I was at out favourite sunrise spot at vermillion. Wearing my snowshoes and rubber boots. A gang of 20 tourists show up. One walks up beside me, likes my other side (where I am not at because of thin ice). I warm him including gestures. He does not speak English. He falls through and falls over. I help him up. He gets back on the ice. Luckily his camera and gear is not wet.
Another 10 people come to same spot. Cramming in. I grab my backpack and put it on because I know what’s coming next. 4 of us go through the ice. Too much collective weight. Almost up to the top of my boots.
I decide - ok then already in water in rubber boots -I will just walk with snow shoes on in water/weeds and find best spot away from the gang in the water. No more crowd in the water.
I remember only 10 years ago that I would be alone most mornings at this spot. Now its a competitive sport.
Here are my best shots of the morning. Its hard to compose when you are close to the top of your boots and your snowshoes are suction cupped to the mud. Comments and feedback are appreciated.
Two really lovely captures , Scott. Thanks for sharing.
Living in South Africa, where we have many beautiful places, I've never experienced more than a couple of photographers around the same spot unless in a bird hide or near a lion or other animal kill in the Kruger National Park. I've seen shots of photogs almost hanging on by their fingernails at some scenic spots in the US, which must be a real pain in the rear.
Beautiful images, Scott! I slightly prefer the first image, but the second is great too. I always enjoy your images!
Sorry about your experience with the tourists. I think many of us have been experiencing similar things. I have been thinking about going to Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico for some time now. However, after seeing some recent images of the long rows of photographers there, my enthusiasm has been dampened. Why go there, when I can experience much (but not all) of that wildlife near where I live? And while some of these local places are getting more crowded too, there are places that I can go (e.g., with my kayak) that get me to more quiet and peaceful settings. Well, enough rambling... I wish you better luck in the next outings!
Two lovely images, Scott. Guess you'll need to switch to night sky photography to avoid the crowds, or you'll need to get further from the tourist centres. It seems that any time I go to a popular location, I find there are lots and lots of tourists checking boxes on an itinerary. They hop out of their rental, take a selfie and move on to the next check box. Zero time taken to appreciate what made the site popular in the first place. And there is no hope for the flora as everything gets trampled in the rush for self-aggrandizement.
Nice colors Scott. I too was surprised at how many people were at Vermillion recently, seeing as I went in November smack in the middle of shoulder season. Two Jack lake was also as crowded as I had seen it in Summer. I think on my next return trip I will avoid the "parkable" spots and hike to all of my destinations.
Nice images, Scott.
I can empathise completely with the situation and the over saturation with tours.
We were in Zion in 2018 and I was astonished at how busy it was compared with previous years. The route to the Narrows was a constant stream of humanity taking 'selfies' every few steps.It was so bad,
that sadly, we have resolved never to return.
Hey Scott, I was there the same day and even took to a landscape FB group to vent some frustrations about my experiences on the shore of Vermillion. I was actually shocked at the lack of etiquette shown. I arrived around 7am and set up a nice comp, only for a hoard to arrive just at Sunrise, load the ice to failure, forcing everyone back. I ended up with a poor vantage point as my reward for getting up at the crack of dawn and driving west. I waited and got a few shots after the hoard left and whilst i was still happy with my shots, I was left with a bad taste at the whole experience.
Oosty: I guess I have to visit South Africa. Surely a lion is not more dangerous than a grizzly bear It used to be the same here 20 years ago. Enjoy it while its there. And don't tell anyone about it. Glad you like the captures. Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated.
kwilliam8: Banff has been discovered and hour dollar is low making it a very good deal from the US, Europe, or Asia. And Alberta is growing. So I just have to hike further and further for great views - trouble is hiking in the dark with grizzlies or at -25c is hard to convince others to join me.
Glad you like the first image. Much appreciated. Scott
KCollett: Glad you like the images. My wife already complains when I leave every Sunday at 3am. She would get really crabby if I started going to sleep at 7pm on Saturday night. I guess I have to retire but I am not ready emotionally or financially - particularly given my 23 year old youngest has aspirations of being a doctor. And I am funding him. Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated. Scott
guidostow: I am not sure its love. I think its the addiction for getting the shot. And sometimes I suffer from it. I have to smell the roses. The reason I like photography/hiking is that just hiking does not motivate you to stop and smell the roses. Glad you like the images. Much appreciated. Scott
BPsmith511: Usually November is slower but Vermillion is always busy now. Because it is the most reliable spot in Banff to get a great shot. Two Jack Lake is a great spot and usually not overly busy in November. Next time text me and I will advise on remoter spots. Glad you like the colours. Much appreciated. Scott
Grahamc: I think they need to charge more for park entrance - locals vs nationals vs internationals. Its getting out of control. Glad you like the images. Much appreciated. Scott
layercake1473: Where you at 2nd lake near culvert or near the hot springs between 2 and 3rd lake- hopefully I was not rude to you in my grumpiness. I was definitely the first there by at least 1/2 hour. You must have been elsewhere. Its getting out of control. Hopefully I will run into some time. I drive a green jeep rubicon with a winch on the front. Scott
Beautiful shots Scott. Lot's of places are getting overrun like that. Makes sense for Vermilion being as close to all the lodging in Banff as it is.
Usually I've been lucky with groups - they tend to go classic/safe with their shots and I usually end up with something different. Breaking through the ice (twice!) takes the cake though.
kylebarendrick wrote:
Beautiful shots Scott. Lot's of places are getting overrun like that. Makes sense for Vermilion being as close to all the lodging in Banff as it is.
Usually I've been lucky with groups - they tend to go classic/safe with their shots and I usually end up with something different. Breaking through the ice (twice!) takes the cake though.
kylebarendrick: Glad you like the shots. I think I am going to go thrrough my vermillions at 51mpx and figure out if I have as good as I can get and then either go back and perfect or stop going. Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated. Scott
Scott Stoness wrote:
Oosty: I guess I have to visit South Africa. Surely a lion is not more dangerous than a grizzly bear It used to be the same here 20 years ago. Enjoy it while its there. And don't tell anyone about it. Glad you like the captures. Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated.
Scott, you'd be welcome and there's a lot more to SA than the Kruger Park or Table Mountain If you ever do decide to come, I can put you in touch with some amazing landscape photographers. As far as lion or bear go there's not much difference when you're dead However, neither of them kill as many people as hippos do - go figure?
Yes, Vermillion, Minnewanka and Castle Mountain are all too close to Banff and nowadays are mostly a clusterf**k. I hear that Abraham is getting the same way. Blame it all on IG, which must be the worst platform ever to enjoy photography on yet is dominating for reasons that escape me. I have pretty much given up on National Parks in the US except Death Valley where people tend to herd in a few locations and leave the rest of the park to those willing to hike a few miles, wade in the muck, or simply walk half a mile past a sign that says "viewpoint". Fortunately there are still lakes and locations south and east of Canmore that are not as frequently visited.
GroovyGeek wrote:
Yes, Vermillion, Minnewanka and Castle Mountain are all too close to Banff and nowadays are mostly a clusterf**k. I hear that Abraham is getting the same way. Blame it all on IG, which must be the worst platform ever to enjoy photography on yet is dominating for reasons that escape me. I have pretty much given up on National Parks in the US except Death Valley where people tend to herd in a few locations and leave the rest of the park to those willing to hike a few miles, wade in the muck, or simply walk half a mile past a sign that says "viewpoint". Fortunately there are still lakes and locations south and east of Canmore that are not as frequently visited....Show more →
Castle mountain wasn't too bad when I was there, only one other photographer who was very pleasant. Kananaski country as you mentioned was nice and deserted.
I spent a few days in Banff every December except this past December. It was not that bad last year. I hope this is just an one off event, it would be quite sad if we have to fight for spots from now on.
Oosty: When I come to Africa to see animals/landscape, i will seek your input. Thank you. Scott
GroovyGeek: The next dilemma is that just in posting pictures (eg here) wherever you "find" instantly becomes an IG prospect. I think we need to develop and advance a photography ethics:
1) Not trample the place
2) Not walk in front of the people that were there before you.
....
BPsmith511: Castle under the bridge is usually busy - maybe not this weekend at -20c. Your were lucky. You need to arrive and get to the classic spot early close in so no one is tempted to get in front of you. Scott
tyue: the combination of low C$, bigger alberta population, and safe spot and instagram etc is causing increased pressure. now even places like Assiniboine, headwall 40k hike, Maligne 44km paddle, are getting hard to line up trips. Its still worth seeing - it just a different experience that requires planning.
I visited Canadian rockies during summer 2018, and that were my worst experience in term of crowd. But I think i was lucky because most of the time during sunset and sunrise I was alone or there were really few people except for moraine lake et louise lake where there was a bunch of IG addict.
