Revisiting spot

Jun 1, 2025 | Landscapes, Wildlife | 0 comments

24mm | 3 minutes | f/8 | ISO 64

Been itching to get out and do some “proper” landscape photography. The type where I take my time and explore the area, set up on the tripod, slowly adjust the settings, watch the light illuminate the landscape and then allow the long exposures to create the scene.

I was out in Canmore, Alberta for some mountain biking and used the opportunity to visit a spot I had seen this past winter while cross-country skiing. Back then I thought this spot could create a nice photo with the setting sun kissing the mountain peaks.

The weather forecast was calling for sun and cloud with a storm system moving in, so could be ideal conditions. Sadly, the sun breaking through the clouds and highlighting the mountains was about 2 hours before sunset, rather than at sunset, as forecasted. Living 2.5-hour drive away, one must take what was given and make the best of it.

To get to the spot quicker, I jumped on my bike and rode to the spot. As I arrived at the spot an hour and 15 minutes before sunset the weather was deteriorating quickly. I scouted around the spot looking for a composition that seemed to work and kept all the treetops below the mountain peaks. Got the camera setup on the tripod and dialed in all the settings. I then took a test photo with no Neutral Density (ND) filter and verified settings and focus. All looked good but could see the clouds moving quickly and the light was moving away. Using a 10-stop darkening filter and PhotoPills apps to calculate the exposure, I started the 3-minute exposure of the landscape. This turned into a 6-minute wait as I forgot to turn off the long exposure noise reduction. This feature does a same length exposure with the shutter closed to meter the noise on the sensor without gathering in any light.

During the 12 minutes wait for the 2 exposures, I was able to look around and enjoy the landscape. I noticed another view that looked intriguing. The first image had the best light and the second image the light was gone, and the storm was moving in. As the second image was finishing up it started to rain lightly.

I was able to move beside some shelter and then capture the second location I spotted. Only issue now, the wind had picked up, along with the light rain. So now the trees were swaying in the wind. Oh, the life of a landscape photographer, ideal conditions rarely seem to line up with the time one has to make the image. I waited for a few minutes and tried several photos of the trees. This one I was able to time it with a break in the wind. Most of the trees are sharp and only a few are blurry due to still some swaying.

200mm | 1/2s | f/8 | ISO 400

The storm was getting ready to really kick up a level, so I packed up and jumped on the bike and zipped back to the car. Since it was now sunset, the light was finished for the day. Now for the long drive home. As I drove through Kananaskis Provincial Park, I pondered if I would see any grizzly bears alongside the road. This time of year, they often can be seen munching on the dandelions along side the road. Sure enough, just before it was completely pitch black out, I spotted 2 alongside the road. The light was too dark for any photography, but the scene looked just like this one I had taken a few years back in Kananaskis. I post-processed this image to have more of the mood from this outing.