Edge of Autumn – Golden Light at Bow Lake

There’s something sacred about autumn in the Rockies. The air turns crisp, the crowds thin, and the landscape begins its most dramatic transformation. I had long envisioned capturing Bow Lake at the peak of fall—when golden trees hug the shoreline and the first light of day glances across the water.

The Experience

Fall is my favorite season, and this morning reminded me exactly why. I arrived well before dawn, walking the lake’s edge in silence, the only sound the crunch of frost under my boots. I was completely alone.

As the sun crept over the mountains, it cast long, golden rays that lit up the forest in a soft, fiery glow. The stillness of the water mirrored the trees and peaks perfectly—no wind, no rush. Just light and color and stillness.

Challenges

Photographing in this kind of light is both a gift and a challenge. The window is brief—just minutes where the warm tones paint the scene before shadows shift. I used a wide-angle lens and a polarizer to cut glare off the lake and enhance the reflection. The large dynamic range meant I needed to bracket exposures to capture the full extent of the scene

Final Reflections

What made this morning truly special was the solitude. No footsteps, no shutter clicks except my own. Just me, the mountains, and the fiery larch trees reflected in perfect calm. It’s moments like this that make all the early alarms and scouting missions worth it.

Fall doesn’t last long, but it always leaves an impression.

Location & Gear

**📍 Location:** Bow Lake, Alberta

**🧭 Trail & Access:** Unmarked spur trail

**🎒 Gear Used:**

- Canon R5

- 24–105mm f/4

- Really Right Stuff tripod with spiked feet for rocky terrain

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