Canadian Rockies

I visited the Canadian Rockies many years ago, but it remains one of my most memorable trips. Aside from the absolute beauty of the place, there were a couple of "first" for me, and its these that make trips extra memorable.



The Canadian Rockies cover a large part land, and not just cover Alberta, but parts of British Columbia as well. It covers a number of national parks, the most well-known and/or popular being Banff National Park, and Jasper National Park. The best way to really enjoy all these really, is to have a leisurely drive trip. Not just for photography reasons, as the tour buses just let you stop at certain viewpoints for a short time, and you will not be able to fully experience the true beauty of the park.

There are rugged mountains and pristine lakes. There are ancient glaciers and raging rivers. And within these beautiful landscapes, the wildlife is equally jaw-dropping. All these have to be experienced and appreciated with time, and the best way is to trek/walk around the parks. Day treks are plenty, and if you have the appetite for more, longer treks are possible. The best part is, the park information centres provide excellent resources and info, so it's definitely a must-do for a visit to these rockies.



This was my first trip with an SLR. I used slide film for the first time! First time I stepped onto a glacier. I had my first "seizure" somewhere near some mountaintop. And it was my first time seeing wildlife like bighorn sheep, elks and most wondrously, a black bear! Certainly good reasons to be one of my most memorable trips ever!
But if you are a nature lover, enjoys the outdoors, an animal fan etc, this could easily be your memorable trip as well. Go experience the Canadian Rockies!

Where and when vs when and where?

This was taken at Peyto Lake, a well-known attraction in Banff National Park. One of the ways of getting a good travel image is, well, going at the right season! I was a relatively newbie photo enthusiast, but this trip to the Canadian Rockies was right at the best possible season - summer. The light is good, the weather is good, and of course, the scenery is fantastic! So with little effort, you get a really good image. Weather may be unpredictable, but it's about maximising your chances of getting the best!

Incidentally, this was also the trip where I got poisoned. I borrowed a SLR from my brother-in-law, bought some slide film, and took it along together with my prosumer digicam that I've been using for a year or more. It was considered early years in digital photography (2001), and my Canon Powershot G1 was high up in the prosumer category. But the feel of handling the SLR, its response, and the results - it's like a drug that had me yearning for the grasp, begging for the sound of the shutter, and longing to see the output. Of course, your mileage may vary :)

I found out later that there're tons of similar Peyto Lake images out there, since the viewpoint from where I took the shot was right where every tourist go. Nevertheless, seeing a beautiful image that you have shot yourself will enhance your confidence and belief, and would definitely provide motivation for better shots in your next trip.

While basic, this is still one of the key points while planning a photography trip - when is the best time to go? In fact, it used to be that typically, I will decide where I wanna go, and then find out when I can take leave or when I am free to go. But now, I'll rather find out when I am able to leave, and then find out during that period, where are the best places I can go that interest me......