Tian Tian and Brian. Another couple getting married in Montreal even though they have moved elsewhere. It goes to show the power this beautiful city holds over the people who choose to make it home for even just a little bit of time. Now these two live in Alberta. Near Calgary. My hometown. I miss the mountains so much. Like so much it hurts. That’s why I love every chance I get to go back. We got a chance to chase some light in Canmore and Banff.
Forest Fires 🙁
Unfortunately the last few times I’ve been back have been in the middle of forest fire seasons that have been epic in proportion. British Colombia is facing the worst wildfire season ever. You can read about it here. Alberta has also had it’s fair share of fires. Even when I was in Calgary you would see huge clouds of smoke above. Adding an orange hue to the atmosphere as the sunlight passes through the ash and smoke. Huge blankets of smoke are rolling through the rockies. It’s really sad. You can feel it deep in your lungs. My asthma was the worst it’s been years. My heart goes out to all of the people who have been evacuated, and especially those people who have lost their homes due to the fires. Why am I mentioning this? I wouldn’t feel right showing off these photos without saying anything. The beauty in these photos is enhanced due to the smoke from these fires. The smoke creates a backdrop for photos that is unmatched. It’s like a giant smoke bomb that is released all over. You can check out the results below. I have not enhanced the photos with photoshop. That what it actually looked like. Of course having a badass couple helped out a great deal.
5Am wakeup call!!!
I asked Tian Tian and Brian to meet me super early for the early morning light that I love. It’s hard getting clients to agree to this, but when they do it’s worth every tired molecule in their bodies. They were a little late :p. I was sad because I thought we had missed epic light. Boy was I wrong. We started driving to some of my favourite easy-to-get-to spots in Canmore for photos. I made them stop immediately as the sun was just starting to peak over the mountains…
BACK LIGHT 101
This is THE best for back light. Yes. Back light. Please repeat this. Back light is a good thing. Back light is a great thing. Back light can be the best kind of light. IF. If the photographer knows what they are doing. So please. If you see me shooting into backlight, don’t try to stop me. By the time you ask me how I am doing this voodoo, the lighting might change, and I might lose the opportunity forever. Yes. Forever. I’m dramatic. I understand that most of us were brought up with the notion that shooting into back light is worse than committing any other sin on earth. I remember my grandfather, aunt, dad, mom, uncle, sister…the list goes on…I remember all of them telling me. “Put the sun to your back”. “Don’t ever shoot into the sun”. If you have seen my photos, you know that I don’t just put the sun to my back. I face the sun. I embrace the light that floods the sensor of my camera. I’m getting shirts made for my 2018 season that say on the back “Yes. I can shoot into the sun”. Or something along those lines. If you have a better way of putting it, please let me know, and I will work on getting those shirts made. Heck, I’ll send you one for giving me a better idea. Wow. I digress. So….
I asked Tian Tian and Brian to just explore the mountains in and around Canmore as we chased the morning light all the way to Lake Minnewanka right near Banff. It was a beautiful morning with this couple that is extraordinary. Another couple I have met through the incredible Vanessa of Héra Mariages in Montreal, Quebec. She has a way of attracting incredible souls. I am super excited to work with Vanessa and the team at Héra Mariages along with Tian Tian and Brian in the fall. Yaaassss. Meeeeeep.
More mountain pictures…
If you want to see some pictures where the smoke didn’t play a factor you can check out some other work I’ve done in the mountains. Here is a wedding I did in Canmore at one of my favourite wedding sites: Quarry Lake. Or the time I chased the sunrise in Banff while working for Much and Bell Media. Even without the smoke, the Rockies do not disappoint.
