Trip to Banff question
May 5, 2018 14:52:28 #
David in Dallas wrote:
I second the ride on the Gondola in Banff. I took a tour on Canada Rail in 2013 that went to many of the places you will be going. If you're interested, my photos can be viewed here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/8712554@N02/collections/72157635052196955/. Individual photos have EXIF data available if you are curious as to what focal length, etc. was used. (I only take an 18-200VR2 zoom on my trips.)
And if missing that one, there also is a ride up the mountain just outside of Jasper.
Jasper Sky Tram: http://www.jasperskytram.com/
JST tickets and opening times: http://www.jasperskytram.com/visit/tickets-and-hours
May 5, 2018 15:03:36 #
imageal wrote:
Since you are based in Delray Beach, FL, and I am in Ocala, FL, I would love to know the details of your trip. Are you flying to somewhere near Banff and renting a car? Are you driving all the way from Florida? Are you flying to a destination semi-near Banff, but still in the USA, etc.? I have long wanted to visit that area but have been unsure about the best way to do it.
Please advise when you have a minute. Thanks!
Please advise when you have a minute. Thanks!
Best way is to fly to Calgary then drive . As you get close the views are outstanding. You do have to purchase a Canada national park pass prior to arriving in Banff
May 5, 2018 15:31:14 #
HCB iii wrote:
My wife and I are going to Banff National Park and... (show quote)
Only you can decide how much gear you can handle. Since we were mostly shooting from the car and near the road, I went big, took my 500mm f/4 with TC and tripod (which I rarely take on trips) as well as smaller lenses. We were fortunate to see both a grizzly and mountain goats, but only at a distance so the 500mm was indispensable (used TC and cropped camera).
We got to see moose pretty close at Maligne Lake as well as very close to elk and big horn ram near Jasper.
We never saw a wolf in the wild so went to Northern Lights Wolf sanctuary which wasn't far (about 90 minutes from Banff) and did a photographic walk with two wolves which we enjoyed tremendously. Have a great time! (more photos on my flickr site)
May 5, 2018 15:55:07 #
wdross
Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
HCB iii wrote:
My wife and I are going to Banff National Park and... (show quote)
I agree that you might want something slightly wider than the 12mm on the 12-40mm zoom. Worst case, shoot at 14 / 15mm in panoramic mode to cover something wider that the 12mm. And definitely take the 300mm along. And if you think the 300mm is to big and heavy, go on-line and check out the size, weight, and cost of a good 600mm f4 Canon or Nikon, the equivalent of the Olympus 300mm f4 Pro IS lens. That should put a real smile on your face that you chose 4/3rds. For the price of either the Canon or Nikon 600mm lens, you could repurchase your whole camera system again.
May 5, 2018 15:57:14 #
I've been several times at different seasons. 95% of shots will probably be with a wide angle or short zoom. However, I have some of my best bighorn shots with a 400mm from just east of Jasper.
I haven't see anyone mention Vermilion Lakes just outside the edge of Banff. Awesome place for sunrise and sunset shots. It's a very quiet scenic place so close to town. A lot of elk bed down there at night. Also, I recommend going to Moraine Lake very early in the day before sunrise. Get there before the hordes of tourists and tour buses. You won't be by yourself, but you'll have parking and a chance for the best photo spots on the Rockpile.
I haven't see anyone mention Vermilion Lakes just outside the edge of Banff. Awesome place for sunrise and sunset shots. It's a very quiet scenic place so close to town. A lot of elk bed down there at night. Also, I recommend going to Moraine Lake very early in the day before sunrise. Get there before the hordes of tourists and tour buses. You won't be by yourself, but you'll have parking and a chance for the best photo spots on the Rockpile.
May 5, 2018 16:21:52 #
May 5, 2018 16:23:28 #
HCB iii
Loc: Delray Beach, Florida
Thanks, Monte D.- Vermillion Lakes and Moraine Lake will definitely be on our must do list.
May 5, 2018 16:25:08 #
HCB iii
Loc: Delray Beach, Florida
WDRoss- I agree, that I should not whine about the size of the Oly 300mm vs the equivalent length Nikons or Canons!
May 5, 2018 16:26:22 #
HCB iii
Loc: Delray Beach, Florida
Ricardo- Thanks for the great images. I hope I can do half as well!
May 5, 2018 16:37:59 #
mborn wrote:
Best way is to fly to Calgary then drive . As you get close the views are outstanding. You do have to purchase a Canada national park pass prior to arriving in Banff
You can, online: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/voyage-travel/admission
You still have enough time to do this.
The Discovery Pass, which you will need for a multiple day stay, is also available at the park gates.
See: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/banff/visit/pass
and scroll down to the section headed "Discovery Pass".
May 5, 2018 16:39:18 #
HCB iii wrote:
Ricardo- Thanks for the great images. I hope I can do half as well!
Thanks! You might also purchase the gypsy guide (assuming you are driving) for this area. It pointed out places to look for wildlife as well as scenic shots and was quite entertaining:
http://gypsyguide.com/canada/
May 5, 2018 16:46:41 #
HCB iii
Loc: Delray Beach, Florida
Ricardo- Wow- the Gypsy guide may be just what we are looking for. Thanks so much for the suggestion.
May 5, 2018 17:12:26 #
HCB iii wrote:
Ricardo- Wow- the Gypsy guide may be just what we are looking for. Thanks so much for the suggestion.
We found it was incredibly useful and entertaining! For example, we never would have seen the mountain goats but as we were driving, the gypsy guide told us to pull over and check out the mountain for them (it is GPS linked so knows exactly where you are). And sure enough, we spotted them up on the mountain (sometimes you can be very lucky and they come down to the road). Another photographer saw me with my tripod and big lens and pulled over and asked how I possibly could spot them driving by! Other useful sources of info are the Rangers and info stations. The Ranger was the one who told us about the grizzly. Two bull moose had been fighting and one died and a grizzly had found it and buried it and was sitting on the corpse, occasionally waking up to eat some more. They had cordoned off the area so you couldn't get too close (so my 500mm lens with 1.4TC on my 1.5 cropped camera was essential). And while watching this grizzly we spotted a couple others nearby that didn't dare approach.
May 5, 2018 17:27:22 #
HCB iii wrote:
My wife and I are going to Banff National Park and also to Jasper National Park in September for about 9 days. Any thoughts from those that have been there before? Any other tips? Thanks so much for any help! HenryB.
One more thing, if you like trains, Kicking Horse Pass is an amazing thing to see. It is about half-way between Lake Louise and the Wolf sanctuary.
May 5, 2018 18:37:23 #
September is the season for rutting elk, and they will be on the roads and in town, won’t need much zoom for that. Sheep and moose are another story. If you have the room, take it all.
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