The Whole Story

While in Jasper this summer, we went on a walking tour of the Mt. Edith Cavell.  Before we could go, we had to sign a waiver that waived responsibility of the tour up to and including death.  

I have learned to make sure that I read every line before signing.  The alternate side was that I couldn't go on the trip unless I signed.....

I love photos that have the goal of telling the story.  I shared the photo with several on our tour and they remembered well what they had to agree to after seeing this image.

Angel or Dragon?

This is Angel Glacier beside Mt. Edith Cavell glacier.  With the warmer weather of the last couple of years, the Angel is shorter.  The portion you are looking at is the upper part of the skirt (with the rest melted.)

I loved this image because the image looks like a dragon crawling over the mountain and its mouth visible here.  There is even an eye on this side, (and looks like one on the other side as well.

Looking beyond what you are told helps consider the options for making a great photo.  I didn't just see the Angel that I was told to see, I looked for other interpretations.

The perfect photo

I framed a photo of this same flower, but changing the subject to the photographer was much more interesting.  Using the direction of John's eye and his camera lens, it leads the viewers eye to the image of the wild rose.  Using objects or people to direct the viewers eye to the real subject.

Signing your life away

I make a habit of reading waiver forms.  This is another opportunity to let students see the image and then decide the story that it tells.  Obviously, this is not me signing the form, as both hands are used in the image.  The original image is in RAW and it is possible to zoom in and read the details including that the company is not liable for injuries - including death....

What are you thinking?

While in Jasper, the Elk were wandering around our cabins.  Most of the guests just hung out about 50 feet away.  I am a little more daring to make a great photo.  I didn't just want a picture of animals.  I wanted something more from the pictures I made.  I was still careful to keep a car between the Elk and I; however, some of my colleagues felt I got to close - as witnessed by this look.  I assumed it was thinking, "If he takes one more step closer ...."

A great opportunity for writing with students is providing images like this one that invite you to create your own story to explain it.

Standing Guard

While in Jasper, the goslings were exploring but not far from Mom.  This image almost follows the rule of thirds.  I would have liked to have the goslings looking up too, but they were chomping happily under Mom's watchful eye.

Posing Golfers

These two photos were taken moments apart.   The second one is nice;however, the first one has some nicer expressions.  Telling people when a photo is being taken changes their expressions.  I usually take a few before the official photo to make sure I get the great expressions.  

Another thought to making good photos is to interact with the environment.  The second image has the golfers crossing their clubs.  While this is posed, it is also a neat effect.

Canada Geese

Both of these images are crops to make a better photograph.  Part of the reason for cropping was that there were about 25 geese in total but the number in focus in any one shot was limited.  I have to work on my shots to have better focal depth.  I work on higher F-stops; however, I am not entirely happy with the way the lenses are performing.

Caribou leaving Jasper

While traveling with my ADE team back from Jasper early in July.  We were discussing how disappointed we were in the amount of wildlife we had not seen in Jasper National Park.

Then we drove past this Caribou in BC.  It was lightly raining at the time so the image quality is less than I would have liked.  My team did not want me to get out of the vehicle (wise choice but the inner photographer in me was screaming to get closer and different perspectives.)  I was able to open the door and snap some shots.  

This image is also Geotagged in Flickr.com/amboe_k

Wild Tiger Lilly in Jasper

I enjoy flowers in my garden at home and enjoy them even more when I realize what domesticated flowers look like.  This is a wild Tiger Lilly in Jasper.  Our garden varieties are cared for and replanted and fed and..... 

In nature, the same flower thrives.  It does look different; however, seeing it in a see of green is nicer than my cultured soil at home.

I took several shots with my 70 -200 mm lens; however, I found this was the one with the best composition.

Ground Squirrel in Jasper

The advantage of shooting in high resolution and RAW is the ability to crop.  This image is a crop from less than 25% of the original image.  

Strong Legged Tree

This amazing tree looked like it was leaning over with outstretched legs on Lac Beauvert, Jasper.  I did also take this shot as two images but have not spliced them together yet to get a different perspective.

Overlooking lac beauvert

This was a fun photo from the lawns of Jasper Park Lodge.  When I first saw these chairs, I thought of Google.  It is amazing their branding can be activated by simple colours.