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's back to winter here on the Alberta prairies. Our beautiful spring weather from last week has changed and today we were greeted by freezing wind that feels like -21oC.. Brrr!!! But, that's OK, because it is the last day of February and spring is very close now. In the meantime lets concentrate on some more beautiful winter scenes...
One of the most beautiful places I have ever visited in Canadian Rockies is Lake Louise in Banff National Park. I am drawn to it over and over again regardless of the season. It is simply picturesque and one cannot blame me, really, for taking lots of pictures while I am there.. We have visited it again, during our December trip to the mountains. I have already shared some of the pictures from this trip in my post Solstice Sunrise in the Rockies and, with a great pleasure, I'd like to show you some more. Hope you find them pleasing. Winter really can be beautiful and since we are stuck with it here for months on end I'd rather concentrate on it's better aspects.. And if you can add to it a little bit of travel that's even better. Travel photography is a beautiful thing! ;D Have a wonderful weekend everybody! Kasia
It was bloody freezing this morning in the park, where we went to shoot a foggy sunrise. The temperatures dropped to -22 degrees Celsius and the fog made it feel even colder. But the sky was blue and the sun was rising so we went for a very long walk and took a lot of pictures. By the time we've gotten back into our vehicle I could barely feel some of my fingers and toes, not mentioning my frozen face.. Oh, well.. I think, it was still worth it! ;D Here is a few of the shots I took this morning and, though, it is not spring yet, for which I am terribly sorry, the world is looking mighty wonderful today! :D Kasia
You know? There is really no escaping the fact, that no matter what my wishes are, the winter is really not ready to depart just yet.. In this case lets enjoy it!These were taken on a rare sunny morning with blue sky and mists enveloping the River Valley and Rundle Park here in Edmonton. It was rather cold that morning as well, and the snow was just so very fresh covering earth in a pristine blanket of white. So, so beautiful!!! Well, if you can't get rid of it, embrace it!! ;D
Kasia
It was brutally cold last Sunday when we ventured, before dawn, outside the city hoping for a nice sunrise. The temperatures were steadily dropping while we were driving away from Edmonton and by the time we reached our destination it was -30 degree Celsius. It was a blessing that there was barely any wind because it felt very cold and we were very happy to be able to take a break in a warm vehicle every 5 minutes or so.. But it was well worth it! We were rewarded with a beautiful sunrise, full of colors and great clouds - a rarity this winter. What I found fascinating, though while staring at the sky, was the the industrial installations that were surrounding us looked quite amazing against such sky and the light of raising sun was making them even more interesting and, dare I say, beautiful. All that smoke highlighted by the low sun just added to already interesting and dramatic sky. It is rather strange to use term "beauty" in the same sentence as industry, smoke and pollution, but judge for yourself. I guess, in a certain light, almost everything is beautiful ;D.. Hope you are going to enjoy this set of pictures from our frozen, beautiful prairies during winter sunrise. Have a wonderful weekend, everybody!! Kasia
In our series of Winter Wonderland we've already managed to show you some of the beauty of Canadian winter. It is hard not to photograph the surrounding world when it is so beautiful. I hope you don't mind me sharing some more of it. Whether it is a park or a country road it all looks so great in the morning light! So here it is - a little more of winter beauty as I saw it.. Kasia
As I have mentioned in the first blog regarding snowflakes (Beauty of a Snowflake - Part 1) they have always fascinated me. I'm pretty sure, most of us don't mind at all looking at them when we have a chance ;) so today I would like to share some more of my pictures of these lovely things. Considering how long our winters last, I'm pretty sure, I will be out there yet again, trying to get some shots, when the conditions are right. Freezing outside is not my idea of fun, but I am willing to sacrifice myself for the right cause ;). I hope you guys enjoy! Happy Monday to us all!!! Kasia
Christmas is over and pretty soon all the decorations will be disappearing from all over the city, and that is why I am so happy we have managed a few trips around the city to capture the festive look. Even the frigid temperatures holding steadily this year didn't stop us from visiting different places in Edmonton to admire the lights and decorations that adorned buildings and shops during the month leading to Christmas. Dressed in layers and armed with cameras and friends ;) we have first ventured to Legislative Assembly of Alberta and its grounds to see what they've done this year. We weren't disappointed at all and spent a pleasant hour or so walking around the grounds and when the cold has gotten to us, were pleasantly surprised by a cup of hot chocolate that the pleasant staff was serving for visitors inside the building.
It's always a pleasure to visit the grounds. They do a great job dressing a lot of trees in lights and it all looks just magical with the snow covered ground!
Next on our list of places to visit this time of year was Whyte Avenue. Another place, that does not disappoint, if you are in need of a little holiday spirit.
It's really hard not to appreciate the creativity that goes into decorations of most of the little boutiques that line Whyte Avenue and surrounding streets. It's always a pleasure to enjoy a stroll there, but with the lights and holiday atmosphere of that particular visit I must admit, this was one of my favorite trips there!
Christmas in Edmonton cannot be truly enjoyed, in my opinion, without a trip to Candy Cane Lane. It's an adventure, every time we go there. Every year the houses look great and the place is full of visitors. All you need to remember is to bring a donation to Edmonton Food Bank and you can enjoy a walk (or a drive when it's freezing) in a Christmas wonderland. I really don't know how the residents survive this amount of visitors each year, but I thank them for it!
I hope you have enjoyed this little tour of wintery Edmonton. Yes, it can be cold and snowy, but around Christmas it is also beautiful and festive and definitely worth getting outside our cozy houses and braving the elements in search of the holiday spirit, in case we needed a little boost! :)
Kasia
The drive that we took several weeks ago in the countryside of our frozen land took us to an abandoned farm where we decided to wait for sunrise. Some of Mac's images from that farm you were able to see in his post Winter Wonderland - Alberta Landscape Part 2. It was quite cold that morning and we were glad we didn't have to wait too long for the sun to show it's face ;D. We decided to drive some more that day and stopped at several places just following one of the country roads. Pretty views were surrounding us. It was a pleasure to actually see the blue sky reflected in snow and morning sun shining and painting the land in warmer tones. Here are some images I took on that morning (I couldn't help myself and took a few macro shots as well). Hope you enjoy! Kasia
My wife has already posted some images from our morning walk in a snowy, foggy park shooting landscapes. It was a great time, even though it was around -24C that morning. We started off with a sunrise at an abandoned farm, which I posted a few days ago, and found our way to a local Edmonton park in the river valley. Even at that late in the morning the fog was still rising from the river, making the world a really magical place. Here are my renditions of the foggy park, that morning. Enjoy!
Alberta landscape, photographs very nicely in any weather, and any season. Spring and summers, are full of color, and stormy weather. This looks wonderful with the never ending prairie skies. Fall means activity on the fields, and beautiful changing colors. Winters are quiet, peaceful giving you time to reflect. They are also easier for sunrises, since one does not have to wake up too early to catch one. This was the case here. My wife and I, decided to visit one of our favorite spots, a little abandoned farm, not too far from where we live. It was a cold day, and it got progressively colder the farther we were out of the city. We started at -17C, and by the time we got to the farm (about 20min drive) it was -24C. We had a bit of time before the sunrise, so we went out exploring. I do have a confession to make.... I see the big picture, and constantly keep missing the small things at my feet. So to train myself I brought the 60mm f2.4 lens on my Fuji to force myself to see close. Just in case I did bring a 8-15mm Canon fisheye, which was mounted on the Sony. Just in case :) Here are some images from that cold morning sunrise. Enjoy!
Saturday morning, we've decided to, finally, venture out with our cameras to check out the world covered in over 20cm of snow. We were very lucky, because, after a week or so, the sun has finally showed its face. Mind you, the temperatures dropped to almost -20 degrees Celsius and even in a foggy park (such low temperatures caused the mist to rise from the river) the blue sky was reflected in the snow making it all look like a winter wonderland. It's truly a glorious thing to behold such beauty!! We've returned home, after our visit in the park, frozen through, but very happy! Here is a few shots from that trip. I hope you enjoy! :) Kasia
It is freezing in here, people!! The mercury dropped below -25oC and with wind it feels more like -38oC!! What can you do when it is so incredible cold out and you can't even drive anywhere because your car is frozen and won't start? Well, you take photos of frost formations off your outside walls, that's what! At least I did... Here are a few shots of these beauties. Hope you enjoy them and appreciate my sacrifice for the art of photography ;) (it was freezing when I was taking them, really, REALLY freezing!!). Kasia
Here is the second part from the freezing -29C degree photo session with Joyanna Marie, at Elk Island National Park. Enjoy!
I had a great pleasure in working with Joyanna Marie a few weeks ago. We decided to meet up at Elk Island National park, bright and early at sunrise. When I planned the session, I wasn't expecting the weather to turn a little frosty. It was -29C that morning, and I was worried a little that Joyanna would not arrive. I was proven wrong. This wasn't a long shoot, because both of us were freezing.... she more than me, as you can see in the images. Enjoy!
Last time I was in Jasper, the fall was in full swing. That morning when me and my family arrived, it was a little frosty. It was most evident on the colorful leaves. I have borrowed the macro lens from my wife, tried to capture it. Here are the results. Enjoy!
