Yesterday I went to Moraine Lake and Herbert Lake. Moraine Lake was a zoo on the rockpile at 630am in the morning.
People were arriving and going down the hill in front of everyone else. By 7am, there must of been 75 people there and maybe a handful of people that knew what they were doing. The rest were without tripod and doing selfies of their girlfriend or children. No one paying any attention to who was behind them. grrrrr!
I was hoping this year would escape the hoards fo foreign guided tours that do not know photographic etiquette but it appears our prime minister giving all people that don't want to work $2000/month has them having a leisurely summer. Plus just regular people postponed their winter vacation I guess.
Anyway what a zoo. The parks need to manage the trails or they are going to be trampled to death. Please let my fellow Canadians back into your country so I can have my park back
So we gave up early and headed to Herbert Lake.
3 of 3 posted. Comments and feedback are appreciated.
Amazing shots as always. Voted
All the national parks are getting filled with tourists nowadays. Many of these tourists do not have any etiquette or common sense. All they do is hanging dangerously on a ledge or taking countless selfies blocking others views. Commercials, travel channels and easy mode of communications are ruining all the serene places.
It seems to be the same everywhere.
Two years ago in Zion the crowds were ridiculous. Young people doing handstands and getting selfies all over. There was a constant crowd heading to the Narrows, something which in several visits previously, we've never experienced.
Last year in France, Corsica, again massive crowds making photography challenging.
Now with the world wide lock downs being lifted, the general population, at least in the UK, seem to have lost any semblance of common sense. Massive tail backs and car parking issues in Snowdonia, wild camping in the Lake District - leaving masses of rubbish. So sad that these beautiful areas are in danger of being spoilt for future generations.
Sadly this irresponsible attitude seems to be reflected globally!
I think the only solutions would be quota systems for peak times in the parks. Everyone has just as much right to be at the park...whether they are just taking in the beautiful scenery, taking selfies or setting up tripods for that once in a lifetime image. I've seen plenty of photographers setup infront of other photographers so this selfish entitlement spans everyone.
BC has taken the action to limit people in 6 popular parks via a free quota system. You must have a pass for that day in order to get access to the parks. With the popularity of our parks, that's the only way to keep the parks manageable.
Lake Ohara has this quota system for years and every time I visited the area, I could easily wander off and see no one else. The downfall of this is that many times I was not lucky enough to get a pass so I had to find other areas to visit.
First, compliments to Scott on the lovely photographs, especially given the adverse crowd conditions in the first one.
chez wrote:
I think the only solutions would be quota systems for peak times in the parks. Everyone has just as much right to be at the park...whether they are just taking in the beautiful scenery, taking selfies or setting up tripods for that once in a lifetime image. I've seen plenty of photographers setup infront of other photographers so this selfish entitlement spans everyone.
BC has taken the action to limit people in 6 popular parks via a free quota system. You must have a pass for that day in order to get access to the parks. With the popularity of our parks, that's the only way to keep the parks manageable.
Lake Ohara has this quota system for years and every time I visited the area, I could easily wander off and see no one else. The downfall of this is that many times I was not lucky enough to get a pass so I had to find other areas to visit....Show more →
Exactly. A quota system that has reasonable limits based on impact to the park, not just how many parking spaces exist, is the only way to assure longer survival of these special places. OTOH I'm pretty sure population pressures will eventually overwhelm nearly anything that can be done.
I personally just stopped going to places that are overrun,( and over photographed ) during peak season. Ski into Morraine or Ohara during the winter and you might have it to yourself. Hike where it requires sweat and crowds quickly diminish.
p.1 #10 · Moraine Lake (too busy) and Herbert Lake
I can understand how frustrating it must be for someone as skilled as yourself, and I'm not being sarcastic here your images are gorgeous, to show up early in the morning only to find the place overrun with people. But this sense of "photographic entitlement" is getting tiring. These places were not put here so you could take your photos undisturbed. Unless people are tossing garbage around, trampling off trails, or causing some other harm to the surroundings they have as much right to be there and enjoy themselves the same as you do. Their selfies are no less important than your photos. In fact, it could be argued that you are the inconvenience. Fussing around with your tripod while possibly some considerate people behind you have to wait to pass in front of you to do whatever it is they want to do. It's foolish to think that everyone should step aside while you get your pictures. To be clear, I'm not attacking you personally, just giving a different point of view.
p.1 #13 · Moraine Lake (too busy) and Herbert Lake
Nice shots Scott! I like the second and third best. Really like the morning light on the peaks in the second shot of Moraine. Hoping fall of 2021 will be back to normal and I can visit that area again!
p.1 #14 · Moraine Lake (too busy) and Herbert Lake
roythegreat: Glad you like the shots. I really hope that parks Canada charges more and uses them money to protect the parks instead of making it easier for abuse. It costs $50 to drive to the parks, surely they could charge more and manage the parks more. Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated. Scott
dwa652. Glad you like 1,3. It was tough to get good shots with the masses. Hopefully this is just those weekend - Aug 1st is a long weekend here and likely the busiest weekend of the year. Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated. Scott
zurura: Gautam - it is one of the most beautiful places I have been and consistently yields very good pictures despite the crowds. Glad you liked 1. Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated. Scott
junglialoh: Glad you like my back yard park. It is beatiful. Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated. Scott
p.1 #15 · Moraine Lake (too busy) and Herbert Lake
Grahamc: They need to do something - charge more and limit access and take care of the park. I was in Corsica last summer too. I found if I hiked 5km up the mountain the gangs diminished. Hopefully sanity will return when the Covid ends. Thanks for the input. Scott
chez: It is frustrating. Yesterday I hiked 9km into the mountains leaving at 6am and it was good for the first hour until 100s arrive. I guess I have to go even earlier. Thanks for the feedback. Scott
dmcphoto: Thanks for likely the photos. Glad you like them. Skiing into Moraine Lake requires risking your life passing the avalanche chute. So before anyone does it - get some training. Much appreciated. Scott
p.1 #16 · Moraine Lake (too busy) and Herbert Lake
sum1sgrampa wrote:
I can understand how frustrating it must be for someone as skilled as yourself, and I'm not being sarcastic here your images are gorgeous, to show up early in the morning only to find the place overrun with people. But this sense of "photographic entitlement" is getting tiring. These places were not put here so you could take your photos undisturbed. Unless people are tossing garbage around, trampling off trails, or causing some other harm to the surroundings they have as much right to be there and enjoy themselves the same as you do. Their selfies are no less important than your photos. In fact, it could be argued that you are the inconvenience. Fussing around with your tripod while possibly some considerate people behind you have to wait to pass in front of you to do whatever it is they want to do. It's foolish to think that everyone should step aside while you get your pictures. To be clear, I'm not attacking you personally, just giving a different point of view. ...Show more →
I agree with you - my pictures are not more important - but they are getting in front of each other and trampling the forest. They are ruining paradise and it requires adding parks people to control it or quota.
p.1 #17 · Moraine Lake (too busy) and Herbert Lake
andrew perkins wrote:
Nice shots Scott! I like the second and third best. Really like the morning light on the peaks in the second shot of Moraine. Hoping fall of 2021 will be back to normal and I can visit that area again!
Glad you like 2,3. Moraine is always nice even when its not nice, even at night. I am with you - lets hope Disney world opens to Canada so the masses can move on with their selfies. Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated. Scott
p.1 #18 · Moraine Lake (too busy) and Herbert Lake
Scott Stoness wrote:
I agree with you - my pictures are not more important - but they are getting in front of each other and trampling the forest. They are ruining paradise and it requires adding parks people to control it or quota.
I've seen so many photographers in Lake Ohara, Wilcox pass and Pacific Rim Park that just go off the designated trails trampling the very sensitive plant life that exists at these places just to get a different composition. I've seen photographers go over roped off areas endangering their lives for a photo. I've seen photographers encroaching on animals to the point the animal gets very uncomfortable...just for the photo.
Definitely you need to include photographers into the mix when you say "They are ruining paradise".
p.1 #19 · Moraine Lake (too busy) and Herbert Lake
chez wrote:
I've seen so many photographers in Lake Ohara, Wilcox pass and Pacific Rim Park that just go off the designated trails trampling the very sensitive plant life that exists at these places just to get a different composition. I've seen photographers go over roped off areas endangering their lives for a photo. I've seen photographers encroaching on animals to the point the animal gets very uncomfortable...just for the photo.
Definitely you need to include photographers into the mix when you say "They are ruining paradise".
p.1 #20 · Moraine Lake (too busy) and Herbert Lake
Scott,
All the craziness aside.. your images are beautiful and the comps are spot on. I love the Canadian Rockies but don't get a chance to see as often as I would like so thanks for brining this into my life. Great job on these as usual Stay sane and safe regards, Dean
