The Rockies, with their awe-inspiring beauty, have a way of putting life into perspective, of showing us our small but significant place in this vast, stunningly beautiful world.
Here’s a selection of some of the photos I have managed to capture over the last few years as I journeyed from my cabin retreat in Manitoba’s Boreal Forest to my home in Kelowna, BC.
Forever looking for a spot that would put the magnificence of these mountains in perspective I came across this little roadside stop on the way to see Takakkaw Falls in Yoho National Park. I was very pleased. I think this photo captures the grandeur of the landscape in the most sublime manner.
The winding road to Takakkaw Falls leads you higher and higher into the mountains, alongside the roaring Yoho River, unveiling spectacular views of rugged peaks, expansive glaciers and dense forests that stretch out into the horizon. But nothing more thrilling is the invigorating sense of adventure as the road ends at the base of these falls, the second highest waterfall in all of Canada. Photographing it, as the deafening roar of the falls echoed through the valley as the mist kissed my face, I couldn’t help feeling an overwhelming sense of awe at the sheer power and grandeur of nature.
If the falls are not enough, the calm waters of Emerald Lake, a gem of unspoiled beauty, living up to its name with the dazzling, emerald-hued waters completes the beauty of landscapes of Yoho National Park. Surrounded by towering peaks and lush forests, you can’t help believing that the lake is a scene straight from a storybook.
Just a short drive from Emerald Lake, is the Natural Bridge, a rock formation carved by the erosive forces of the Kicking Horse River. The fast moving water is a captivating spectacle, where nature’s artistic flair is displayed in full form. To get a sense of scale of the rushing water, I captured a women dipping her hands in the river on the lower left.
No mountain photograher would have a complete collection unless they had a photo of Castle Mountain just outside of Banff National Park.
Twice a year we travel by car from our cabin in Manitoba’s Boreal Forest to our mountain home in Kelowna past this spectacular range tempting us to pull off of the frenzied Trans-Canada Highway for a more relaxed drive through the Bow Valley Parkway between Banff and Lake Louise. This winding road in the heart of the Rockies has many opportunities for picture taking with its numerous roadside pull overs.
This day that we took the route was most memorable, not because of the specular scenery, but because of a surprise encounter with this guy forging on the side of the road. Definitely one of those heart stopping moments.
Every trip home has a stop at the famous Rogers Pass in the Rockies. Capturing photographs here is an immersive experience where each picture unveils the rugged allure of this historic high mountain route. I have so many shots of the raw, untamed beauty of the Selkirk Mountain range here it was hard to settle on just one.
Its true that the mountains, with their awe-inspiring landscapes and dynamic range of light, provide an unparalleled canvas for photography, but they also present an opportunity for artistic expression.
The dramatic interplay of light and shadow on a mountainous terrain can transform an ordinary sunrise or sunset, or clouds descending into a valley, into a mesmerizing spectacle. It’s from these powerful moments that I draw inspiration, turning each captured image into a unique piece of art.
I live in the Okanagan. The temperate climate opens up countless possibilities to seize the striking contrasts of sunlight on the serene Lake Okanagan with the mountainous landscapes as a dramatic backdrop.
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