Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Turn around

My wife and went to Banff the weekend of September 24 -25 for her half-marathon. It was a beautiful fall weekend and we had incredible weather. You really couldn't have asked for a better weekend. I would have like to go out shooting more but I was there to support my wife in her run. However, we were staying over night in the town so it created an opportunity for me to get out for some sunrise shots.

Moraine Lake is one of the most photographed lakes in the Canadian Rockies. (Probably only second to Lake Louise).  I've shot it a few times but never at sunrise. I got there plenty early, climbing up the rock piles in the gray pre-dawn light. I set up my tripod and took a few shots. Ho-hum. Not a lot of color or dramatic lighting. I took down my tripod and was going to leave when I began a conversation with another photographer who was shooting there. She said that her best shots the day before came after sunrise. (Which somehow seemed counter-intuitive to me but anyways...) I was just about to put my tripod back up when another photographer asked if he could setup right in front of me. I said that I was about to put my tripod there. He decided to use the spot anyways. I firmly but politely indicated that I was going to shoot there. He moved on and I finished setting up.

The light show I had hoped for didn't quite happen. The light was nice enough and there was a bit of color in the sky. I got my shot. Just like everyone else does.
Moraine Lake - Banff National ParkThe "Iconic" shot

Then I turned around and looked the opposite direction. The skies were a lot more dramatic. The vista was incredible. Added bonus? Though I am probably not the first to take this shot, it would be a lot harder to find one to compare mine to.
Moraine Lake RockpilesThe "Other" Way
 
The first shot? They're a dime a dozen. Heck, here's the Flickr search if you want to compare.There's a lot that look like that first shot.


Maybe the next time someone wants to take my spot to get their iconic shot I should let them do me the favor.

1 comment:

lovetoclick said...

beautiful sights + great shots