Urban landscapes: the precarious balance
“DEVICE TO ROOT OUT EVIL”, CALGARY, ALBERTA
I’d seen this 6.5-metre tall sculpture several times while driving around this western Canadian city’s downtown looking for potential photos. But before this winter dawn I’d never tried to make a picture because the setting is very busy with roads and buildings.
The perspective and lighting you see here convinced me to make an attempt. It was still a challenge because isolating the 1997 Dennis Oppenheim creation, mounted on a concrete platform, was pretty much impossible. So I incorporated Device To Root Out Evil in a larger scene, trusting that the lighting would make the surroundings complement the sculpture, rather than compete with it. Was I right?
Nikon D7100, tripod
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Natural landscapes: me and the sunrise river
PHOTOGRAPHING THE BOW RIVER AT DAWN, COCHRANE, ALBERTA
The temperature was a tolerable -8c, but the footing was treacherous along this western Canadian river. Large chunks of snow-covered ice were everywhere and in between was a thin layer of snow and ice that my boots often plunged through. Fortunately, I had a small flashlight in my camera bag and it was quite useful until the daylight increased.
Apple iPhone 8, processed in Photoshop Elements.
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Natural landscapes: the dramatic landscape of snow
SNOWDRIFTS AT BOW SUMMIT, BANFF NATIONAL PARK, ALBERTA
These incredible, sensual formations are caused by a new layer of snow falling on plowed snow at the entrance to one of the most popular places in the Canadian Rockies: the gobsmacking lookout over Peyto Lake.
I was fascinated by the abstract play of light and shadow and how it illuminated the texture of the snow. So before I went any further, I spent a half-hour just exploring these drifts. The colour version is a compelling mix of blues, but going black-and-white produced this eye-popping drama.
Nikon D7100, tripod.
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Natural landscapes: the dark and delightful landscape
ATLANTIC OCEAN WAVES AT CAPE SPEAR, NEWFOUNDLAND
I was blessed to spend over an hour in this cold, blustery and stunning place, which is the easternmost point in North America (so the earliest sunrise and sunset on the continent).The low clouds and angry surf made for incredibly atmospheric photos. Here’s another one to prove my point: https://wp.me/p2ccTX-1gw.
Nikon D7100, tripod, graduated density (darkening) filter on the clouds and distant shore.
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Natural landscapes: the frozen wonder
TROLL FALLS, KANANASKIS COUNTRY, ALBERTA
A two or three-kilometre walk brings you to this waterfall in the midst of a very rocky mountain landscape. It’s a sweet photo locale any time of year (here it is in summer: https://wp.me/p2ccTX-Iv), and when the frozen waterfall is in the winter shadows, it’s possible to record beautiful shades of blue.
Nikon D7100, tripod, polarizing filter
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Urban landscapes: the river and the skyline
BOW RIVER AND SKYSCRAPERS, CALGARY, ALBERTA
I visited this spot the evening before (you can see the results here: https://wp.me/p2ccTX-1JK) and was blown away by the creative possibilities, so I returned to experience it in morning light. I’m always grateful at opportunities to photograph nature and urban landscapes together.
Nikon D7100, tripod, polarizing filter, graduated density (darkening) filter on the sky.
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Natural landscapes: finding a way through winter
SINCLAIR CREEK, KOOTENAY NATIONAL PARK, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Hemmed in by forest on one side and a cliff wall on the other, this section of Rocky Mountain creek was the perfect place for a long exposure to highlight the ice formations and turn the flowing water into a gentle silky lines.
I photographed a larger view that’s quite compelling (you can see it here: https://wp.me/p2ccTX-1Iq), but even as I made that picture, I knew there would be good close-ups, too. In both these photos, I went with black-and-white because the colours were pretty muted and monotone heightens the drama.
Nikon D7100, tripod, polarizing filter.
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Urban landscapes: the frigid winter sunset
SKYLINE AT DUSK, CALGARY, ALBERTA
During a recent cold spell, I knew compelling images could be made of this western Canadian city’s skyline after sunset. I had the day off from work, so I had lots of time to find a spot to do close-ups of the office and condo towers, but also have a decent foreground for wider-angle pictures. That’s the frozen Elbow River running diagonally through the bottom half.
The temperature, as I made these pictures, was -23 celsius. I was wearing gloves, but they had to be thin enough to manipulate the camera buttons. After 15 minutes, some fingers were going numb and that’s when I knew I had enough.
Nikon D7100, tripod.
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Rural landscapes: merging with the landscape
OLD TRUCK ON A PRAIRIE LANDSCAPE, DRUMHELLER, ALBERTA
This colourful beauty is near one of the main highways into this town. The back end has a huge sign promoting downtown art galleries. I was careful to keep that — and nearby chain-link fencing — out of all compositions so you could concentrate on the artistry of the front end, the remarkable hues and the delicate prairie grass.
Nikon D7100, tripod, fill-flash.
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Natural landscapes: the artistry of winter shadows
SNOW-COVERED BOULDERS AND DRY STREAM BED, BANFF NATIONAL PARK, ALBERTA
I love how snow can transform messy scenes into things of artistic beauty. In this case, the mix of light and shadow, caused by the sun shining through trees, created a miniature landscape of lighting and shapes that fascinated me.
Nikon D7100, tripod.
Click on the picture for a larger view.
Want to buy this picture? Email me and I’ll make it happen! (fdking@hotmail.com).
Check out my coffeetable book “BLUE SYMPHONY: Winter in the Canadian Rockies”: http://bit.ly/kFb3Xw
