Springtime, Really?

Since my last blog, we’ve completed our 14 day self-isolation. What that means is that we are no longer confined to our own property. We may visit the grocery stores and walk outside but always maintain a safe physical distance from others. I think everybody is in much the same position, we’re just more recent entrants.

I’m happy to expand the range of my photographic domain, although I’m pretty much limited to the Canmore municipal area. Most of our surrounding parks are closed or offer very limited access, not only the result of the Coronavirus but the presence of snow obstructing entry to the hiking trails and good photo sites.

We’re enjoying(?) a late spring in Canmore with a persistent accumulation of snow. It has snowed many of the days since our return home on March 21. The last few days have been warmer and without precipitation and we can look forward to warmer days as we progress through April. More seasonal.

I did get out earlier this week, with camera in hand to get a few pictures around town. They look like many I’ve taken before but at least I had the opportunity to enjoy taking them. When ever possible, I tried to adopt a little different outlook on these well known and oft photographed scenes.

The first picture today is a view down Canmore Creek with Grotto Mountain in the background. I go past this area regularly on my walks and it’s always an appealing view.

A welcome sign of spring. I spotted this area of remaining ice in a quiet inlet off the Bow River. It’s not only a harbinger of warmer days to come but an interesting photo subject as well. I like the textures and the fracture lines in the ice. (I don’t mean the tree branch intruding from the right!)

A view looking up the Bow River. This is one I’ve photographed and shared before but I’ve framed it differently in the hopes of making it a little more interesting. In the background you can see the Engine Bridge, part of the Fairholme Range and Cascade Mountain.

A new angle on the engine bridge, a composition referred to as a vanishing perspective. Using perspective and a vanishing point in your photos is a great way to emphasize the large scale of a landscape, or to add a sense of drama to your images. This bridge is a good example with its expanse of bordering structural steel. The inclusion of the cyclist and runner at the far end conveys a sense of depth to this image. Grotto Mountain in the background emphasizes the large scale of the landscape.

I couldn’t resist this striking view of the range of mountains bordering the Bow Valley to the southwest. It looks like a range, but to my knowledge it has no official name. I’ve included the mountains’ names (from l-r) in the photo caption.

I conclude with this image featuring the Fairholme Range bordering the opposite side of the valley with Canmore Creek in the foreground. It’s composition is also a perspective. The dimishing presence of the mountain range in the image as you follow it to left side of the frame imparts the sense of depth.

I’m always looking for interesting photo opportunities. Although they seem limited at the moment, I patiently await the chance to get out and find some good pictures. Stay tuned.