My Moraine Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

It took three years and several visits to Banff, but I finally got to see the famous Moraine Lake. It didn't disappoint. It's hard to imagine a more beautiful lake, other than perhaps Lake O'Hara.

My in-laws and I got here at about 5:00 in the afternoon, and the parking lot was packed. An hour later, nobody. By the time we hiked up to the Rockpile for this view, at about 7:30, there were perhaps 10 cars in the parking lot--as opposed to hundreds just a couple hours earlier.

For the life of me I'll never understand the mentality of seeing nature from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, when everyone else is crowding locations and the light is terrible. But I'm glad it's that way. While the tourists are eating their fine dinners, we nature lovers can have the beauty all to ourselves.

This was taken about two hours before sunset, and as such the sun was hardly in an ideal spot. This was the best I could do to keep the clouds from being totally blown out, but alas I didn't entirely succeed on that score. But that's okay with me. I have memories of this beautiful place, and they're better than any picture.

carper, Floydian, asajernigan, brano14 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

carper (64908) 2009-01-16 23:45

fantastic place Clark.
this is a paradise for photograpers and painters. your landscape is well taken, well composed, good light a pleasure to look at, very good photojob here, have a nice weekend.
regard jaap

danyy (68802) 2009-01-17 0:06

Bonjour Clark,
magnifique région, plus facile à photographier que bien d'autres par cette beauté cadrable à souhait.
J'aime beaucoup la couleur de ce lac que ta photo rend bien.
Un magnifique ciel aussi.
Best regards.
Daniel.

Silverkey (1433) 2009-01-17 2:06

Hi Clark
I must admit that I am a great fan of this place (even if I've never been there), and I can't but take a look to each picture of this place. But this one is particularly nice, with a nice light especially.
Mickaël

Floydian (30970) 2009-01-17 7:25

Hi Clark,

Seeing this one forced me to dig in my archive and prepare another one during sunrise which i will post next week.....thanks for the hint ;-)
Isn't it a great place. During the day it's indeed too crowdy, but when Peter and i arrived here around 6am only the cars from the people who stay at the lodge were parked there. When we left around 8:30 it was almost full with cars. Peter had plans to shoot a sunset, but that seems not the best time of the day to catch best light.
But when i see this one it's not bad at all. Matter of fact i like the light on the left side which glows in warm golden tones...truly wonderful. Those over-exposed clouds...oh well, only in raw you can avoid that.
It's a great shot, pity i wasn't there at that time because light here looks really good.

Have a nice weekend,

Henk

asajernigan (14138) 2009-01-17 7:34

Clark,
Your composition is great with the lake leading the eye into the shot. The lighting and colors are great with excellent sharpness and DOF. The mountains form a nice backdrop for the scene.
TFS,
Asa

baba_flies (7985) 2009-01-17 8:05

Hello Clark! Let them eat dinner :))) I find it quite amazing that certain people seem to enjoy the queues and crowds. This is the point when I have to leave but sometimes there is not much choice other than joining in. But you found your time of the day, what a lovely picture. I like that you have included the tree tops and the clouds are just great. What a world out here! Best regards, Barbara.

brano14 (1880) 2009-01-17 21:11

Clark,
It is not just a lake, everything else is beautiful.
Great view, colors and clarity. Also good story.
Thanks!
Brano