There are some places that feel as if they were designed for artists. Scenes where everything just falls into place and it feels like you were destined to capture this moment.

This corner of Amethyst Lake in Alberta felt like one of those places.

My goal on this trip was to film a tutorial for my composition course ‘Form & Flow’ and one of the topics I wanted to cover was ‘Abstract Shapes’.

When I came upon this scene it was like a gift from the heavens. I couldn’t imagine a more perfect example of abstract shapes inside of a grand landscape.

I stood slack jawed and knew at that moment that my course would be a success and I’m delighted to say that it has been. In part due to this image.

With a calm lake, sun kissed peaks and a whiff of cloud, it was all that I’d hoped for and more.

Being on such a photographer’s high was also really helpful in getting me back down the mountain.

It’s so much easier to endure a gruelling hike with a massive smile on your face.

Thanks for looking
Gavin Hardcastle

Watch the video at youtu.be/B7ULKsdFBj8

Tags:   tonquin valley jasper national park amethyst lake canada canadian rockies sunrise ramparts Fototripper composition made easy

© All Rights Reserved

A most electrifying evening was enjoyed by myself and Michael Shainblum during this August moonset at Smith Rock in Oregon.

After a spectacular sunset, we hunkered down under the stars to await the appearance of the Milky Way.

We had to wait for the moon to set over the horizon before we had any chance of if it being dark enough for astrophotography.

Neither one of us was expecting the wait to be the highlight of the evening. As we sat there under the moonlight staring off into the distance scoffing copious quantities of chocolate, we both noticed a dramatic flash way off on the far horizon.

There isn't much in this life that make me put down a half devoured bar of chocolate. Lightning is one of those things.

We both sprang into action and began frantically setting up our compositions. As the lightning was so unpredictable and I had no idea how long it would last. I didn't dare stop shooting.

The ideal would have been to switch my camera into 'timelapse' interval shooting mode but I knew that would take at least a couple of minutes to set up.

That's two minutes I didn't want to risk loosing the perfect moment.

For the next hour we both stood transfixed, never taking our fingers off the shutter as we rattled off continuous thirty second exposures.

This final image contains a few different exposures that I blended together to show the more interesting moments of lightning, cloud positions and that gorgeous setting moon.

I feel that the final image accurately conveys how exhilarating it felt that night to be standing atop such a magnificent ridge.

At about two AM we hiked back down the hill and parted to go our separate ways. Michael had to head back home to San Francisco and I had to tackle the long ride back home to Canada.

We both had a huge distance to cover but I can promise you that we ate those miles with huge grins on our tired and crumpled faces.


---------------------------------------------------------------------
Download our Milk Way Made Easy Photography course here www.fototripper.com/milky-way-made-easy-online-photograph...

For the last couple of months I've been working on a big project with Michael Shainblum.

You'll soon be able to watch some hilarious but inspirational vlogs from our adventures under the night skies of Oregon.

Watch out for cameo appearances from Nick Page and Andrew Studer who just happens to do the best Peter Mckinnon impersonation I have ever witnessed.

Thanks for looking
Gavin Hardcastle

Tags:   smith rock oregon moonset lightening misery ridge Fototripper michael shainblum milky way made easy

© All Rights Reserved