The snow is mostly gone, here on the prairies, but it will be some weeks before we see greenery and flowers blooming. I can’t wait! It has been a long winter and I sure could use a bit of color. Late spring or early summer images are great for it because all is fresh and green is bright and not dimmed by dust of late summer days.
We are lucky here in Alberta, because some nights are full of light show. We had a couple of gorgeous Aurora showing last fall and I have managed to capture some shots without leaving the city.
I know, I know it is winter and everybody posts winter photography, but I am not ready for it yet. I see it outside my window every day, so I want to see something warm, colorful and pretty. Hope you are in need of this as well.
It has been a while since I’ve posted anything about Elk Island National Park. So, I think, it is time for some lovely sunset from the beginning of summer, when all was green, flowers were blooming and days were warm and long.
Foggy winter mornings are a wonderful treat for photographers. I was so happy to be able to take advantage of one such morning a short while back, even if I was frozen stiff after returning home ;D Not being able to travel too far that day, we took our dog for a walk in Hermitage Park here in Edmonton.
It is an interesting experience to visit Elk Island at night. We are a city creatures, not very comfortable with being in nature without the ability to see. And then, there are the noises. It is so eerie to stand in the middle of nowhere, where it is pitch black and so quiet that every noise carries a long way. Hard to judge the distance separating us from the animals making that noise.
Even during the coldest days, there comes a time when sitting at home is no longer an option. I have been very lucky to be able to escape the city as often as I have. Even if it is only for a couple of hours, just being able to spend some time in the open, with sun shining above and a big Alberta sky..
Our fall colors, here in Alberta, don't last too long. We consider ourselves lucky if we get them for a couple of weeks in their full glory, thus, if we have a moment to spare we go shooting. There is something magical about the light during that time of year that makes me want to go and explore, even if it is only a neighborhood park.
I love visiting Rockies in summer! Just the fact that one can explore without layers of clothes to keep one warm is so appealing. No need to worry about road conditions and closures, no need for heavy winter gear. There are things, of course, one needs to prepare for such a trip. Bug spray, sun screen, lots of water, snacks and a jacket or a sweater - we are visiting mountains, after all, are a must. Good pair of shoes and a bear spray are a good idea as well, especially when one thinks about hiking.
I'm not very happy that summer passes so quickly in these parts.. There is not enough time to take full advantage of it, however, we do what we can. This year we have had a rare opportunity to take some of my family and friends along for a trip to the Rockies. It was a wonderful adventure, though there was not much time for fine art photography. There is simply not enough time to wait for a perfect light / conditions, especially when you try to cram as many places to show your visitors as you can. However, one can always practice a bit of travel / family photography while visiting all those beautiful places in Alberta Rockies.
I can't believe summer vacations are almost over! Cruel time waits for no one... Fall will be here soon and I haven't enjoyed summer as much as I wanted to... It's a good thing that I have managed to take some pictures of the summery world to go back to later in the year, when it isn't sunny and warm and colorful any more, when it's more difficult to go out of the city and enjoy nature..
It's funny, how I almost cured myself of digital GAS, and how quickly I fell for the analogue GAS. It's really easy to forget about actual photography, when scouring eBay for old cameras. The amount of old film cameras is just staggering. The prices are decent for the most part, although so old cameras fall into the "collectible" or "famous" category, which drives their prices through the roof. I try to keep to the cheap side.
Some say that Elk Island National Park is one of the most boring parks in Canada and, to some extend, they have a point. We don't have dramatic mountains or oceans, we don't have desert, cool rock formations, hot springs or geysers. What we do have, however, is peace, quiet beauty, a bit of wildlife and a lake that can reflect sunset colors and often does an awesome job of it.
