PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR OVERVIEW: The Canadian Rockies are part of a ‘backbone’ of mountains that run from New Mexico all the way to Alaska, but the stretch shared by the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia are among the most accessible and spectacular. John Baker has been leading photography tours to the region since 1989, and knows the obvious and not-so-obvious spots that Jasper, Banff, and Yoho National Parks have to offer. That, along with a thorough knowledge of where to be when the light is at its best is a combination that yields high quality images . . . the rest is down to you, but John will be on hand to help with the technical side too. High elevations in the summer are the place to shoot wildflowers in both wide expanse and macro modes. Add to the mix waterfalls, sunrise and sunset photography, plus the ever changing light amid mountain ranges that are sporadically graced by Elk, Bear, Big Horn Sheep and Coyote etcetera, and you have a memorable photography tour.
INCREASING YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY SKILLS: There isn’t a straightforward way to describe everything you will learn on one of our photography tours in just a few words, but I'll give it a try . . . I instruct, encourage, nurture, coach, nudge, help and guide clients etcetera, all day and every day. This includes one-on-ones and 'collective instruction', i.e. advice given to the whole group at each photo stop. Subjects and techniques discussed and demonstrated are composition strength, shutter speeds, exposure compensation, how aperture choice influences depth of field, lens choice, filter use, long exposure effects, deliberate blur, macro and so on. I also encourage you to 'see' an image when the opportunity presents itself, i.e. to be on the lookout for those less obvious shots that are no less stunning. Lastly, I conduct image critiques both on location - digital camera screens are ideal for this - and via the use of laptops. PhotoShop sessions are also included as time permits. For more details regarding what you'll learn go here.
TRAVEL TO THE GATEWAY AIRPORT
o It is recommended that clients arrive a day early to be fresh for the trip, and to also counteract possible flight delays.
o Early arrival also enables you to explore the gateway city should you wish to do so.
o When booking flights, add a day for overnight travel or two days if also crossing the Pacific Ocean/International Dateline.
o The last day of the trip is the date you should arrange your flight home unless you plan to stay on. Thank you!
DAY 1 | CALGARY, ALBERTA
I'll meet your early afternoon flight into Calgary, home of the Calgary Stampede and a central gateway into the spectacular Rockies. After lunch we'll photograph the spectacular Calgary skyline and then make our way westwards to Banff with excursions to Two Jack Lake on our way in, and Vermillion Lakes for the late light.
BANFF, 1 night
DAYS 2, 3 and 4 | BANFF to JASPER
After sunrise at Vermillion Lakes and breakfast, we'll slowly coast the Bow Valley Parkway in search of wildlife where Elk are the most visible. On via Lake Louise, but we'll be back!, and onto the Icefields Parkway and our first look at Herbert Lake. Going north we'll photograph Bow Lake, the Crowfoot Glacier, Peyto Lake, and the Columbia Icefield where a ride out onto the Columbia Glacier is optional. Into Jasper national park for Sunwapta and Athabasca Falls, plus I hope encounter the white Mountain Goat. Then onto Jasper as the last light of the day fades.
We’ll spend the next two days getting close to Mt. Edith Cavell, Pyramid Lake, Medicine Lake and Maligne Lake where we’ll take a boat trip to Spirit Island at the lake’s south end. This is also a good area for Elk and Big Horn Sheep, plus there are some good stands of Aspen groves for creating pattern compositions.
JASPER, 3 nights
DAYS 5, 6, 7 and 8 | JASPER to BANFF National Park
Another early run prior to breakfast to catch the wildlife still up and about, then after our last breakfast in Jasper we'll photograph more of the Icefields Parkway, but in reverse. We’ll shoot all day as we pass through both Jasper and Banff national parks, and make our way to Lake Louise for our four night stay.
During our time in Lake Louise we’ll take in Emerald Lake, and Takkakaw Falls in Yoho national park, plus Moraine Lake, the Bow Valley Parkway, the Banff area, and much more including Lake Louise itself. Early starts will be must while here.
LAKE LOUISE, 4 nights
DAY 9 | LAKE LOUISE to CALGARY
First light at Herbert Lake today, then a return to Lake Louise for breakfast. Weather permitting we'll have captured the Lake Louise dawn classic and more, so we'll take our time returning down the Bow Valley Parkway while on the lookout for more wildlife such as Coyote, Elk and Big Horn Sheep. A third and last look at the Banff region making sure that we haven't missed anything, then on to Calgary for hotel check-in. During dinner John will present an 'It's You' collection of images taken of clients during the trip.
CALGARY, 1 night
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