Banff--Canada

Hi All:

We are flying to Calgary and then renting a car for a week. Going to Lake Louise and

the parks north of there. Have been meaning to do this for 20 years-- Most photo

opportunities would be obvious but do any of you know a special place--byway--

cove--outlook that we might otherwise miss?

Many Thanks--Best-- Jim

Calgary, Banff National Park and Jasper National Park are great place for photography<p>

I vacationed in these scenics places in 1995, using Leica R5 with my favourite Vario Elmar 28-70 lens<p>

 

The main street on Banff offers many photo ops, to get a whole view

of Banff with mountain at the back, go to the a park at the end of

the main street<p>

<img src="http://www.photo.net/photodb/image-display?photo_id=1656731&size=md">

<p>Be sure to visit the landmark of Banff, ie, Banff Springs Hotel

We spent a night there, there are many photo ops in and around the

hotel<p>

However to get a full view of the Banff Springs, you need to drive out of the hotel on to a road over looking the hotel, from the gaps

of pine trees you can get a full view of Banff Springs<p>

<img src="http://www.photo.net/photodb/image-display?photo_id=1656786&size=md"><p>

Lake Louise is one of the most beautiful spot in Canada<p>

We spent one night at Lake Louise Hotel, which also a part of

then CP hotel chain, which also owned Banff Springs. These two famous

hotels are now under Fairmount<p>

 

Arise early before sun rise go to the lake front, you can witness spectacular view of the snow clad mountains painted crimson bit by bit

by the golden arrow of the sun<p>

<img src="http://www.photo.net/photodb/image-display?photo_id=1656748&size=md">

 

At day time, it is pastoral tranquilily<p>

<img src="http://www.photo.net/photodb/image-display?photo_id=1656740&size=md">

Drive along the scene highway in Jasper park, the spectacular snow clad mountains offer numerous photo ops.<p>

Peyto Lake<p>

<img src="http://www.photo.net/photodb/image-display?photo_id=1656752&size=lg">

Malign Lake<p>

<img src="http://www.photo.net/photodb/image-display?photo_id=1656755&size=md">

 

I have 20x30" enlargements of these two pictures hanging on my living

room walls, look like Chinese style 'mountain and water" paintings

<<Most photo opportunities would be obvious but do any of you know a special place--byway-- cove--outlook that we might otherwise miss?>>

 

Unless you're backpacking/hiking you'll pretty much be limited to the views from the road...but that's hardly what I'd call much of a limitation. The enire road trip through Banff and Jasper nat'l parks together is surprisingly short. If you stay inside or just outside the parks (I always rent a small RV when I go there)you can traverse the roadway numerous times in a few days, hitting the same spots in different light. Keep the direction of the sun in mind when planning your itinerary. Use an assortment of lenses, including teles for isolating parts of landscapes and spatial compression. Resist making sweeping wide-angle shots, as you'll be disappointed in the shots, the mountains will look small and unimpressive. The number of views from a single location are plentiful. If you're lucky you'll see some wildlife too. Take some Velvia or Portra UC as it rains frequently and those films look good under overcast. Portra 400VC or Provia 400F for wildlife encounters in overcast, to keep the shutter speeds up. Take a solid tripod, also take graduated ND filters if you have them and know how to use them (unless you do the combine-2-shots-in-Photoshop thing). Most of all, put the camera down frequently and enjoy the breathtaking natural beauty with your eyes. You only live once, it's all about experiences.

It's awesome. Pity about all the visitors.<div></div>

Drive the highway between Banff and Jasper a couple of hours before sunset. You get some pretty amazing shadows and textures. It makes for some great atypical photos from the area. For the standard beautiful scenery stuff, first thing to do is pick up a book on day hikes like "Don't Waste Your Time in the Canadian Rockies - an opinionated guide". There are numerous other. They will direct you toward some great spots with varying degrees of accessibility.

That's my back yard, I live in Calgary. If you are able to hike a bit, then don't miss: Cavell Meadows (close to Jasper), Mistaya canyon (about half way the Icefields Parkway) and Panther Falls (same).

 

After sunrise shooting @ the L.Louise shore line, you could walk the Plain of Six Glaciers trail. At that early hour you have a good chance to see mountain goats once you are out of the trees. Spectacular if you keep on walking after the teahouse for another 1/2 hour: go all the way to the end of the trail and you look straight up the Death trap (Abbott's Pass). You'll need half a day for this one.

 

Saddleback (from L.Louise) is another half day hike, with good views of Mt Temple if you go on a bit to Saddleback Mountain.

 

I'd be happy to give you more info or answer questions.

I appreciate the helpful information and equipment tips. Thank you All!

 

Best Jim

Jim, the drive between Lake Louise and Jasper is a must. It's one of the most scenic highways anywhere. If you like trains there are some excellent vantage points overlooking the CP tracks between Banff and Lake Louise on Highway 1A on the other side of the Bow River from the Trans Canada Highway. Take the walk around Lake Louise up to the tea house and bring a suitable lens to photograph the ground squirrels, whiskey jacks and clark's nutcrackers that are relatively tame and like to be fed. The photo of Martin's is Peyto Lake, not Maligne Lake. Take lots of film. Moraine Lake is just a short drive from Lake Louise and is a well known site for photos of the lake and the Ten Peaks. I lived there from 1971 to 81 and regret ever leaving.

I'm sure you will enjoy the trip.

Just one additional word of advise "DO NOT FEED OR APPROACH THE BEARS" a number of tourists have ended up mauled or dead. Peyto lake, aka 7 peaks, aka valley of the gods is a must do, try to hit it early and late, it's pretty spectactular.

 

Take plenty of film.

 

GS

If you climb the switchbacks of Sulfur moutain in Banff you get a free gondola ride down.

 

Do take the road connecting Banff and Jasper.

 

I climbed on the Columbia glacier...easy going up...scarry going down, jumping over the crevasses, not wanting to fall/slip into one. At the bottom found the sign..."Do Not Climb".