Lake O'Hara August 2011

As many of you know, Lake O'Hara in Yoho National Park in British Columbia is about my most favourite place on the planet.  My family and I were able to get there in late August for 4 days; perfect weather!  One morning my son and I were up at about 7 am and I noticed that the sunrise was just hitting the peaks.  So the next morning I was up at 5, out the tent by 5:15 and hiked about 4 kilometres (2 1/2 mile)in the dark and up 200 meters (600 feet). Dawn was approaching as I went up to an over look and I really pushed hard to get there in time. Racing the sun is unfair as it goes 1600 kph (1000 mph) and I hike at a significantly slower pace.  But I made it. Set up the tripod and took multiple shots.  I was experimenting with HDR as well and the following are 5 shot brackets, processed in Photmatix. Pretty much what I recall seeing.  I am thrilled with Photomatix.

Looking northish. 7:20 am.  the high peak on the left is Mount Odaray, the pointy one on the right is Cathedral Mountain

Looking east. 7:38 am August 28. Lake O'Hara is the larger lake on the right.  The one on the left is Mary lake (it is actually just one lake - can't see where it joins.)

This is on the Opabin Plateau, behind where the first two photos were taken.  Mount Schaffer in the right background. 7:58 am.

And finally Lake O'Hara in the evening, the same day.  We had a great sunset, too!  9:08 pm.

Just a sampling of a beautiful wilderness area.  Hope you enjoy them and comments are appreciated.

Garth

Summer Cars

Last week we discovered that the local Aston Martin dealership holds a get - together for exotic cars every Saturday morning.  Coffee, muffins, fruit and incredible machinery! I didn't have my camera with me last week (my bad!) but went again yesterday with camera in hand.  Great fun!  Hope you enjoy the shots.

Aston Martin DB5

Ferrari 458 Italia Detail

Ferrari 458 Italia Detail

Audi R8 V10

Audi R8 V10

Ferrari 458 Italia

Lotus Esprit V8 Twin Turbo

The place to be in a Ferrari F430!

Detail of a Ferrari 599

The place to be in an Audi R8 V10!

Ferrari 430 Spyder

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Poppies

Saw these in a garden in Cochrane, Alberta.  It was windy and a challenge to get the very fragile blooms clear.  I don't do much flower photography and these were really just grab shots, but the colours and delicacy were worth photographing.

Contest Winner

This photograph was the winner in a contest of photos of France put on by France On Your Own. It was in their newsletter, which is here: http://www.franceonyourown.com/News_15_1_01.htm

The prize is a year's subscription to France On Your Own magazine and a magazine cover. I am thrilled to have had this photo chosen.

Twilight Hotel

Last evening we went to see the band Twilight Hotel in Turner Valley, Alberta, one of the series in the Beneath the Arch Concert Series. Twilight Hotel is a duo originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, now based in Austin, Texas. I took my Pentax K-r to see what photos I could shoot.  The lighting is static - just floods of different colours, but I think I managed to isolate the performers notwithstanding no spot lighting. Shot with The Pentax DA 18-250 lens.

Twilight Hotel were fabulous!  Hard to classify, rock, blues, folk-rock, but at all times great musically and wonderful voices. We thoroughly enjoyed the evening. If you have a chance to see them, I recommend that you so so.

Winter Blues

It has been cold and snowy again this week.  Last week we had melting, this week snow and cold and later this week it will thaw again.  The good thing about winter is that it does provide some opportunities for photographs, if you are willing to play with Jack Frost!

The first two are studies in monochrome - blue and white rather than black and white - and just patterns.  Frosted trees against a clear blue sky. 

 Just before sunrise.

A study in form. Wind-blown snow looking like waves on a lake.

 Stay warm!

My first foray into blogging

This is my first foray into my own blog.  I hope to post here from time to time and offer comments on things photographic.

I submitted a framed print of the above photo for a charity auction at Strathcona Tweedsmuir School.  The auction ends this coming week and I am anxious to see if it generated some funds for the good causes that the school is supporting.