I had ten days before a photography workshop in the Canadian Rockies. I was travelling from Vancouver Island to Calgary to meet Paul Thomson, and I wanted to spend the time in between exploring some unfamiliar roads in southeastern British Columbia and southwestern Alberta. I had my Toyota Tacoma and Moonlander X camper, a camera, and enough time to follow a road just to see where it went.
The Hill Changes First, southeastern British Columbia
Taking the long way to Calgary
I spent much of the trip looking for autumn colour and finding places to camp. Some of the roads led to wonderful spots to spend the night, even when I couldn’t find a photograph I wanted to make. One mountain road was rough enough that I spent more time thinking about the drive than about what I might find at the top. Other days I could pull over, put the kettle on and take my time looking around.
That freedom is one of my favourite things about travelling with the camper. If a place looks promising in the evening, I can give it another look in the morning. It also means I can spend a few days scouting without having to make a long drive back to wherever I’m staying.
Through a Narrow Opening, southeastern British Columbia
When the wind won’t let up
The wind made the photography harder than I’d expected. I’d find a patch of colour I liked and watch the branches move in and out of the composition. In those conditions I’ll look for something sheltered, tighten the framing, or wait for a lull. If I want the leaves to stay sharp, I’ll often raise the ISO enough to use a faster shutter speed. Sometimes it’s worth letting the moving leaves blur and seeing what that does to the photograph.
Snow brought a different look to parts of the trip. Autumn colour can be quite overpowering when everything is bright. A little snow can simplify the scene and give a single tree or patch of colour more room in the frame.
The Cold Arrives Quietly, southeastern British Columbia
Between Two Seasons, southwestern Alberta
Photographs in unlikely places
Some of the photographs I ended up liking came from a road beside a powerline. It’s the sort of place I could easily have driven past. Once I stopped and looked more closely, I found little groups of trees and patches of colour that worked on their own. A longer lens is handy there. It lets me isolate a small stretch of hillside or a few branches without having to include everything around them.
What the Branches Hold, southwestern Alberta
A good evening and a better morning
I eventually drove into Calgary to pick up Paul. After several days of wind and fairly slow photography, the last evening and the following morning gave us lovely conditions for photographing the autumn colour. I’d already enjoyed the camping and the chance to get to know a few new roads. Having those two outings at the end made me glad I’d given myself the time to explore before the workshop.
Where Autumn Follows Water, southwestern Alberta
The last days of autumn
After the workshop, I spent several days taking my time through Kananaskis toward Crowsnest Pass. I found some wonderful places to camp along the way and was glad to have a few more days to enjoy the last of the autumn colour. Snow was already starting to move in, especially higher up, and it felt like I’d caught the tail end of the season.