Fire and Ice Photo Tour Results – Dan Marston

Below are Dan Marston’s six favorite photos from the Fire and Ice Photo Tour.

©Dan Marston

Athabasca Falls Jasper National Park

©Dan Marston

Jasper Nov 2011

©Dan Marston

©Dan Marston

Panther Falls

Banff National Park

©Dan Marston

©Dan Marston

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Another Weekly Win and More Mine Tour Results

First congratulations to Scott Dimond for another weekly win in the How to Photograph the Canadian Rockies Photo Contest, to see his winning photo of the week, click on this link.

The Canadian Rockies contest closes by the end of September so be sure to enter for a two night stay at the Aurum Lodge and a two night stay at eco-award winning Aurum Lodge, located 45 kilometres west of Nordegg, Alberta, Canada in the heart of the Bighorn Wildlands and situated overlooking Abraham Lake. The prize includes accommodations for one or two persons in a superior corner room and includes one evening meal, two breakfasts and taxes (value $400 CAD). The winner also receives a 20-image personalized portfolio critique by me (Darwin Wiggett) presented as an interactive PDF (value $200 CAD).

And below our Royce Howland’s six favorite photos form the Nordegg Mine Tour and the walk on the Athabasca Glacier.

©Royce Howland

©Royce Howland

©Royce Howland

©Royce Howland

©Royce Howland

©Royce Howland

Fabulous Film Fridays – September 2, 2011

Back in 1999 (doesn’t that seem so long ago?) I lived in the town of Jasper. I was a full-time stock photographer and of course was still shooting film. All the stock agencies in those days only wanted images captured on slide film. I loved slide film but it had a very narrow range of exposure latitude; it had to be perfectly exposed and even then it could only handle a small range of contrast (about 5 f-stops from pure black to pure white). Negative film, on the other hand could handle a whopping tonal range of 7 to 9 f-stops. If only I could shoot with negative film and enjoy the benefits of wider tonal capture!

Well, in 1999, I shot all year with negative film and then scanned my best ‘negs’ on a high end digital drum scanner and then ‘worked’ the scans in Photoshop and had the digital files output as 4×5 inch LVT transparencies (in other words, big honking slides!). The stock agencies loved these big slides, and I loved the wider tonal range I got with this process. I did not like the expenses of drum scans and LVT output costs and so only output a few select images per month.

Fast forward to today and in my basement sits a dusty binder full of 1999 negatives from Jasper that have never been scanned nor seen by anyone (even I barely remember what is in that binder. I plan to revisit this little treasure trove of lost memories from time to time to share a few negs from my ‘bad old days’ as a bachelor in Jasper. For now here are two images shot on negative film that turned out to sell well with the stock agencies.

©Darwin Wiggett - Mamiya 645 Pro TL, Mamiya 80mm lens, Fuji Reala Film

©Darwin Wiggett, Mamiya 645 Pro TL, Mamiya 35mm lens, Fuji Reala Film

Nordegg Mine Tour and Icefield Walk Results – Sonia Wadsworth

On August 19-22, I co-hosted a photography outing with Mark and Leslie Degner, Royce Howland, Samantha Chrysanthou and Alan Ernst to the Brazeau Colleries in Nordegg, Alberta and to the Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park. On the tour were six keen photographers that will share their favorite ‘take’ from the outing. Below are Sonia Wadsworth’s images.

©Sonia Wadsworth

©Sonia Wadsworth

©Sonia Wadsworth

©Sonia Wadsworth

©Sonia Wadsworth

©Sonia Wadsworth

The Weekly Photo – August 1, 2011

©Darwin Wiggett

Here is a shot of Cataract Lake from the headwaters of the Brazeau River in Jasper National Park. This is just below Cataract Pass before humping up over the pass to get into the Whitegoat Wilderness Area (Canon Rebel T2i, Sigma 17-50mm lens, Singh-Ray LB warming polarizer, f16 – 3 exposure HDR blend using Oloneo PhotoEngine).

©Darwin Wiggett

Upper Brazeau River Canyon in Jasper National Park looking back toward Nigel Pass (Canon T2i, Sigma 17-50mm lens, Singh-Ray Gold-N-Blue Polarizer, f11 – 3 exposure HDR blend using Oloneo PhotoEngine).

©Darwin Wiggett

Upper Cataract Creek Valley in the Whitegoat Wilderness (Canon T2i, Sigma 17-50mm lens, f11 – 3 exposure HDR blend using Oloneo PhotoEngine).

2011 Tours and Workshops – Something for Everyone

Below is a listing of tours and workshops available for 2011 and into 2012. Their are only a few spots left in these events so if you want to boost your learning in photography then come join us for a great time:

Fire and Ice Photo Tour – November 10 – 13, 2011

This event is sold out but to be added to the wait list contact the Aurum Lodge or sign up for the 2012 photo tour. This is one of my favorite tours because of the short days with great light and the intersection of new ice with the fiery skies of late fall.

Just Announced! Do to popular demand we have added a second Fire and Ice as of Oct 10. Tour starts Wed. Nov. 16^th 5pm to Sunday Nov. 20^th 1:30 pm (four nights at Aurum Lodge!), with the option to join a day later (Nov. 17^th) for those who cannot make the four nights, but wish to come for three nights only. Cost is C$ 1,359 for the four night tour or C$ 1,019 for the three night tour all in. Contact Alan at Aurum Lodge info@aurumlodge.com to book. Only two spots left

©Darwin Wiggett

Ice Bubbles on Abraham Lake – Winter Magic Tours 2012 – Feb. 23-26, and Feb. 29 – March 4, 2012

It seems that the Ice Bubbles out on Abraham Lake have now gotten a bit famous especially after my 2008 Travel Photographer of the Year Win which featured my Abraham Lake shots. I have taken many photographers out on the ice at Abraham Lake and now their great photos are circulating around and getting lots of views. I have been leading these tours since 2005 (see the results from back then when almost everyone was still shooting film!).

It might seem an easy proposition to just drive up to the lake in winter and get great shots on your own; and yes that is possible. But the ice bubble locations change from year to year, and most people are unaware of the extreme dangers of Abraham Lake and of the other great locations near the lake. That is where your guides (Alan who lives on the shores of Abraham Lake) and I can make sure we get you to the best spots in the best light no matter the weather. And plus you get the fantastic accommodations of the Aurum Lodge which is a nice retreat after a few hours out on the ice at -25 degrees C!

In 2012, there are two tours available; Feb 23-26, and Feb. 29 – March 4 (this latter tour is already sold out). So if you are keen to photograph Abraham Lake and other great spots this coming winter, then sign up for the Feb23-26 tour before it sells out!

©Darwin Wiggett

©Darwin Wiggett - could you find this place on your own?

Spring Photo Tour Results – Carrie Bradley

Below are Carrie Bradley’s results from the Spring Photo Tour in the Canadian Rockies:

©Carrie Bradley

Canon XSi, ISO 100, 17mm, f/11, 1/2 sec. (17-50 f/2.8 Tamron lens), Singh Ray Gold/Blue Polarizer, 2 stop hard ND grad (Hitech)

At Whitegoat Lakes, the snow covered Elliot Peak reigns.  Mount Stelfox is reflected in gold.

©Carrie Bradley

ISO 100, 10mm, f/22, 1/6 sec. (Canon 10-22) lens, B+W polarizer, 2 stop hard ND grad (Hitech)

The vastness and ever changing area of the Columbia Icefields offers endless photographic opportunities.

©Carrie Bradley

ISO 100, 24mm, f/8.0, 1/8 sec. (Canon 24-105 f/4L lens), Singh Ray LB warming polarizer, 2 stop hard ND grad (Hitech)

A memorable late evening spent at Whirlpool Point and the North Saskatchewan River, Kootenay Plains.

©Carrie Bradley

ISO 100, 14mm, f/8.0 1/2 sec. (Canon 10-22 lens), B+W polarizer, 2 stop hard ND grad (Hitech)

Well worth the early rise for the 5:30 am sunrise at Windy Point on Abraham Lake!

©Carrie Bradley

ISO 100, 32mm, f/11, 13 secs. (Canon 24-105 f/4L lens), Singh Ray LB warming polarizer, Singh Ray Colour Intensifier filter, 5 stop ND filter (Hitech)

Cline Canyon & Cline River, Bighorn Wildlands, was my favourite location.  It included time to hike and explore an expansive canyon in complete solitude.

©Carrie Bradley

ISO 100, 65 mm, f/22, 1/5 sec. (Canon 24-105 f/4L lens), Singh Ray LB warming polarizer.

Darwin stepped into my composition but it was rewarding since he added a sense of scale and provided a focal interest.  Here he is busy at work.  As photographers we like to “trophy hunt” and take photos of sweeping landscapes.  We must not forget the “intimate details”.  Darwin is no doubt isolating the details of Nigel Creek here in Banff National Park.

Special Summer Rockies Tour (Ice Walk, Nordegg Mines, Secret Spots)

Just a reminder about the special summer photographer’s tour based out of the Aurum Lodge in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. There are only a couple of spots left on this tour where we will have photographer’s access to the old Nordegg Mine, a full day on the Athabasca  Glacier in Jasper National Park and you will be guided to secret spots like the Cline River Canyon (see image below) that are just minutes from the Aurum Lodge. Dates are Friday August 19th through Monday August 22, 2011. Costs of $899 single, $749 double are all-inclusive (rooms, meals, guiding and entrance fees). You’ll be joined by photographers Royce Howland, Mark and Leslie Degner, Alan Ernst and Samantha and yours truly. Click on this link to see the detailed PDF. To reserve your spot just email Alan at the Aurum Lodge – info@aurumlodge.com.

©Darwin Wiggett - click on the photo to see a larger version

©Darwin Wiggett - Old truck at the Nordegg mine

©Darwin Wiggett - Glacier photography at the Columbia Icefields

Fabulous Film Fridays – June 24

The three images below were all taken with Gail, my Fuji GA645 point-n-shoot medium format camera using Fujicolor NPS 160 negative film. All photos were handheld and were taken on a recent tour of the Brazeau Collieries in Nordegg.

Speaking of Nordegg, I am happy to announce a brand new tour based out of Aurum Lodge on August 19-22, 2011 where we will have special photographer’s access to the old mine at Nordegg and we’ll be going on a photographer’s ice walk on the Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park. As well you’ll be accompanied by some really great photographers, Royce Howland, Mark and Leslie Degner, Alan Ernst and Samantha and me. To learn more about the unique photo tour in the Canadian Rockies see the PDF – click on this link.

©Darwin Wiggett

©Darwin Wiggett

©Darwin Wiggett

The last image above was converted to a tones black-n-white using Nik Silver Efex 2 which I use for all of my B+W conversion. If you are interested in any NIK software be sure to save 15% with the coupon code DARWIN

The Weekly Photo and Two New eBook Releases

Below is an image taken during the spring of 2008 at the Columbia Icefields in Jasper National Park that I finally got around to processing.  Yikes, gotta get caught up!

The cool thing is that the longer I wait to process images the more likely I am to delete most of the photos from the shoot. After several years, my objectivity about the images is much higher and I realize that most of the photos I make actually suck! Only those images that are a tad different or say something that I haven’t said before are likely to survive the ‘aged’ editing process.

The image below was one of the few survivors. I took this image with my Canon EOS-1ds Mark III and a Canon 24mm TS-E lens (the original version). I liked the grungy look and enhanced that look by converting the image to a textured black-n-white (and then toned blue) with Silver Efex Pro 2. Any one interested in buying this software (which I am a huge fan of) can get 15% off if you use the code darwin on checkout.

©Darwin Wiggett

Speaking of the parks and the mountains and melting glaciers… I am happy to announce two new eBook releases. I have just released my latest eBook over at How to Photograph the Canadian Rockies. This latest book is a big compendium of all the great places to go in Banff National Park – check it out! You’ll need this eBook if you plan a visit to Banff National Park because it directs you to all the best spots in the the right light and in the correct season (over 50 locations are discussed).

And if that isn’t exciting news, then this is; my good friend and Canada’s best wildlife photographer, John Marriott has  written an eBook for all of us Canadian Rockies fans. Check out The Icefields Parkway: Wildlife Edition

Here is more good news. I am offering a 20% discount on these $10 eBooks if you buy 2 or more eBooks by June 7 (midnight MST). Just use the code LLTL on checkout. This is the last time you’ll get this big of a discount. Going forward the standard discount will be 10% but only if you buy 5 or more eBooks.

And finally, if you want to share images you have taken in the Canadian Rockies, be sure to post them to the How to Photograph the Canadian Rockies Flickr group. Why bother? Well, I will be there to comment on your photos and also I will pick out a great photo once a week to feature on the How to Photograph the Canadian Rockies website!

Finally thanks to Stephen Desroches for his amazing hard work designing these eBooks and building the website and of course thanks to Samantha for her great editing job and moron (oops… I mean moral) support. Happy shooting!