Imagine kneeling here at -26 °C and listening to the ice creak, crack, gurgle and groan.

Ice forms on your eyelashes and your equipment begins to fail.

Batteries perish, fingers fumble, nose hairs break and each breath makes your larynx ache.

Well soon you won't have to imagine. Video coming soon.

Till then, enjoy today's new episode. www.fototripper.com/abraham-lake-photography-tips/

Thanks for looking
Gavin Hardcastle - Fototripper

Tags:   banff national park winter frozen cold ice frost hoar mountain Fototripper

© All Rights Reserved

While I'm more drawn to the natural world, I'm not above enjoying a well manicured stage of nature that's been shaped by humans.

The forms and colours of The Butchart Gardens almost look artificial in their vibrancy but I can assure you that every leaf and blade of grass is real.

Back in the days when tripods were allowed, I had a heyday with the delightful Japanese garden section one sunny October day.

The contrast of the light was so extreme that I had to bracket three exposures to capture all of the detail I needed for the highlights and shadows.

Using a circular polarizer also helped remove the glare from the leaves, giving them deeply rich colours.

I did feel a bit like a big kid at an amusement park. Instead of dashing from rollercoaster to rollercoaster I was just as gleeful wandering from ornate tree to flower bed.

God I'm old.


Thanks for looking
Gavin Hardcastle - Fototripper

Tags:   butchart gardens autumn fall Photography vancouver island bc colours maple trees reflections

© All Rights Reserved

I've always wanted a 'green' shot of that tree. I've visited in Autumn and the tree has been gloriously red.

I've visited in spring and the tree has been gloriously yellow.

On my recent early October visit I finally captured the tree in glorious green regalia.

Even in winter, denuded of leaves, this is a living work of art.

It may well be the most overly rinsed scene on the planet but for good reason.

Thanks to the staff at Portland Japanese Garden for keeping this ever changing scene beautiful.

Thanks for looking
Gavin Hardcastle - Fototripper

Tags:   portland japanese garden green autumn maple tree famous morning light

© All Rights Reserved

What a day this was. A soggy, moist day.

After driving all the way from Nanaimo, BC, I finally made it to the road of doom to the Crystal Mill in Colorado.

It only took me three days.

Despite having good AWD and winter tires, I chickened out about two miles in to what was optimistically named a 'road'.
I decided to ditch the Rolls Royce and hiked the rest of the way in.

None too wise to be hiking through a lightening storm carrying 3 tripods. I would require some further motivation.

After a lengthy chocolate break and several moments of self doubt, I got back on trail and finally made it to the Crystal Mill.

What a sight to behold!

This is the kind of thing I live for. Doom laden skies, vibrant fall colours with a derelict mill next to a waterfall. What more can the landscape photography ask for?

My photographers high lasted for hours until I realized it was time to hike back along the road of calamity. Luckily a family of Vietnamese tourists took pity on me as I must have resembled a drowned rat. They gave me a ride back to my abandoned vehicle which was able to crawl back out and my photographers high was fully restored.

Literally going the extra mile and pushing yourself out of every possible comfort zone can sometimes deliver amazing results and at least provide a story or two.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VvFis4r4D8

Thanks for looking
Gavin Hardcastle - Fototripper

Tags:   waterfall autumn fall colorado crystal mill storm stormy moody dark aspens aspen river Fototripper gavin hardcastle

© All Rights Reserved

I fully admit that I go a little bit crazy for 'bounce light'.

I just love how the maple on the right is lit from reflected light that bounces up from the pond.

I was so enraptured with this scene that I totally forgot to focus stack.

This is a 2 shot panorama that I shot at f/22 for maximum depth of field.

Many photography instructors will pee their pants at the suggestion of shooting with such a narrow aperture. Exclaiming the absolute horror of 'diffraction'.

I'm here to tell you that f/22 ain't that bad if you've got good glass and a good camera. Sure, if you zoom into 100% and pixel peep you'll see a loss of sharpness but how often do you do that?

Unless of course, you think this image isn't sharp?

I had to bracket like crazy because the dynamic range was off the charts.

Can't wait to head back there in a few days.

Thanks for looking
Gavin Hardcastle - Fototripper

Tags:   butchart gardens maple reflection fall autumn october morning sun light nature path gavin hardcastle Fototripper

© All Rights Reserved