Heading Home

The plan was to drive to Banff and take the Icefields Parkway to Jasper but was raining here and raining there. Looks pretty stormy over the mountains so I saved the glaciers for another trip.

But it was far too early to head home! And here I am in Banff. Banff National Park is always a super place for photographic excursions, rain or shine, with its waterfalls, wildlife and panoramic vistas as far as you can see.

But one of the things that's always prevented me from spending more time in Banff National Park is the over crowded townsite - what used to be a quaint ski village is now kitschy and over done, with insanely long line-ups everywhere, and RVs jammed into every conceivable empty space. I used to think that unless you were camping in the back country, the only options for lodging were in the town of Banff.

On this trip I found out I was wrong. A random phone call to the first web page that came up when I typed "dog friendly hotels in Banff" turned up what ended up being the total highlight of my trip.

The Juniper Hotel is the most amazing experience for anyone who wants to be "away from it all" while staying in Banff - the park. Situated on a plateau just off the Trans Canada, overlooking the town but about a mile from it, is surrounded by wilderness, with hiking trails right out the back door, stunning views from your room, amazing retro-cool architecture and interior design (completely renovated in 2004, keeping the original 1953 style but adding a modern flair), the best food I have had in any restaurant on any road trip EVER, plus a whole lot more.

I'm now planning a trip exclusively to Banff for an immersive photo tour in the park, now that I have such a great place to stay - great value for what you get, great staff, dog-friendly and boutique atmosphere.

Talk about a room with a view!

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Carmi Bluffs, and a Helicopter

Carmi Bluffs in Penticton, BC, an almost 2000 foot drop straight down, but so huge a helicopter can disapear in the canyon below. Vey uncrowded anf little known trails - no paper maps at the trailhead, so I ended up on  a one way trail when I thought I was on a loop.  After the 3rd 200 foot vertical climb (and a heart attack for sure ) I thankfully turned back.

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POY# 5

It's Father's Day and an appropriate time to share with you my POI #5 (But if I were to put them in order, probably #1!!!)

Ian Morrison. My dad. Artist, photographer, and the worlds worst golfer! My parents travelled a lot and my dad took the greatest travel photos - I suppose he was my first inspriation.  He and my mom would return from some exotic land, armed with baubles and trinkets and the most incredible photographs.   After a huge meal, lots of wine and laughs, being entertained by the stories of their travels, we'd watch the show!  Back in the day we'd show the slides on a projector, they were huge and vibrant, and in all ways, larger than life. He could have worked for National Geographic! A great eye, technically perfect, and always a story to go along with the images.

Then I'd borrow his camera and steal a few hours pretending to be "on assignment" in a jungle or desert, trying to emulate the images that I'd seen.

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At Night

The key part of this image is to note the different colours of the various light sources.  We have a range from yellow, to orange to green, not to mention the natural blue of the dusk sky.  You have to pick a white balance and go for it, when light is like this.  "Auto WB" in this setting may not produce the results you were looking for. Like all other exposure skills, bracket your white balance - some very cool artistic effects are created this way

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There's Ghosts in them thar Hills

Kootenay Pass. brooding, and sullen, I guess you'd be too if you were still covered in snow at this time of year.

I swear the clouds and mist look just like ghosts.

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Here we go!

Oh, those mountains! There's just one bend in the highway and in an instant you've been transported from the green velvet foothills of Alberta to the rugged and moody Rockies.  My heart always beats faster approaching that curve. It's magnificent!

Highway 3 approaching the Crowsnest Pass and shot through the world's most grungy windshield!

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POI# 4

And then there is Jim. When I got my very first 35mm SLR (which I still have BTW) he would tolerantly let me "take pictures" of him anytime anywhere! Early morning even before coffee (yikes!) or, more formally, as I attempted to practice the finer points of portraiture.

As well as having almost infinite patience for these artistic quirks, Jim was a very handsome guy, - it was impossible to take a bad photo of him. For years I mistakenly attributed all those good photos of him to my emerging photographic talent, and I coasted on this grand deception for ages until, over time I actually did become a pretty good photographer. (And it wasn't till much later a portrait pro pointed out the various flaws in my subsequent portrait photos, that I came to know the embarrassing truth - my early success was a fluke and the beauty was all Jim and not me.)

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POI #3

What can a nature photographer learn from a wedding and portrait photographer?

Well, if you're me and the wedding photographer is Patty Boge, an awful lot! Patty and I worked together at a software development company.  We didn't work in the same department and didn't really see each other too often (with 125 employees on 2 floors I didn't see too many people too often!!!). But one day she mentioned that she was leaving the company because she was going to devote all her time to her photography business.  I remarked that that was pretty cool and that I also knew my way around a camera.  She wanted to see some of my photos so I put a few on a CD for her.

Next thing I knew she has shopped it around to all her pro photographer buddies who apparently were impressed enough to want to meet with me to talk about my "work" and help me advance in a new career.  And the rest, my friend, is  a story that you already know.  

So I have a more than profound appreciation for Patty - it was her that got me into the biz!

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POI #2: Man Ray

Man Ray was a surrealist artist and photographer creating images around the turn of the last century. Much of the pop culture of the 60s, 70s and 80s were either directly or indirectly inspired by his art works and images.  His work “the lips” were used for the Rocky Horror Picture Show’s ads.  Many musicians including R.E.M. and the Red Hot Chili Peppers used his art as inspiration in either lyrics or album covers.

I like his daring, and his willingness to do things differently.  His main message that resonates with me, especially relevant today, with all the coolness digital art offers:

"Of course, there will always be those who look only at technique, who ask 'how', while others of a more curious nature will ask 'why'. Personally, I have always preferred inspiration to information."  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_Ray

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POI - people of influence: #1

Not neccessarily the Number 1 POI, but influencial for sure.  Deepak Chopra. He has influenced my perceptions about imagination and creativity.  Despite what you may think about his "new age" philosophy, he has a way of helping you see alternatives.  To me, imagination and the art of seeing is all about the alternative.

What we see everyday might be mundane and even boring, but with the right influence or suggestion, we can begin to see alternatives in the everyday views.  My image "The Devil's in the Details" is a bit of the embodiment of this.  The title is only a suggestion, but you begin to see the alternative views when you look past the reality of a bush, because of the way our perceptions work.

If you are open to different ways of thinking - and thus, seeing, read a few pages from Deepak's books.  Enlightening in so many ways.

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