Tag Archives: Canadian Rockies

How do You spell Relief?

08 Friday Jan 2021

Posted by in Banff National Park, Canada, Canadian Rockies, Canon, Moraine Lake

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Peaceful Moraine Lake in Alberta, Canada

As we witnessed the Capital Building attacked by protestors, our nation was upset and outraged. No matter what political party one is associated with, there is no justification of this type of protest or event. Seeing the picture of a protester invading Nancy Pelosi’s office and sitting in her chair is just not right. Yes we can agree to disagree. But our disagreements do not justify the actions.

I mentioned in a recent blog post how I am cautiously optimistic about 2021. After today’s events in Washington D.C., I am shifting to being a little less optimistic about the new year. Since the pandemic started, we’ve experienced a list of unfortunate and upsetting events. The unexpected is becoming our normal. How do we deal with this stress?

We need to find a physical and a spiritual place to retreat. Creating my backyard oasis, so I can safely retreat to enjoy nature and photograph pictures, has been a refuge for me. My wife reminds me that I need to spend more time praying away my stress in my backyard retreat. God even answered my prayers by giving me this place I dreamed about 25 years ago so I could shoot pictures of hummingbirds, butterflies and bees in a natural setting.

The weather is a little cold and wet. I was glued to the news to watch the events in our nation’s capital. Fortunately, I have my nature pictures to review and take me away from the stress of the nation’s events.

How do you spell relief from the stress of life’s events? Never would we have dreamed about the situations we are facing today with a worldwide pandemic accompanied with an abundance of American political and racial drama with violence.

Individually and physically, we may be limited in what we can do to change these situations other than just staying home as much as we can to be safe. SIP has meant to be “Sheltering in Place”. Another meaning we could use for SIP is “Sheltering in Prayer”.

Maybe all this disruption is meant to bring us to our knees to pray for peace and relief. Can we pray away our stress by trusting in God to provide peace?

When I look at my nature pictures, they reminds me God is the Creator and can provide peace in the midst of our current storms.

Photos spell relief to de-stress!

Where is a good place to see Fall?

30 Monday Sep 2019

Posted by in Autumn colors, Canadian Rockies, Fall Colors, Fall Foliage, Rocky Mountains

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Where is a good place to experience fall? Living in San Francisco is not a good place to feel the fall season. We do not experience drastic temperature changes. We usually get Indian Summer and can get hot weather now.

I am not a expert on all locations for Fall. These leaves are interesting due to the multiple points in the leaves. Also these fall leaves have complimentary colors. They are not the typical fall colors.

When I visited Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont, I noticed many of the leaves were more orange in color.

In Northern Ontario and Michigan, the leaves can be orange. But there are some deep bright red leaves. The redness is attributed to how much sugar there is in the maple tree.

Where is a good location to experience fall? The answer is – it depends. It seems there can be slight variations in the fall colors.

What fall colors do you love? My preference is the bright red leaves. I really like the deep red I see in Northern Ontario.

Let me know what are your favorite fall colors.

Earth Day 2019

23 Tuesday Apr 2019

Posted by in Banff National Park, Canadian Rockies, Earth Day, Moraine Lake

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Welcome to Moraine Lake in Alberta, Canada. It is a glacially fed lake in Banff National Park. This picture was taken in July 2013. It does not reach its crest until mid to late June. The blue in July was very pretty. But when the lake is full, it reflects a more distinctive shade of blue.

As we reflect on Earth Day, it is important for us to take care and preserve our world. Changes in all of life are a part of life. Even in our human bodies, there is constant change. Sometimes we need to accept what we can preserve and what we cannot control and stop change.

One thing I appreciate about photographs is the image is preserved especially now with digital files. We can freeze nature’s beauty at a particular point in time for almost eternity. When we see a pretty scene, it will probably only last for a brief time. But if we are fortunate to capture the picture with our camera, we can be blessed to recall the image.

We hope Moraine Lake will continue to be a beautiful place to visit. It has one of the most freshest water in the world. The lodge at the lake is self-sufficient and generates it own power. Moraine Lake is a good example for Earth Day by practicing the principles of reduce, re-use and recycle to protect it’s beauty. Let’s seek to follow this example in our own space.

About Moraine Lake

Triple Continental Divide on the Columbia Icefields

17 Thursday Aug 2017

Posted by in Canadian Rockies

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We went to visit Athabasca Glacier in Jaspar National Park in July 2013.  During our tour of the Canadian Rockies, we mostly enjoyed summer weather until we came to the glacier.  We were prepared with warmer clothes and gloves so we could walk on the glacier.

This is the only place on Earth where there are 3 rivers which flow into 3 oceans – the Pacific, Atlantic and the Arctic.  The part of the glacier we were able to walk on was to the left of this photograph.  We were not allowed to walk on this section.  The glacier is slowly melting, it is receding 5 meters a year.  One day in another generation, this glacier could be gone.

Here the sky was gray and not too clear.  So this picture is a little dark due to the lack of natural lighting, and the weather.  Probably most photographers would use software to lighten and improve the picture.

This photograph is real and reflects this particular day when we visited Athabasca Glacier.  It was truly an experience to see this huge glacier which has a long history of existence.

 

Reflections from Moraine Lake

16 Wednesday Aug 2017

Posted by in Canadian Rockies

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We went to visit Moraine Lake in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada in July 2013. This photograph reminds me how beautiful Lake Moraine is especially with the Canadian Rockies’ reflection.

We were fortunate it was sunny and virtually no wind on the day we visited.  Therefore the water was so still which allowed the reflection to be perfect.  I was fortunate for the natural lighting with the still waters so we could enjoy this perfect scene.

Moraine Lake is a glacially fed lake. The perfect blue color is due to the refraction of the light off the rock flour which is continually disposited into the lake.

It amazes me how things in Nature can fit so perfectly together to compliment each other.  This photograph illustrates how the perfect sunlight, mountains, blue Moraine Lake and the still waters provide this amazing scene.

This photograph does reflect the true colors we witnessed.  It is real and untouched!

 

Canoeing across Lake Louise

15 Tuesday Aug 2017

Posted by in Canadian Rockies

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I was walking along the shores of Lake Louise in Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada, and saw a couple canoeing across the lake. The red canoe really stood out while gliding on top of the glacial turquoise water in the lake.  I also like the peaceful still water.

There is also a lighter color streak between the land and the water.  I admired the color combination in this photograph.  So I automatically shot a bunch of pictures since the colors were perfect together.  I am not sure what caused the lighter color streak between the land and the water.  It could be a reflection from the sunlight, but I was too busy taking the pictures to investigate where the streak came from.

Whenever I photograph a unique and interesting scene, I am anxious to keep shooting before the lighting or something in the scene changes.

My rule is always to strive to be quick to photograph a scene.  Once we lose a particular moment, we can never get it back again.  The best way to “get it back again” is with a picture.

Be assured this photograph and color is real and untouched!

 

How tall are these trees at Lake Moraine in the Canadian Rockies?

01 Wednesday Mar 2017

Posted by in Canadian Rockies

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Here’s another photograph from the Canadian Rockies.

I was looking at these tree tops at the side of the lake. From this photograph, we don’t know how tall these trees actually are. I first thought they were short. Then I realized their size is hidden since I don’t know how far down they extend on the slope.

Our society is obsessed with size. Too big or large versus too skinny or small. Why do some people feel they have to comment about someone’s body size or even a body part size? Yes we have opinions. But do we have to be rude to tell everyone this type of opinion. Does it really matter about how big someone’s hair is, or how bald a person is?

Size does not matter! No matter what the size these trees are, they are pretty and have a wonderful green color. Can we just appreciate people as they are? Can we also accept ourselves as we are? If there is something about ourselves we cannot change, let’s just embrace it, and be thankful!

Source: How tall are these trees at Lake Moraine in the Canadian Rockies

True Reflections at Moraine Lake

23 Thursday Feb 2017

Posted by in Canadian Rockies

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Source: True Reflections at Moraine

Tony took this photograph during our trip to the Canadian Rockies.  The scenery was so pretty, when we visited in the summer.

We always love blue colors.  The reflection in Moraine Lake from the mountains and the blue sky is breath-taking.

Moraine Lake is a glacially fed lake in Banff National Park in outside of Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada.

This reflection shows the true beauty of this scene.  It is a pretty clear reflection.

Don’t we all like to take a look at our reflections in the mirror.  But do we really see ourselves as others see us?  It is hard to truly know how others see us.  We may not want to face the reality of how we act or who we really are.

Do you want to know how others see you?  If you do, inquire with your close family or friends to find out how they see you.  Then see if this matches your own self-perception.  Could be scary…..