Third Vermilion Winter Sunrise

[Kyle Jones]

I took this in January near the end of a trip to Banff. The weather had warmed up to a nice -20°F. When I arrived at this spot, I found a tour group from Japan along the shoreline. The tour leader was setting up their cameras which were all clicking away on timers. I moved off to the right and got down low to catch the curve of the ice leading toward Mount Rundle.

Any thoughts are welcome. And Jim... This is the third lake!

 

[Ben Egbert]

It is difficult to get back lit mountains to look good and you did a great job here, just enough detail to avoid a silhouette. Love the sky and reflection and the curved water line that lead the eye into the scene.

 

[AlanLichty]

Only -20˚F ? Brrrr..... That said I love this shot. I like the fact that the reflection has a discernible edge with nice curved lines and accurately depicts the clouds and colors.

 

[TimMc]

Great picture--story with it convinces me to shoot sunrises in Cozumel

 

[JimFox]

Hey Kyle,

A 3rd Vermillion Lake? Wow! Now if you come up with a 4th and 5th Vermillion Lakes, I might just begin to think that you are pulling my leg...

What a really nice shot. Love the lines, and of course the color.

So this is the end of January? I noticed the lake isn't frozen. I want to make a trip up there to shoot the bubbles and cracks in the ice, but I guess the Vermillion lakes don't totally ice over then? It's Abraham I think? And maybe 1 other?

Jim

 

[Kyle Jones]

It is difficult to get back lit mountains to look good and you did a great job here, just enough detail to avoid a silhouette. Love the sky and reflection and the curved water line that lead the eye into the scene.

Thanks a lot Ben - you're right that this one was a pain to process (focus stack, exposure blends, etc.) and I'm glad the result works for you.

Only -20˚F ? Brrrr..... That said I love this shot. I like the fact that the reflection has a discernible edge with nice curved lines and accurately depicts the clouds and colors.

Thanks Alan - my first morning there I stood in a similar spot for 2 hours at -38°. Not recommended. When I found this comp (especially since the tour group wasn't blocking it) I was really excited.

Great picture--story with it convinces me to shoot sunrises in Cozumel

I prefer sleeping in in Cozumel!

Hey Kyle,

A 3rd Vermillion Lake? Wow! Now if you come up with a 4th and 5th Vermillion Lakes, I might just begin to think that you are pulling my leg...

What a really nice shot. Love the lines, and of course the color.

So this is the end of January? I noticed the lake isn't frozen. I want to make a trip up there to shoot the bubbles and cracks in the ice, but I guess the Vermillion lakes don't totally ice over then? It's Abraham I think? And maybe 1 other?

Jim

We went in early January before my daughter went back to school after the Christmas break. There are enough hot springs (Banff is famous for one) in the area that you can often find some open water for reflections no matter how cold it gets. The Bow river flows all winter as well. This spot is at the very end of the chain of Vermilion lakes just outside of the Banff city. It is well sheltered so you can often get reflections here even on a breezy day and it is warmed by a hot spring so you can find some open water. All this explains why I found a tour bus here!

As to the ice bubbles... Abraham Lake is the famous spot and we did make it there. I'd love to go back now that I have a better idea what to look for. I had a local tell me that Gap Lake in Canmore also gets them - which is why I shot sunrise the next morning at Gap Lake (I have a shot in my gallery from there that I posted a couple of weeks ago). As it turned out, Gap Lake was covered in snow and I couldn't find any open ice to look for bubbles. I guess some strong wind was needed to clear it off. Abraham Lake apparently gets a lot of wind.

 

[BarryHamilton]

Lovely work, Kyle! Really nice comp, light balance and color.

 

[Pete Van Hamersveld]

Spectacular reflection landscape with a natural complementary color scheme.

 

[Jeffrey]

Very nice, Kyle. I don't think my fingers would function at that temperature. I wouldn't expect my camera batteries would either.

 

[JimFox]

Interesting Info Kyle. I had also read that some people take brooms with them to Abraham to help sweep off any snow on the ice.

I am hoping to get up there this winter. Maybe we will need to set something up.

Jim