Sometimes you just have to stop, catch your breath, and mumble wow. Standing on a set of snowshoes in the middle of a very frozen Maligne Lake is one of those moments. Its hard to convey the ruggedness and inhospitably of winter in the Canadian Rockies though a photo. I think this shot is the closest I have come to that. Variable moody weather that is rapidly changing and often well below -20 C (-4F) is a big part of the experience. However it's the sense of splendid isolation, particularly in places that are often crowded in the summer, that draws you in to an alternate reality creating an otherworldly experience.
This shot was shortlisted as an editors' favorite in the National Geographic Nature photography contest in 2017: you can see it linked here on their site. Its always an honor to be displayed along side such amazing work. Unfortunately it did not make the final winners list; one can always hope for next year !
Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada.
Robert Downie
Love Life, Love Photography
All images in this post were taken by and remain the Copyright of Robert Downie - http://www.robertdowniephotography.com
Wow, what an awesome capture. I can sense the atmosphere
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Thanks Michael. Love your work.
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Easily mistaken for a 'painting!' of some folklore places! It is a good shot, top notch.
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Thanks ! Very kind .
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Still an impressive image none the less and its cool to be able to share the experience! Next time, that prize will be yours!
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Ha. Not so sure about that! There are some amazing photographers out there. Thanks for the kind words..
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Like something out of the Revenant.
You photograph wolves so well :P
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I bring a blow up woolf with me everywhere I go. Get a few strange looks on public transport.
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How amazing is the footage in the Revenant. We watched it for the first time when we moved here. Have never looked at a grizzly the same way since ;-)
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So award winning :D
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BEST DOG PHOTO EVER!
And an amazing landscape on its own... what a view! How long did it take you to get to this spot? (I've never been here)
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Imagine how good a chicken running across there would look! As for the question ; it’s only about an hour snowshoe down from the car park where you would normally canoe to Spirit island .
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Bahahaha!
Okay, that's good to know! I wondered if you went a fair ways down the lake.
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No I was carrying a small child in a baby backpack. So it’s shot with a 400mm lens to make the journey a bit quicker.
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That makes sense! Although the 400 probably weighs about the same as a second small child.
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Ha. For sure. That's why my back is permanently hunched.
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Beautiful image! Those mountains are majestic.
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Thanks
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Looks like a movie. Resteemed!
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Thanks guys !
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Love the depth in the mountains around you. I really like to be in those areas with infinite feel of space. Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks. Its an amazing spot.
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Oh wow! I used to lead tours up there (like 20 years ago....), but have never been in the snow. Beautiful!
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That must have been fun. Back when there were still some of Caribou in the Maligne valley !
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We saw a Moose once right by the boat tour spot. All the tourists were getting way too close!!!
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Wow! This is breathtaking
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Thanks Cam
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Hey man, I like your shot a lot! It perfectly conveys the ruggedness of this place. It also reminds me of the TV-series that I started watching recently - The Terror. It's about Franklin's expedition, which got stuck somewhere in the Canadian Arctic :)
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Thanks : I will have to try and watch the Terror then !
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Very nice. I'd like to think that's a wolf running across the lake. Truly a four season beautiful part of the world. Thanks for posting
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Thanks ! Do you get out to the Rockies often ?
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Wow this is a scene! That fog is amazing.
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Thanks !
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I really enjoyed reading your post! Keep it up :)
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Thanks !
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Love the wolf, reminds me of a scene from GOT :-)
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Thanks ! Cant wait for the final season , seems it will be in 2019!
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Love the wolf in this. I was going to say it looks like you went north of the wall, but someone already made a Game of Thrones reference! 🐺
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Thanks
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OH MAN! I can't even believe it. GREAAAAT SHOT!
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Thanks !
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