On the Road to Santa Claus, a photo from Alberta, Prairies

Photographer's Note

Although it looks like North Pole, this scene was shot two weeks before summer!!!

It was cool to get this surprising weather condition, because Wanda van den Hogen (Wanda 1) who was with me on this trip, have seen snow only once in her life when she was a 4 years old kid. You should see her throwing snowballs at me; she has no talent!!!... :-P)

In WS, a photo of the Ursus Carnivorus, a dangerous bear species that can jump in front of your camera at any given moment!

sevy, npecanhuk, akm, cbrman, jjcordier, jafadabret, xavshot, Budapestman, isabela_sor, mdetay, Cretense, ktanska, feather, Cricri, gunbud, jhm, Angshu, rigoletto, bethel, Katepina, agapiloren has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

coco (30439) 2009-12-14 0:32 [Comment]

Show Comment

smarcell (19965) 2009-12-14 0:36

I see yu have taken this shot in june. It looks december ! Anyway It is a great view, with the road running toward the center of the frame, and the overall grey tone broken by the yellow line
Excellent
Regards Stefano

sevy (58) 2009-12-14 0:49

Bonjour Andr�,

Effectivement, tres bizarre cette meteo pour le mois de Juin. Ca arrive de temps en temps en montagne, mais la il y a une belle petite quantit�.
J aime bien le cadrage avec la route qui amene le regard en profondeur et permet de relier la neige a la zone ensoleill閑. La photo n aurait pas eu la meme force sans la falaise au soleil.
Ca me fait un peu penser a l expo Mc Kenna que j ai vu hier. J aime bien ce qu il fait.

Yves.

PS: j espere que tu as survecu a ta rencontre avec l ours. En tout cas, tu n auras pas 閠� l homme qui connait l homme qui connait l homme qui a vu l ours. Tu as VU l ours :-)

pauloog (11751) 2009-12-14 1:21

Hello Andr�,
A fine winter photo from the viewpoint of a road traveller. The clouds around the mountains makes you wonder what is hidden...
Regards,
Paul

npecanhuk (79329) 2009-12-14 1:37

Hello Andr�!
Needless to say that the landscape is magnificent and the winter atmosphere is so beautiful1
So, let's go to your photo work: sharpness, slim vertical format, exposure, pov and composition, with the wet road leading our eyes into the awesome place, everything is excellent!
Hopefully I'll have the chance to have such views, without any blizzards or similar stuff!
TFS - cogratulations!
My warmest regards,
Neyvan

Dashab (2564) 2009-12-14 1:38

Hi Andr�,
This is a beautiful shot, the snow looks like icing sugar and the mountain peeking out of the cloud and the light shining on it are superb. Perfect composition with the winding road leading off to the North Pole (well, Lake Louise is a bit of a detour from the highway, but who cares:-), the spirit is right).
TFS and have a wonderful week!
Dasha

akm (1216) 2009-12-14 2:18

Hello Andre,
This is a splendid and evocative image of this magnificent part of Canada You bring back memories of very happy skiing and exploring. Your shot is beautifully composed and the swirling clouds and magical light are just as I remember them. Thank you.
Regards,
Mary

DRAKOLIMNH (1224) 2009-12-14 2:50

Α really great place and your frame is really lovely the background incredible i like the colors too,

congratulations
Petros

trippeek (229) 2009-12-14 3:25

Hello Andre
Tremendous picture: perfect framing, with the bendig road that take all the low side, and disappears among the pine-trees. And the mountains half covered by the clouds adds a touch of mystic.
Best regards
Stefano

cbrman (21685) 2009-12-14 3:50

Hello Andr�,

Ce qu'il manque sur cette route, c'est le traineau du P鑢e-No雔 tir� par ses reines.
Cette montagne qui se laisse deviner dans les nuages et qui est illumin閑 par un brin de soleil est le clou de cette sc鑞e hivernale. La route semble descendre l間鑢ement et nous mener tout droit vers ce d閏or grandiose.
La rang閑 de sapins couvert de neige donne du rythme � cette image.
Superbe !

A+

Dominique

BennyV (34772) 2009-12-14 4:28

Bonjour Andre,

Not my kind of scene (brr...), but I do appreciate it. What I like most about the composition, is that curving yellow line, actually. A trace of humanity in a black/white winter landscape. But I guess that's just me...

Thanks for sharing.

Benny

jjcordier (79299) 2009-12-14 5:36

Andr�
On a un peu de mal � penser que ta photo a 閠� prise en juin mais on ne s'en extasie pas moins devant sa beaut�. La composition en est parfaite avec cette route qui semble nous conduire vers ce superbe sommet ensoleill�. Inutile de dire que la qualit� d'image est splendide!
Amiti閟
JJ

Je crois que tu as tr鑣 bien surv閏u � ce sp閏imen tr鑣 particulier d'ourse o)

jafadabret (56501) 2009-12-14 6:53

Bonjour Andr�.
C'est une photo que j'aurais aim� faire. J'aime cette route qui nous fait entrer dans le paysage, tu t'es plac� sur la ligne jaune, bravant la circulation et l'ours. La montagne ensoleill閑 qui appara顃 au milieu du brouillard est superbe. Tout 鏰 entre les sapins enneig閟 au garde-�-vous !
Bonne semaine !
Jacques

xavshot (69835) 2009-12-14 7:20

Bonsoir Andr�
superbe photo ! le format vertical est excellent. Le regard suit agr閍blement la ligne jaune pour d閏ouvrir la montagne qui d閏hire les nuages. Tr鑣 belles couleurs.
Xavier

Budapestman (82620) 2009-12-14 7:24

Hi Andre,
Fabulous sight, really. The mountains appearing from the fog and clouds are wonderful, the composition is superb. The quality of the photo is worthy of the Santa Claus. :-) Beautiful shot, Have a nice week!
George

Paul57 (2223) 2009-12-14 8:10

Salut Andr�,
Quelle belle photo. Quelle surprise pour le mois de juin mais dans les Rocheuses tout peut arriver. Moi, j'ai eu de la neige au Lac Peyto en juillet.
Tr鑣 bien r閡ssi; je n'ai rien de n間atif � dire.
Bonne semaine.
Paul

sayeed_rahman (6461) 2009-12-14 9:18

After a long time..a strong and original shot..nature shot on TE..this must have been a moment for those who are coming up from the plains...the urban jungles..

the drive must have exciting..wasnt it..specially if you have your nearest by your side..but i am guessing you were at the drivers' :)

This makes me feel good andre...makes me feel i could get lost here and never come back..to an office cubicle..

Life is harsh..

sayeed

macjake (98544) 2009-12-14 10:01

Hi Andre

Alberta is known for its odd and unpredictable weather patterns. I really like how the road is so clear, almost as if you took out the zambonie and cleaned it before snapping your photo!
and the clouds, looks like God pushed it aside for you so you can capture the light in the opening, for the mountain top.
Great conditions to shoot, and just a wonderful winter summer photo.
Have a great week
Craig

dkeus31 (27739) 2009-12-14 10:41

bonjour Andr�
je suis la ligne jaune et j'arrive chez le monsieur rouge avec sa longue barbe?
sous ce paysage blanc ainsi qu'un ciel un poil bleu, he gage que le cadeau sera vert? l'閠� se profile-t-il?
a+
didier

Bartleby (13552) 2009-12-14 12:01

Howdy Andr�,

superbe bien s鹯...cette montagne qui surgit de la brume est du plus bel effet...Et la route invite au voyage ! Let's hit it !

C ya,

Philippe

chriswhitley (2027) 2009-12-14 12:27

Very beautiful shot Andre. I like how you have used the road to lead us into the scene. Chris

isabela_sor (47748) 2009-12-14 12:33 [Comment]

Show Comment

artesia (959) 2009-12-14 12:59

Hello Andre... this is absolutely brilliant picture. That opening... is just breathtaking. Made us wondering what's behind the cloud....

My trip to Moraine Lake on the road was just ok without the snows :-) until one of the Ten Peaks visible.. truly one of the wonders of the world...

Warm regards

Artesia

AKITA (15125) 2009-12-14 13:14

dear Andre,
wow,
splendid moment and view,
partially seen wild rock cliff is wonder so much, and it is well contrasted with strange winding road and vertical winter trees, whole scene is amazing,
thank you,
Akihisa

mdetay (4929) 2009-12-14 17:07

Hi Andre,
Nice road to santa Claus. Very cool and crispy.
Well done, congratulation.
It would have been even nicer with the bear!
Cheers from Hong Kong.
Michel

gneufeld (15890) 2009-12-14 18:26

Hi Andre,
Very nice, Andre. Beautiful vertical perspective with the roadway providing a welcoming lead in to the snowy mountainous landscape. Well done and TFS. GErald

barrufeto_77 (28888) 2009-12-14 23:23

Hi Andre.

Wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. Every time I am in the snow (unusual here...) I try to get colours like yours...but it's impossible for me. Fortunatelly for me, there are a lot of better photographers than me hahahahha.

My compliments!

eversmile (11636) 2009-12-15 2:04

Bonjour Andr�!

Epatant, ce cadrage! Le ruban d'asphalte bien lisse, � la texture presque satin閑 qui serpente entre les versants enneig閟, est un choc visuel en soi; mais avec le bout de montagne illumin閑 en surplomb, la magie s'invite carr閙ent! C'est beau sous ce rayon de soleil, comme une pierre pr閏ieuse d間ag閑 de sa gangue! Je suis charm閑 par les teintes, et conquise par le cadrage tr鑣 minutieux et op閞� en plein milieu de la route, comme si tu 閠ais seul au monde dans un pays sans voitures... Quelle ma顃rise!
Marine

Cretense (68709) 2009-12-15 4:51

Hello Andre!

Yes, "on the road again" could also be the title for this one, but the one you finally chose is more in the spirit of these days! Well what can I say about this photo, you leave no space for critique or comment! Everything perfect in your well known top quality job, excellent framing and composition, amazing perspective, huge depth of field! Flawless light management and brilliant colours! Congratulations!

Hercules

ktanska (45048) 2009-12-15 5:24

Hi Andre,
This one has lots of details I like: The road spreading from corner to corner at the bottom. Snowless black road next so snowy landscape curving into distance. Sunlit mountain face showing through opening of clouds. Beautiful mountaineous winter view.
Kari

ciakgiak (30) 2009-12-15 12:21

Hello Andre,
this is a very fantastic and impressive winter mountainscape, although we are two weeks before summere here.
The vertical composition works very well here, the view of the road in FG is very pleasant. The quality of the shot is really excellent.
Friendly regards.
Giorgio

gilou530 (34) 2009-12-15 13:01

salut andr�
un paysage qui meme sous un mauvais temps a de la beaut�, en plus cette ligne jaune nous guide le regard parfaitement et ce noir du bitume contraste bien avec le paysage enneig�, superbe photo comme d'hab
amiti閟
gilbert

PixelTerror (0) 2009-12-15 13:13

Salut Cousin
Ca fait salement envie ton image, juste le souci c'est que chez vous y'a pas de fromage a fondre et le vin blanc qui va bien pour restaurer la chaleur interne apres... un gigot d'orignal le ferait peut etre... en tout cas jolie perspective a rechauffer un objectif, a defaut d'une illustre visiteuse, prends soin de la gazelle suis pas sur qu'elle soit habituee au -50...
@++ JY

Sistercosmo (242) 2009-12-15 14:24

Hi Andr�,

WOW, right place, right time, but still not a lot of people would have gotten such a terrific shot! Sharp and cold and nice blue spots in the sky. The mountain so ghostly... Fantastic! Really breath taking.

Thanks and take good care,
Linda

P.S. LOVE that WS photo and pls tell Wanda, if she wants to practice with snowballs, she should just come on over - plenty of snow here! :)

cunejo200 (7281) 2009-12-15 14:51

Hello Andre,

This was meticulously composed. The lead-in road and the glimpse of the snow-capped mountain are the highlights for me.

Danilo

wolf38 (30) 2009-12-15 23:58

Hello Andre. Beauty of winter. Here you show a fantastic winter landscape. Composition, light and colors are best. Excellent also the technical quality. Regards, Wolfgang.

anindya2u (287) 2009-12-16 8:29

Hi Andre

Awesome capture, superb natural extravaganza from this part of Canada.
Snow on the trees and the clean road added a different magnitude to the overall snap. Also the different layers created in the sky level and mountain peeping from above is excellent.

User of greater f number and shutter speed is perfect.

Rgds
anindya

feather (51130) 2009-12-16 9:07

It's amazing how countries that are used to snow keep the roads pristine, whereas if it snow over here, the whole country closes down.
Excellent shot using the road as lead-in. It's wonderful how the clouds parted to reveal the mountain behind. I love the dangerous bear in the WS. ;D
Kath

manudautriche (4348) 2009-12-16 10:09

Hi Andr�,
Le choix de la verticalit� pour cette photo est bien choisi,elle est tr鑣 belle,elle d間age une ambiance de documentaire ou de film,superbe,ciao.

Cricri (176) 2009-12-16 10:35

Bonsoir Andr�
C'est tellement beau qu'on en oublierais presque le froid....ce qui rend spectaculaire c'est la brume qui laisse entrevoir un morceau de la montagne, le POV excellent de la route entre un magnifique paysage enneig閑, sympat le WS :-)
Belle soir閑
cricri

gunbud (34066) 2009-12-16 15:36

Hi Andre,
Breathing taking shot in marvelous light and clouds.
The road adds great depth while the snow covered evergreens make a lovely natural frame for this fine vertical shot.
Love the rugged mountains poking through the lifting fog.
Regards, Tom

jhm (211738) 2009-12-17 2:31

Hello Andr�,

I looked to your WS, also this is a very good picture, I like the experimental images certainly with these lady as subject.
The picture here is a wonderful shot through the mountain in background between the misty atmosphere.
Also a good choice of angle this for the perspective and depth, the yellow line leads us depth toward the background.
Very well of quality. TFS.

Have a nice day,
John.

Angshu (56760) 2009-12-19 21:48

Dear Andre
From your Pov it appears that you took it right from the centre of the road standing on the yellow dividing line. And the timing of your shot is excellent. How long did the window through the clouds last?...enough for you to take a shot of the mild sun drenched peak. Lovely perspective we see with the frosted trees on either side of the road. Love the bonus of the black bear in the WS.
Hows your Christmas shopping going? Have a great Sunday my friend!
Best Regards
Angshu

cherryripe (21033) 2009-12-20 9:53

Salut Andr�
En dirait la Suisse maintenant avec ce beau tapis de neige. Belle profondeur gr鈉e � ton pdv le long de la route et ambiance sympathique gr鈉e aux nuages basses. Le grizzly ne me fait pas peur ;-)
Bonne soir閑
Nikki

rigoletto (34279) 2009-12-21 13:20

Wow! What a majestic landscape this is! Simply breathtaking. If landscapes were my fav. subject, i would consider taking this one into my fav. box!
Also a nice Ursus you have found in the depth of nature :PP

While travelling a lot, it should not be difficult to find such places. What i can see from my room window, is only a sea of concrete buildings :(

sultana (2101) 2009-12-22 4:46

A great photo with all details.Road curve,snow ,arrangement of trees and fog are beautiful.I like the light from the fog.Well done.
Best regards,
Sultan

chpp (4283) 2009-12-23 12:22

Really??? I live so close and never saw him!! :)
very nice shot, it really shows how beautiful and magestic this place is
TFS
C

cdmonson (5304) 2009-12-28 11:03

Hi Andre:

Heck of a shot. Crazy how long winter lasts in the Canadian Rockies. I was just there last week, and this is pretty much exactly what it looked like. I guess it's what it looks like for over 8 months out of the year. I love that slick black winding road leading you off to Santa Claus. :) But the light and clouds on the mountain are the really nice part. Great shot.

Clark

savask (1891) 2009-12-28 16:02

Impressive POV and amazing contrast of white snow and black road..

Rafer (0) 2009-12-30 21:58

Excelente y magistral imagen...feliz a駉 nuevo 2010....

cam (9043) 2010-01-13 18:59

Bonjour Andr�
Une photo qui rend justice � la grandeur des Rocheuses.
une nettet� d'un bord � l'autre.
Question, concernant le PP. Qu'as tu fait ici pour obtenir ce d閠ail, c'est soign�, ni trop ni moins.
HDR?, si oui, il ne se laisse pas deviner.
Une beaut�

Prenons la route. Vrrrrrrrroum.

Charles

bethel (359) 2010-02-19 1:18

Hi Andre,

It's so great that this photo was taken just before summer! The atmosphere of this shot is incredible. The light is very good and I particularly like your composition here, with the yellow line of the road as the central feature of the photo.

Beautiful image, well done.
Elizabeth

federico (6109) 2010-04-20 22:21

hi again andre another good one, here the snow gives to your shot the definitive touch, great sharpeness, colours, and the mountain on the background appearing into the clouds, everything match really well
thanks for sharing
fred

KevRyan (22956) 2011-05-16 8:56

Beautiful shot Andre - the way the near gold and white of the mountain emerges from the cloud combined with the road which leads to such promise framed by the rock and trees is so atmospherically enticing!! I want to be there in that moment!

bw KEv

kasianowak (17676) 2012-08-17 11:56

Beautiful scenery with wonderful light. The winding road leads the viewer's eye to the distant mountain. The break in the cloud is a great bonus - well used photo opportunity!
Best wishes
Kasia

korbee (6619) 2012-08-17 11:57

Dar\ear andre ypur gallery overall is great looking,this is a wonderful road scene,specially the light on tht snowy mountains,just peeping between the clouds,what a country and what a skilled person caturing it!
jan

gus72 (3719) 2013-10-01 3:21

Hi Andre !!
very beautiful photo .......Congratulations/
Cheers
Gus