Natural landscapes: the perfect reflection
SPRING MORNING AT SYLVAN LAKE, ALBERTA
I was blessed to visit this summer vacation destination on a perfect April morning with no wind and an interesting sky. The gorgeous lake has a lovely tourist village with shopping, eats and a charming lighthouse (which you can see here: https://wp.me/p2ccTX-26r). It’s on my bucket list to visit again at the height of autumn colours. 🙂
Nikon D7100, tripod, graduated density (darkening) filter on the sky
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Natural landscapes: the struggle of spring growth
APRIL’S ICY STREAM, BIG HILL SPRINGS PROVINCIAL PARK, NEAR COCHRANE, ALBERTA
As you can see, it was a cold spring morning when I visited this park, about 30 minutes’ drive from my home. I really liked the struggle between the new growth and the ice of a winter that was very reluctant to leave. Makes for a pretty compelling photo, he? 🙂
Nikon D7100, tripod, polarizing filter, neutral density (darkening) filter
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Rural landscapes: ready for harvest
GRAIN STORAGE BINS NEAR DRUMHELLER, ALBERTA
A seemingly plain picture, but what intrigued me was seeing the fence post between the bins. I went low to push the post higher and increase its profile, then made sure the sky was dark enough to keep you eyes from wandering out of the picture.
Nikon D7100, tripod, polarizing filter, graduated density (darkening) filter on the sky.
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Check out my coffeetable book, “Bring on the Light: Forty years of photography”: https://bit.ly/BringOnTheLight
Natural landscapes: opening up to spring
OLDMAN RIVER,
NEAR LUNDBRECK, ALBERTA
I loved the patterns of open water and rugged ice, so I spent time wandering all over the place making pictures like this. Just had to make sure I didn’t get too close to the edge, where the ice was likely a lot thinner. 🙂
Nikon D7100, tripod, polarizing filter
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Rural landscapes: the ponds of spring
PRAIRIE LANDSCAPE NEAR DRUMHELLER, ALBERTA
There is no bad time to photograph the awe-inspiring prairies of western Canada. In spring, I like to capture scenes like this, where the brown fields glow under an epic, endless sky. Melting snow creates all kinds of ponds, some that disappear in summer but others provide important resting stops for migrating birds and nesting for larger creatures like geese.
Nikon D7100, tripod, polarizing filter
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Rural landscapes: under the early spring sky
GLENBOW STORE AND POST OFFICE,
GLENBOW RANCH PROVINCIAL PARK, NEAR COCHRANE, ALBERTA
Ever since this provincial park opened in 2008, it’s been a go-to favourite for photography in all seasons. This ancient structure operated in the town of Glenbow from 1909 until 1918 serving the people of Glenbow and surrounding area.
The building itself consisted of a relocated farmhouse and extension to meet the needs of a growing town. After the store closed, the building was used as a granary until the floor collapsed, after which the building was abandoned.
The building’s importance to the settlement of the area in the early twentieth century, as well as to the quarry that provided sandstone for several important buildings in Alberta, contribute to its value as a historic resource. (Source: University of Calgary)
Nikon D7100, tripod, polarizing filter, graduated density (darkening) filter on the sky.
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Rural landscapes: under the dramatic spring sky
CRUMBLING FARM BUILDINGS, SHARPLES, ALBERTA
This abandoned community is a photographer’s paradise, with an ancient grain elevator and several other very photogenic old buildings. I spent several hours taking it all in and exploring the creative possibilities, while the clouds created superb skies. Even as I made colour exposures (you can see the colour version here: https://bit.ly/SharplesShacks), I knew this scene would also be a great black-and-white photo. Was I right?
Nikon D7100, tripod, polarizing filter, graduated density (darkening) filter on the sky.
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Natural landscapes: Irish green on St. Patrick’s Day
FUCHSIA GROWING AT AVONDALE HOUSE, COUNTY WICKLOW, IRELAND
I went back into the archives and found this beauty from my 1993 trip to Ireland. This island is my spiritual home and I’ve become a student of the republic’s 1916-23 revolutionary period that led to the Ireland we know today. I forgot that I visited Avondale (the home of renowned Irish parliamentarian Charles Stewart Parnell), but the title of this jpeg restored my happy memories. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Nikon FM2 film camera, tripod
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Rural landscapes: the beautiful, distant landscape
FROSTY GROVES OF TREES, NEAR CALGARY, ALBERTA
I made this photograph in January, but it could just as easily happen in March on the Canadian prairies, which are 300 metres above sea level and, so, prone to dramatic swings in climate.
I did a colour version (which you can see here: https://bit.ly/AlbertaFrostyTrees), but even when I made the picture I knew it would also make a dramatic monotone jpeg. I really like the muted lighting and how your eyes can wonder through each snowy field.
Nikon D7100, 70-300 mm. zoom lens, tripod.
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Natural landscapes: the sweet mountain dawn
SUNRISE AND POLICEMAN’S CREEK, CANMORE, ALBERTA
This wonderful scene looks like a preview of spring in the Canadian Rockies, but it was actually photographed during a warm stretch in January. Spring is usually very late to arrive at this high altitude and for that reason, it tends to give way to summer much faster than lower altitudes. Either way, I love all the seasons here and try to remember while I can visit any weekend I like, some people save all their lives just to experience this place once.
Nikon D7100, tripod, enhancing filter, graduated density (darkening) filter on the sky
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Rural landscapes: outstanding in its field
TREE GROVE IN WINTER,
NEAR TURNER VALLEY, ALBERTA
Driving over the crest of a hill, I spotted this group of trees and immediately knew there would be compelling photos to be had. I spent the next half-hour exploring vertical and horizontal (here’s a horizontal view: https://bit.ly/TurnerValleyTrees) compositions from a hillside road that afforded perfect views.
What I like about this scene is it’s the opposite of a postcard picture. It’s subtle and encourages thought and meditation. It would also work well as a black-and-white picture.
Nikon D7100, tripod, graduated density (darkening) filter on the sky
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Want to buy this picture? Email me and I’ll make it happen! (fdking@hotmail.com).
Check out my coffeetable book, “MOMENTS OF LIGHT: Thirty Years of Photography”: http://bit.ly/JTNnMX
Rural landscapes: a glimpse of farming history
BAR U RANCH NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE, NEAR LONGVIEW, ALBERTA
Founded in 1882 as the Northwest Cattle Company, the Bar U was one of the first and most enduring of the large corporate ranches established in southern Alberta. Among its owners were two founders of the Calgary Stampede – George Lane and Senator Patrick Burns.
I’ve found it’s a great spot to learn the ranching history of this country, especially what happened after fencing came in and radically changed the work of cowboys. It doesn’t hurt that the ranch still has a great collection of colourful buildings within sight of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
Nikon D7100, tripod, graduated density (darkening) filter on the sky
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Natural landscapes: flowing through a snowy world
PETAWAWA RIVER, PETAWAWA, ONTARIO
Whenever my wife and I visit eastern Ontario, I find time to visit this army town and take in the beautiful Canadian Shield landscapes. This river is a favourite subject, especially at this spot because of the photogenic rapids.
On this day, the only colour was goldy-brown in the water (you can see it here: https://bit.ly/PetawawaRiverRapids), so it was an easy decision to go fully black-and-white. I also decided to go with a fast shutter speed in order to stop the motion of the water and provide an energetic, almost violent contrast to the gentle snowy landscape.
Nikon D7100, graduated density (darkening) filter on the sky.
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Rural landscapes: channelling the western wind
WIND TURBINES NEAR PINCHER STATION, ALBERTA
I’ve discovered, over the years, that many people detest wind turbines. Well, they still make for great photo subjects, especially with an epic sky and the last light of a winter day. The key here was exposure speed; I wanted to show you the motion of the blades, but not have them simply disappear in a too-long exposure. This picture was made with 1/3 of a second exposure.
Nikon D7100, tripod, polarizing filter, neutral density (darkening) filter
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Check out my coffeetable book, “Frank King’s Southern Alberta“: http://bit.ly/1oUzd4A
Rural landscapes: where the snow blows
FIELD OF HAYROLLS, NEAR DRUMHELLER, ALBERTA
Regular visitors to this website will know I’m a sucker for hayrolls. Those perfectly cyclindrical shapes, scattered over fields, makes for mighty compelling compositions. Add on new snow and frost and you have scenes like this. What a blessing it is to live in a land where this type of photography is possible. 🙂
Nikon D7100, tripod, polarizing filter
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Check out my coffeetable book, “Frank King’s Southern Alberta“: http://bit.ly/1oUzd4A
Urban landscapes: dawn in the snowy world
SUNRISE AT THE MARINA, DEEP RIVER, ONTARIO
I was blessed to be in this eastern Ontario town right after a significant snowfall that left everything covered. This marina has often been the focus of my camera, but never in conditions quite this compelling. As I recall, it was hard to make a bad photo that day.
Nikon D7100, tripod, graduated density (darkening) filter on the sky.
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Natural landscapes: the epic alpine viewpoint
NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER, KOOTENAY PLAINS ECOLOGICAL RESERVE, ALBERTA
Sensing a good view of the adjacent river valley, I stopped the car on Hwy. 11, climbed a small rock outcropping beside the road, and was greeted with this very photogenic vista. This river flows into Abraham Lake, which is renowned for millions of ice bubbles that form as the lake freezes every winter.
Nikon D7100, tripod, polarizing filter, graduated density filter on the sky and mountains
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Rural landscapes: Grace’s resting place
WINTER AT THE CEMETERY,
FORT SMITH, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
I wasn’t intending to make this photo a tribute to Grace Ann Beaulieu, who lived only one day in 1975. I really just liked the compelling winter scene.
But then, while processing this picture, I noticed the plate on the cross and imagined how hard it must have been for Grace’s parents to have her for only a day. Life is sometimes beyond our comprehension even if, like me, you have the joy and challenge of a significant faith life. (I follow Jesus of Nazareth.)
Nikon D7100, tripod, graduated density filter on the sky
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Urban landscapes: a river definitely runs through it
MORNING LIGHT ON THE BOW RIVER, CALGARY, ALBERTA
This river, which flows out of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, is an endless source of photographic inspiration, no matter what season or weather. I come back to it time and time again and find great creative opportunities. In this case, the curve of the ice made a compelling frame to the downtown skyline reflected in the icy water.
Nikon D7100, tripod, polarizing filter, graduated density (darkening) filter on the sky
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Natural landscapes: the sweet sounds of a cold winter
VERMILION RIVER, KOOTENAY NATIONAL PARK, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Finding open water in the midst of a Rocky Mountain winter is always a blessing, so I made my way down to the shoreline to find sweet compositions like this.
A key to making this picture work, for me, is the snow on the trees. Without that, I’m not sure I would have waded through the snow to find this photogenic spot.
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