My favourite sunset location by far is Lower Kananaskis Lake, there are so many options during the golden hour it is often difficult to know which one to take. Personally I like to shoot some wide shots with reflections providing such great perspective to a vanishing point way off at the far end of the lake. But, even as the wide angle sits on the tripod, ND graduated filter strapped to the lens, you'll see me stalking around with the 70-200 mm 'picking out' shots from the huge mountain ranges opposite.
Isolating sections of the illuminated ridge is always great fun, finding shapes and compositions that work does not come as easily as you may think. Finding a front range mountain that is sitting below the alpenglow helps provide real interest to the shot, as well as depth. Then an interesting shape such as this undulating 'snake' illuminated behind the dark foreground as the main topic and middle ground, then finally a little sky to provide a background. This is the same ridge you see on the blog header, and on the home page of my site as well as repeatedly through my portfolio. But each image differs from its predecessor, different light, a different shape, different lenses all go into making new images with each visit. So with sunset at the lower lake following on from sunrise at the upper lake, I feel I need to shoot something different for the next blog post, macro perhaps, or some night shots.....watch this space.
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After taking a student to Vermillion Lakes for a sunset shoot last week (see previous post) I decided to try a different venue for the next lesson. This time I headed 100km south of Banff to Lower Kananaskis Lake where I have repeatedly found great sunsets in the wintertime. Thankfully the predictions were correct this time and high cloud brought the perfect 'alpenglow' effect to the towering summits of the Opal Range on the east side of the lake.
It is such a beautiful location with an almost endless supply of potential images. The frozen lake in winter, reflections in spring/summer and incredible colour in autumn. The Kananaskis Lakes area is my favourite place in Canada, not just for it's endless possibilities photographically but because it's just a wonderful place to be and as I tell everyone; if you take the time to drive to Kananaskis Lakes you will be rewarded for your efforts, on this day my reward was stunning. |
Chris WaltersYou can read more about me in the 'about' section in the menu above, on the homepage, or by clicking here
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