Hunting Ice Bubbles in Banff's Deep Freeze

With the temperature hovering near -30°C, I was bundled in layers and gloves, bracing myself against the biting wind that howled across the frozen expanse of Abraham Lake. My camera bag slid across the ice like a sailboat, pushed by gusts strong enough to make me stumble. My eyelashes froze. I could barely see. But through it all, I was completely alive—searching for a scene I’d long dreamed of capturing: the fabled ice bubbles of Banff.

The Journey

- The windchill cut through every layer—3 gloves deep, and I still had to pause to warm my fingers.

- The surface of the lake groaned and cracked beneath me, a haunting sound in the frozen silence.

- I wandered cautiously, scanning for that iconic scene: stacked methane bubbles suspended like frozen pearls beneath the ice.

The Discovery

Finally, the perfect patch. Crystalline bubbles layered below my boots, glowing faintly blue beneath the glassy ice. As I looked up, the sun crested the horizon and spilled its light across Mount Michener. The mountain caught the first golden rays like a beacon—its snow-covered flanks illuminated in soft, pastel pinks and warm ambers. That light reflected subtly across the lake’s surface, giving the entire scene a surreal, ethereal glow. The composition framed itself—leading lines, contrast, texture, light. It was why I came to Banff in winter.

This photo reminds me that beauty in nature is often brutal. The best moments don’t come easy—but they’re unforgettable. If you ever get the chance to visit Abraham Lake in the winter, do it. Just bring hand warmers… and goggles.

Behind the Shot

**📍 Location:** Abraham Lake

**🎒 Gear Used:**

- Canon R5

- 15–35mm f/2.8

- Shot with a wide-angle lens, low to the surface

- Focus stacked for depth of field

- Wind gusts made it almost impossible to keep the tripod steady — I used my full weight to anchor it

- Really Right Stuff Tripod