC

The waterfall is actually the Iron Curtain which after some googling is a very popular spot to ice climb. This waterfall is not close to the ground which is what I’m used to seeing in Ontario. This was half way up a mountainside! Very cool!

Much more posts to come so make sure you subscribe!!!

-dani

Even tho this lake has been photographed to death, I feel living here I should be able to fine unique times and location and get some original images.

Keep your eyes opened for new updates with lots of new images!!

-dani

YES!! They are finally here!!

This year’s is a special Canadian Edition.
Inside you will find 13 spectacular images from Canada’s famous wilderness and coast lines. Travel across Canada through photos every month of the year.

The Photography By Dani 2011 calendar is for sale on her website for $15 + FREE shipping! Don’t wait too long! Calendars make wonderful Christmas gifts!!

This was Grant and I’s first morning together of our 5 day tour/adventure. The morning was cold and cloudy as usual in Banff. We spent the morning in my favourite place, the Vermilion Lakes. Yet again it did not disappoint. My first morning in Banff the previous week was very similar to this morning, but this morning was more perfect. We both found the lake we liked for foreground and jumped out of Grant’s car and started shooting. I went off to one area with some boggy ground that I could swear I was going to fall through while shooting, but it never did.
After getting all the comps I could possibly get from that area I met up with Grant again after he did his own shooting thing and we moved to another lake. This time I didn’t get too much but Grant got a pretty awesome panorama shot. (Grant’s panorama can be found here: http://millsy1.deviantart.com/art/Vermilio-pano-1-170615752)

On schedule for the day was Johnston Canyon. On our drive there we came across a bull elk and 2 females in a field. After the 2 females got scared and left the bell elk just stood there licking himself in inappropriate places. It was quite funny.
So on to Johnston Canyon we went. This was my first time there and Grant’s 8th  time, so I looked to him for advice on shooting the area. The water was a gorgeous colour and the canyon itself was spectacular. It was really hard to get everything i wanted into the frame while leaving everything I didn’t want out.

After Johnston Canyon we drove back to Banff to our camp site. Great site actually. While sitting at the fire we saw a herd of elk pass by along with a Canada Parks employee and 2 herding dogs. lol We found it funny that they were herding the wild elk.. lol Shortly after that 3 deer came to visit us and grazed within a couple trees from us. This time I grabbed my camera and got a picture of Grant and the deers.
Then off to sleep we went.

Vermilion Morning - Vermilion Lakes, Banff

Rising Clouds Falling Rain - Vermilion Lakes, Banff

Hey Dani.. SMILE - A photo Grant took of me - Vermilion Lakes

Funny Elk on the way to Johnston Canyon

Johnston Canyon

Johnston Canyon

Grant and the deer - Banff

June 18t

This morning we decided not to get up for sunrise (which there wasn’t much of one). After packing up our gear we went to the Hoodoos in Banff. On the list for the day was Takkakaw Falls, Lake Louise and Lake Moraine.  The water levels at Lake Moraine were higher then they were when I was there just the week before. Many places where I had stood before were now under water. Grant and I walked along the shore and watched the MANY chipmunks running around with every step we took. The water was beautiful, but not the epic blue/green as it would have been if the sun would have been out.

On the way to Takkakaw in Yoho National Park, we stopped at these railway tunnels in the mountains called The Spiral Tunnels! No trains came through while we were there but it was still cool to see. . A beautiful falls that just keeps getting more breathtaking the closer you get to it. When we got to the base of it, I found a rock and just sat there watching it and pondering life. It felt like a great place to do it.

This night we were camping in Lake Louise. As we entered the campgrounds we noticed 1 big difference between this one and the Banff one the previous night. Bear Fences. Lake Louise campground has bigass bear fences. There is a grizzly family that frequents the Lake Louise area and many many black bears. So they needed the fences. The crows reallllly liked our campsite that night, it could have been our awesome PC White Cheddar Mac and Cheese that they wanted.

We decided to go to lake Louise for sunset. There wasn’t much of one, but we got some great moody shots of the lake which made them different then the usual tourist shot. There was a lone red canoe out in the lake that made for some great photo opts. Grant found a way around the boat house so we could get better comps of this canoe. Once again I found myself on boggy ground. I think Grant even ended up with a soaker.

The next morning we went to Lake Louise for sunrise.. but I will save that story for the next blog.

Adrift - Lake Louise

An Inukshuk at Lake Moraine

Takkakaw Falls

Got up for another sunrise, and after learning the previous morning the only place for sunrise is Vermilion Lakes. As hoped the area did not disappoint. I caught some awesome alpine glow on the first morning without thick cloud cover and fog. Saw a beaver in the distance, which was real special. Since there weren’t any clouds in the sky, I headed back to the hotel to get ready for the day. Our plans for that day was to head to Drumheller, AB. This is not the place you wanna go to under clear skies and hot sun! It really did make it feel like a desert. We were there during the middle of the day so I didn’t take any photos of the area. It had potential, but needed the right light to set it off. We instead explored the dinosaur museum. Saw lots of bones. Then it was on to Edmonton for the rest of the weekend.

How I Do - A photo of me taking a photo. Photo by: My Mom

Alpine Glow - Vermilion Lakes

Vermilion Lakes

Vermilion Lakes

June 13

Spent the day in edmonton not taking photos..:( Then headed back to Banff in the evening.

June 14

On this day we had planned to go to the Athabasca Glacier and explore the area, but as usual, it was raining. So instead we took a drive through Kananaskis Country in the rain. Since this was June 14th the section of Highway 40 through Kananaskis Country was closed. Due to open June 15th. That gave us a laugh for sure. So we followed the sign that said Canmore. This road started out kind of paved but then turned into a gravel road. Along the drive we came across 2 groups of firemen who were scouting for control burn areas. There were signs warning us of control burns in the area. The road seemed to never end, and the scenery was beautiful even in the rain. Eventually we came across this really crazy semi narrow road right on side of the mountain and water directly next to it on the other side. After this crazy road came a crazy hill. This was a narrow, steep winding grade down to the town of Canmore. We ended up out near the Grassy Lakes in Canmore (which I googled later and am kicking myself we never stopped to go there) We saw a loon in the reservoir area by the Nordic Center. After that exciting drive we headed back to Banff for the evening and sunset. Of course playing it safe and knowing there were still many more things to get we went to vermillion lakes for sunset. We ended up catching some interesting clouds around the mountains. As the sun was setting the light was bouncing off the clouds between the mountains and it looked so much like the clouds were fire and the side of the mountains were engulfed.

Kananaskis Country - Neat rocks

Loon - Canmore AB

Clash of The Gods - Vermilion Lakes

Blanket of Light - Vermilion Lakes

Special Light between the mountains.

June 15

On this day we needed to head to Edmonton once again, but this time we took the scenic route through the mountains. We started out the day with a bull elk in our hotel parking lot and Japanese tourists trying to get a photo while getting too close. We then headed on our way through construction just outside Lake Louise and then on to the Icefields Parkway. After not seeing any bears so far during this trip I was very excited to be on this road as it is a wildlife hotbed. Not even 30 minutes on the road, we came across a black bear in the ditch, just eating away. Then we stopped at Bow Glacier and Bow Lake for a walk around and check out the sights. Clouds were very low and it looked like it was going to rain/snow. We were going to stop at Peyto Lake, but apparently the road to it was closed… according to the sign?.. I wasn’t exactly clear about what went on there. But I didn’t get to see it. About an hour after seeing the first bear, we came across 3 more! 2 black bears, this time a mother and an older cub were eating away along the side of the road at the base of a glacial riverbed. While I was photographing the bears, my mother pointed out a coyote on the top of the riverbed. The bears were oblivious to the coyote. He didn’t stay long, only long enough for me to get 5 shots. As we left the bears in peace we saw another bear about .5km past the other 2, but we didn’t stop. We drove up a big mountain, saw a bunch of waterfalls and some amazing rock layers. Since the climb in elevation our rainy day turned into snow. We came to Parker Ridge and it was covered in snow and couldn’t see anything around us but snow blown trees. We get to Athabasca Glacier and its completely covered by the fog of snow and not visible at all! About 10 minutes past Athabasca Glacier, we got a big surprise, out of the fog and snow there appeared a MASSIVE waterfall known as Tangle Falls. Amazing little gem. Then on to Jasper we went. Didn’t end up making it to Maligne Lake or Medicine Lake, or the Jasper Lake Sand Dunes. Go to Edmonton for dinner.

Good morning elk.

Black Bear - Icefields Parkway

Black Bear - Icefields Parkway

It's In The Air - Coyote - Icefields Parkway

Black Bear - Icefields Parkway

One of many waterfalls along the Icefields Parkway

Neat rocks on a mountain side - Icefields Parkway

Snowy trees near Athabasca Glacier

Tangle Falls - Icefields Parkway

June 16th

Last day with the family, before the headed back to Ontario and left me behind in Alberta =D. We said our goodbyes to family in Edmonton and then headed to Calgary to catch their flight home. Said bye to my family and then waited for Grant Mills to pick me up and start out 5 day trip. We headed to Banff for the night but stopped in Canmore to catch some neat clouds instead of sunset.

Canmore's interesting clouds.

Another early 4:30am morning wake up for sunrise. On this morning my plans were to find another spot within Banff to take shots. We ended up at the parking lot area of the Banff Gondola which had an alright view of the town and mountains. As the sun started to rise I realized the comp just wasn’t going to work. We packed up everything quick fast and headed back to the Vermilion Lakes. The fog was thick in the valley. As we came around the first corner into the Vermilion Lakes area, we saw a herd of around 15 elk, including 5 elk calves crossing the road. We waited for them to get up on the hill before we passed them as to not scare them. We parked the car just past them and I got out and quietly set up. We watched them graze the hillside. One of the males kept his eye on me tho. No funny business! Took a bunch of shots of them in the fog and watched a calf nurse, which was pretty amazing! Got some foggy landscape shots before we left the lake area.

The sun still hadn’t fully risen yet so we decided to take the Trans Canada Highway towards Calgary to find some mountain ranges we saw coming into Banff. We ended up stopping on the side of the road and just watching the sunlight bounce off the clouds  hovering over the dark mountain and fog covered valley.

That afternoon we took a trip to Lake Louise and Lake Moraine. Landscapes weren’t what I was looking for so I turned my concentration towards to birds. Saw many birds I have never seen before like the Steller’s Jay, Gray Jay and Clark’s Nutcracker. Lake Moraine’s water was very low due to the time of year we were there. When I went back less than a week later it was noticeably higher.

Headed back to Banff for the late afternoon and checked out the Hoodoos within Banff on Tunnel Mountain. Lighting wasn’t the best but the area was still picturesque. Next up was an evening gondola trip to the top of Sulphur Mountain.  We were planning on staying up there for sunset but the last gondola down was at 9pm and the sun sets at 10pm. We stayed until almost 8pm and the sun wasnt even close to setting. So that was a bit of a disappointment. There was a random rainbow in the valley while we were up there.

Spent part of the evening scouting sunset places but all the clouds started to runaway so we called it a night and went to sleep early in anticipation for another early morning.

Here are some photos from the second full day in the Canadian Rocky Mountains:

Among The Fog - Elk at the Vermilion Lakes

Shot from the Trans Canada Highway - Banff, Alberta

Lake Moraine

Clark's Nutcracker - Lake Louise

Steller's Jay - Lake Louise

The Hoodoos - Banff, Alberta

Gray Jay - On top of Sulpher Mountain, Banff, Alberta

Rainbow In The Mountains - Banff

Overview of The Town of Banff