Icefields Parkway in the Canadian Rockies

It made for a stunning winter wonderland in the Canadian Rockies.

This shot was taken part way along Canada’s Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper. At the time, we were the only people around to enjoy it. It was snowing solidly when we set off from Banff, one of the earliest decent snowfalls of the season, before the real ski season began. After checking with the rangers at the park entrance, of course, that it was safe to proceed, we headed off, not quite sure how far we’d get. The road was just a blanket of white, buried under snow. Thankfully, the SUV we were driving took it in stride. But when the snow stopped, it was stunning. Fresh snow covered not only the ground but on the trees, which added a special touch. And being national park, the landscape was quite pristine. Sure, it was a touch chilly, but you kind of expect that if you go up to those parts in winter. And besides, the snow and scenery was precisely the reason we were there.

At the time, I was still using my trusty Nikon F100 camera. I loved how beautifully that camera fit in the hand. It just felt solid and dependable. None of the newer digital ones seem to have quite as good ergonomics as the old F100. I haven’t used it in years, but I’m still having a hard time bringing myself to getting rid of it. The film was scanned with a Nikon Coolscan IV and the images processed in Lightroom. The shot is not actually black and white–it’s just that the natural colors were muted.