Art Show Entries

How to pick just TWO images from the past year of photography for the upcoming Art Show in Pelican Bay, our community in Florida? It’s time to order two good sized metal prints for the show. I asked myself which images I would like to keep, assuming no one asks to buy them, and I realized that I have a personal favorite that I did not include in my 2020 photography calendar and I have not included (yet) in my blog! So, here it is:

As I was aiming my Sony camera at the scene (in the rain) and asked my husband to “wait up” for me, I thought to myself that this might become one of my favorite images of the Canadian Rockies trip. Three components made me excited: 1. the vibrant hues of the turquoise lake and red and orange canoes, 2. the pleasing juxtaposition of these colors, which are opposite each other on the color wheel and 3. the circular arrangement of the canoes in the foreground.

My favorite photos tend to be the ones I was most excited about as I was capturing them. It still brings me great pleasure to remember the joy of photography in the moment. Moraine Lake, Alberta, Canada.

If I asked others to choose my two best photographs of 2019, I will probably get a different reply. Do you have any suggestions for my second entry in the Art Show?

The Glistening Bow River

From the summit of Sulphur Mountain, high above Banff, let’s travel down to the Bow River flowing past the village of Banff. Enjoy a scenic walk with me into Banff past the falls and across the pedestrian bridge. On this day, there was plenty of sunshine, fresh air and no sound but the rushing water and the gravel underfoot.

The clear rushing waters below the falls lead the eye toward the distant mountains of Banff National Park.

This image will be included in the 2020 wall calendar Cathy just designed, featuring photographs of the Canadian Rockies. Send Cathy an email if you would like to reserve a calendar for yourself or a holiday gift.

Can I walk on this lake?

Gazing at the clarity of the rocks under water and the clarity of the reflection on the lake, I’m not sure what would happen if I stepped into this lake… Would my sneakers get wet as I balanced and slid on those round rocks? Or is the lake surface really reflective glass that would allow me to walk across?

Jasper Park Lodge sits unnoticed on the far side of this mirror lake in Alberta, Canada.

I have to give my husband Charlie all the credit for suggesting that we walk a few miles back from the town of Jasper to the Jasper Park Lodge. We approached the Lodge along the lake and golf course on a perfect September afternoon.

Evening sun at Maligne Lake

Looking for wildlife in Jasper National Park one evening, we stopped to admire the view at Maligne Lake. The wide vista offered a tapestry of blue and green hues, stretching from the clouds in the sky to the ripples in the lake and the evergreens on the lakeshore.

A serene September evening at Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park by Cathy Kelly.

This image will be included in my 2020 Landscape photography calendar. If you would enjoy a new collection of Cathy Kelly’s images for the low price of a calendar, email Cathy to put your name on the list!

Vivid Emerald Lake

Vivid, almost surreal color is the first thing I noticed about Emerald Lake. We arrived on a cloudy day with light rain just starting to fall. On a sunny day, the lake color would be a little different. It is glacial rock flour that is suspended in the water that reflects this vivid blue-green hue, so I’m guessing the lake would look even more green in the sunshine.

The red canoe glides along Emerald Lake in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. September 2019

Rain or shine, Emerald Lake is not to be missed. While it would be stunning to see this lake in winter snow, access to the Lake is closed in winter due to high risk of avalanche along the route.

More photos to come of the scenic Canadian Rockies! I’ve just begun to process my new collection. Have you been there?

Mesmerizing Icefields Parkway

One instantaneous view while riding along the Icefields Parkway. Image captured at 2500 ISO with the Sony a7rII while riding on a bus. Watch for more photos in future blog posts.

Driving the Icefield’s Parkway in Alberta Canada and watching the constantly changing panorama of peaks and glaciers, rushing streams and ever changing sky is like watching a fire in the fireplace. It’s mesmerizing. The peaks are always changing shape. Sometimes the sun pops out to illuminate a small area. Sometimes a green-tinted glacial creek emerges into view, rushing over rocks behind the fir trees. Glaciers hang in the high valleys. Yellow trees punctuate the green space.  We passed bridal veil falls and Mirror Lakes, but we sped past, not stopping. 

The view changes every few seconds along one of the most scenic drives in the world. It’s a long ride from Jasper to Banff. Imagine how long it would take if I were stopping for photos. As we sped along, I felt like a sports photographer, keeping my ISO high, my shutter speed at 1,000 of a second, and hoping I would click the shutter at the right instant without a tall pine tree obstructing the view.

Those who enjoyed the view, listening to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, had the right idea. I recommend the drive to you.

I hear there is much more traffic during ski season, so September/October might be ideal.