Mountain Majesty
Formidable and breathtaking.
People come from all over the world to visit the Canadian Rockies and nearby mountain ranges. Most of them book bus tours, drive the highways in rental RVs, book hotels in mountain towns, and ski the slopes. Very few of these are brave enough to venture beyond the crowds, or into the clouds.
These remote mountains are so immense and rugged, so vast and expansive, they often leave visitors speechless. The lucky ones are filled with awe and wonder, instantly driven to explore – to fully experience the wilds. This is what happened to me. This is why I’ll hike for miles over mountain passes filled with flowering meadows, wade through icy cold glacier-fed streams, and camp a stone’s throw from wildlife.
There’s nothing like being out there, away from it all, away from the never ending roar of civilization. It’s a place where – at night – we can see by the light of the stars and the moon can become almost as bright as the sun. A place where we can truly be in the moment. A place absent of the distractions of app alerts and drama-filled reality shows. A place where we can be at peace with the universe and ourselves. A place where we can challenge ourselves both physically and mentally. A place where we will rise to that challenge, because there’s no other choice. It’s the place where we become empowered.
Taking a moment to enjoy the view and appreciate climbing Yamnuska mountain.
When you’re shooting in the wilds, anywhere actually, experiment with horizontal and vertical cropping, angles, and more. Reflections, cloudscapes, terrain, time of day (and night), and wildlife present a variety of opportunities to capture something new.
This image of a hiker on a rocky outcrop is a vertical version of a horizontal photo. Play with cropping, the rule of thirds, centring, scale, depth, and zooming in/out.
Go beyond sunset and sunrise to blue hour, twilight, the angle of the sun, moon, the milky way, and seasons! Experiment. The only limit to what you can capture is your imagination.
Technical aspects of mountain photography.
Keeping your pack’s weight down is one half the battle. Consider carbon fibre tripods, mirrorless cameras, and minimal photo gear. Maximize safety with a headlamp, backup flashlight, extra clothing (especially socks), water and snacks. And if you’re in bear country, leave the guns at home – just carry appropriate noise makers and bear spray.