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Banff National Park – Landscape photography

Known worldwide, Banff National Park is part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site and, it is a mecca for landscape photography. “It’s like you’ve stepped into a photographer’s Narnia. Epic mountains, beautiful glacial lakes, roaring waterfalls, and wildlife everywhere. It can be quite overwhelming, but take a deep breath in and prepare for one heck of a jaw-dropping experience while exploring Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada.” 

Mountain landscape photography has distinct challenges like the weather, finding the right location and subject, and choosing a lens and composition to capture the scene. This is a  list, courtesy of The Wild Idea, and has some good points to consider-

The Banff National Park Mountain landscape photography needn’t be limited, or only about the iconic locations. Canadian Rockies Art, the beauty of the landscape is a feature in Banff Art stores and wherever you see Landscape Photography for sale. The fun, the challenge, and the creativity of Mountain Landscape Photography is in finding and creating images of the natural landscape of Banff National Park or any other mountainous area that you “see” and want to capture and create.

Tall-in-the-Sun-min-200x300.jpg
Tall in the Sun

 

Back to the question – What is the most important thing in Landscape photography? My response would be:

Light, Composition, Subject

This is how I work and is the guide I follow while out in Banff and the Rocky Mountain Landscape. Landscape photography is the practice of asking questions and looking for answers. There is no simple formula to follow. The urge to create, the tools you have ( your camera gear ) and the location where you are, all work together. It is you, and you decide the answer to the questions, that in the end, allow you to capture a scene that evoked an emotional connection for you.

As a Canadian Landscape Photographer, working in the UNESCO heritage site of Banff National Park I start with 3 simple questions – How suitable is the Light, What is the Composition to use, Can I get these to work to best reveal my Subject?

 

Crowfoot Mountain and Bow Lake
Sun Up on Crowfoot Mountain and Bow Lake

 

Click on these links below for access to a  LIVE WALL PREVIEW of the Blog Post Images

 

 

“Special Moments in the Rockies, Captured in a Print Forever”

 

Published by Ron Hallam

Gita Photos is a Landscape Photography Studio based in Banff, Alberta and Banff National Park a World Heritage Site. Hi, my name is Ron Hallam. I am truly blessed to be able to live in and work in this stunning location; Banff, Alberta. I closed in and renovated the deck of my condo to be an editing studio. The studio is paneled in Alberta cedar. The main part of the ‘studio’, though, is the Banff National Park and the Canadian Rockies! My work invloves hiking through the Park to find locations where the natural wonders of the Rockies are illuminated by the natural light of the moment. As one client testimonial put it, I want to offer you “ an instant escape to someplace magical” ( Jane Fedosoff, Toronto, Ontario) Another client commented “Ron's photographs are not just beautiful images of the Canadian Rockies. They are Ron himself – his life experiences, his love for this place and his eye for detail- that show a depth and unique understanding of this special place we are lucky to call home.” (Phil Monod, Banff Alberta) I’m in the second half of my life. I spent the first half running a ski shop and skiing and hiking in and around Banff National Park. I tinkered with photography for a long time - first with disposable cameras in the 70's. Needless to say the disposable left everything to be desired and I walked away wanting more, much more. Then, for one special hiking trip to Nepal, I purchased a proper SLR camera. The SLR provided better images, but I still needed time to learn and study and work at the craft of image making and film processing. Meanwhile, the time commitment necessary to run a shop (and my shop was a passion) meant work gave me limited spare time. That translated into playing when I could, took precedence over study of camera, technique and processing. So, upon retiring - for my second half, I wanted to stretch and work my “creative muscles”. I got down to focused and dedicated photographic endeavor. That started with a new DSLR. Then I began to study image making seriously. I learned about the digital way of image capture and developing (editing). The Rockies Landscape is so grand that larger Panorama shots are a favorite for me to create while, but as you can see from my work, everything in this magnificent place draws me to capture images of all kinds of landscapes. I like to work in both Color and Black and White and would love to hear which you prefer as your format of choice, and why. Every time I make an image, it is the direct result of letting the “something” inside me come up to the surface, and compel me to record that moment of what I’m seeing and feeling. I want to engage you to see the Rockies, and feel the Rockies exactly the way I do. I want to try to have you try to understand and engage with my perspective, and point you to the exquisite, intricate and profoundly intelligent designer - the God who created this natural world. Then, if you are awed by creation but also perturbed by economic disparities in the world, I hope you will browse the Art Battling Poverty Gallery dedicated to Poverty Relief and assistance for the marginalized. While you and I enjoy the beauty of the Rockies, many are struggling simply to survive. When you purchase my Art from the Art Battling Poverty Gallery (or indeed any image purchase) just tell me to donate to either of the NGO's I work with, at time of checkout. A portion of each sale, 15% – read the ABOUT Art Battling Poverty Tab) will be donated to in your name. Have a browse and find “ A special moment in the Rockies, captured in a print forever”. And when you purchase you won't only have a special print, but you will also be giving Hope to the marginalized.