John Cang Photography
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Dual-Purpose Photography Locations
Canadian Rockies and Southeast Alaska

I enjoy photographing both wildlife and landscape, and favor locations that provide excellent opportunities for both. These dual-purpose photography locations offer more excitement, a wider range of subjects, and also allow you to be productive under a variety of weather conditions.

Yellowstone and Grand Teton, adjacent national parks in Wyoming, were my favorite destinations for many years. Beyond the excellent wildlife and landscape photography, there was the added enjoyment of running into photo buddies from across the country who also made annual pilgrimages to these popular destinations. However, after more than a dozen visits to these Parks, I was ready to explore other destinations with similar potential. Since 1996 I have been photographing portions of Southeast Alaska and the Canadian Rockies, and have found these locations to be equally productive and worthy of dual-purpose designation.

Canadian Rockies

The region encompassed by Jasper, Banff, and Yoho National Parks is like a super-sized version of Yellowstone/Grand Teton -- offering a lifetime of photo opportunities for nature and wildlife photographers. Towering mountains, emerald glacier-fed lakes, waterfalls, wildflowers, and photogenic wildlife are a feast to the senses and a challenge to your photographic skills.

Double Rainbow Click on images for larger view

Canon EOS-1V EF 28-70mm f/2.8 L We were searching for wildlife but, instead, found this incredibly beautiful rainbow. With storm clouds all around and wildlife on the agenda I had switched to Provia 400F. Since rainbows are notoriously short-lived, I didn't want to risk losing the shot by changing film, so what you see here is a landscape made with the "wrong" film. However, the image looks good on the light table -- sharp, with just a hint of grain visible in the uniform gray sky.

Wildflowers are plentiful from mid July, and are great subjects on their own or as colorful foreground for mountain scenics; waterfalls are at their thunderous best; male deer, elk, and moose sport velvet antlers; baby bighorn sheep and mountain goat are cute and easy to photograph.

In September, larch and aspen glow gold in the Autumn sun. Wooded trails that used to take minutes to hike in summer now take hours to meander if you enjoy colorful macro subjects. Bull elk with magnificent "ivory-tipped" antlers fill the air with piercing bugles to announce the start of the autumn rutting ritual; pikas run to and fro collecting mouthfuls of grass for winter stock.

Lake Louise

Canon EOS-1V EF 28-70mm f/2.8 L 550EX Flash. This frosty morning in late September started with moody overcast light. A flash of pink from a lone stalk of fireweed next to yellow flowers caught my eye and quickly lifted my spirits... See Featured Photo #8 for more thoughts on this image.

Be prepared to get up early and stay out late for dramatic landscape lighting. In summer, alpenglow lights up clouds and mountain peaks by 5:45 AM, so set your alarm, or ask your buddy to pound the wall, accordingly.

Patricia Lake Sunrise

Canon EOS-1V EF 28-70mm f/2.8 L Reeds along the rocky shore of Patricia Lake near Jasper work quite well as foreground  elements. On this particular morning, the clouds glowed beautifully pink all around us, and I quickly zoomed out from the initial tight composition to show as much of the color as possible.

On cloudy days change your focus from landscape to wildlife and macro subjects. Cool, overcast conditions keep wildlife active for longer periods throughout the day. That's the beauty of dual-purpose locations -- there's always something interesting to photograph. The following three wildlife photos were made in bright overcast. Notice the even lighting and lack of shadow contrast.

Elk In Velvet

Nikon F5 AF-S 80-200mm f/2.8 TC14E Teleconverter. Elk antlers are shed in winter and start to grow again in early summer. During their growth period antlers are covered with a soft velvet-like material. Back or side light provides  a nice rim-lighting effect around velvet antlers.

Spruce Grouse

Canon EOS-1V EF 500mm f/4 L IS About a dozen Spruce Grouse had come out of the forest to feed in the short grass alongside Maligne Lake Road. They totally ignored our presence, walking around our feet and tripod legs; one even pecked at the shoe of a surprised photographer. Fall vegetation provided colorful background.

As nature photographers we enjoy scenics, flora and fauna. However, be alert for images of people enjoying the outdoors; mix in people photos to add variety and humor to nature slide programs.

Athabasca Glacier Water Fountain

Canon EOS-1V EF 28-70mm f/2.8 L At the Columbia Icefield Centre you can ride a Snocoach -- a cross between school bus and monster truck -- onto Athabasca Glacier. At the turnaround point, passengers are given the opportunity to walk on the glacier surface. This father and son team found a novel way to sample glacial melt water.

Mornings are typically more productive for landscape photography in the Rockies because of calmer and clearer conditions. However, there are some prime evening locations: Vermilion Lakes near Banff,  Medicine Lake near Jasper, and Herbert Lake in the Lake Louise area. Vermilion Lakes is the collective name for a wetlands area comprising of three lakes and several smaller ponds that attract wildlife. I often see elk and waterfowl, and the area looks very "moose-y" -- moose sightings have been reported -- but I have yet to see one at this location.

Mt. Rundle, Vermilion Lakes

Canon EOS-1V EF 28-70mm f/2.8 L Mt. Rundle, with its distinctive knife-edged shape, is shown reflected in one of the Vermilion Lakes, just West of Banff.

Medicine Lake In Fall

Nikon F5 Tokina AF 28-70mm In Spring, Medicine Lake fills with water from rain and melting snow; by early Fall most of this water has drained underground, leaving puddles suitable for an abstract sunset composition.

Southeast Alaska

Glacier And Flowers

Canon EOS-1V EF 28-70mm f/2.8 L A 3-stop graduated neutral density filter was needed to reduce tonal contrast between foreground and background elements. However, it's the emotional contrast between cold, ancient, glacier-capped mountains and colorful, blooming flowers that makes the image interesting.

Old growth forests are fascinating subjects on their own, but look for opportunities to add wildlife for outstanding wildlife scenics.

Grizzly Bear Fishing From Log

Nikon N90s Nikkor AF 80-200mm Not all wildlife images need to be frame-filling for visual impact. The first time I saw a bear on this log I quickly reached for the long lens and made a series of frame-filling "bear-on-log" images. As soon as the bear stepped back into the woods I regretted not switching to a shorter lens to show the bear's habitat. Luckily, I got a second chance a few days later when a different bear stepped out onto the log to look for salmon; this time I was ready with an 80-200 zoom to compose the photo shown here.

Some of the best wildlife action occur early and late, or on overcast days when light level is low. Bring some higher speed film, such as Provia 400F (slide), for higher shutter speeds to freeze subject movement. The film is sharp but not contrasty, has reasonably small grain, and neutral color balance. It's the first 400-speed film that I use without reservation (well, except for the high price). The photos of strolling grizzly bear (without fish) and flying eagle were made with this film.

Grizzly Bear With Salmon

Nikon N90s Nikkor AF-I 500mm f/4 A young Grizzly Bear proudly paraded with huge salmon it had just caught. Chum Salmon at this location can weigh up to 30 lbs.

With bears making frequent sprints in the creek to catch fish, try panning at slow shutter speeds to blur background and express a sense of motion. Digital shooters have a clear advantage here -- instant image feedback to determine appropriate shutter speeds for the desired amount of blurring; film shooters need to bracket shutter speeds and make mental or written notes for future reference.

Bears use a variety of fishing techniques: some sprint after fish, some casually stroll, while others pounce from selected ambush positions along the bank.

Grizzly Bear And Cub

Nikon F5 Nikkor AF-S 500mm f/4 I didn't bring fast film on this trip in 1998, and was faced with shutter speeds between 1/20 and 1/30 sec. during this wonderful action sequence between Grizzly mother and cub on an overcast morning. Luckily, in one frame, the precocious cub stood still long enough to be acceptably sharp; the mother's mouth is a bit soft due to movement of her snarling jaws.

Black Bear Fishing

Nikon N90s Nikkor AF-I 500mm f/4 This Black Bear specialized in the "ambush-and-pounce" fishing method, holding perfectly still for several minutes at the creek's edge, then pouncing on passing salmon. It didn't catch salmon on every attempt, but it did provide great entertainment with splashy belly flops.

Other mammals that I have seen around the spawning creek include Gray Wolf, Mink, River Otter, and Beaver. The appearance of wolves at the creek to fish for salmon has been a recent and extremely interesting development. Wolves have always been known to inhabit the nearby mountains, but in 2001, a splinter pack of five wolves came down to the creek and started to fish for salmon. It was the first time this behavior had ever been observed at this location. Unfortunately, I was not there that year, and had to settle for admiring some unbelievable images taken by a friend who was very fortunate to be there that season. I returned in 2003 and recorded my first ever photo of a Gray Wolf, shown below.

Mink With Salmon Scrap

Canon EOS-1V EF 500mm f/4 L IS 1.4X Teleconverter for wolf 2X Teleconverter for mink The wolf was soaking wet from chasing salmon in the creek. It stopped behind some tall grass to check us out, and provided a nice pose that is reflective of the cautious nature of wolves in the wild. This mink had a den in the lagoon near the creek. It caught small fish and collected scraps of salmon -- as seen here -- to feed its family.

Gray Wolf At Salmon Spawning Grounds

Bald Eagles are often seen in moss-covered trees along the creek waiting to feed on remains of salmon left by the bears. They fly back and forth along the creek providing many opportunities to practice flight shots. A gimbal-type tripod head such as the Wimberley can greatly increase the percentage of sharp flight photos. Other birds frequenting the nearby lagoon include the Belted Kingfisher and Common Merganser.

Eagle In Flight

Canon EOS-1V EF 500mm f/4 L IS for eagle in flight. Stacked 1.4x and 2x Teleconverters for kingfisher. This Bald Eagle made a banking turn in front of the cameras and landed on a gravel bar in the creek to feed on remains of salmon left by the bears.

Belted Kingfisher