Toronto Photography Meetup Group

So I'm making my first trip out to the west coast on the 19th for a ten day trip starting in Calgary, making a sort of loop into BC to visit a bunch of places and ending back in Calgary again on the 29th. It being my first time out there, AND my first trip with my DSLR I want to make the msot of it so I have a few questions I was wondering if you guys could shed some light on.

1. For those that have been there before, any recommendations for what I should check out while I'm there? Banff, yes I know that one already but if there's anywhere specific in Banff you think might be worthwhile. I'll also be checking out Whistler, and then the areas around major cities like Calgary, Victoria and Vancouver. Any suggestions for what else I should add to my itinerary? Or anything that's already on the way that's worth taking some time out of my trip to photograph?

2. In terms of equipment I have an XSi with the 18-55 kit lens. I imagine I will be taking a fair amount of landscape photos so even though it's not the greatest lens I guess this will have to do for any wide-angle shots. I made the decision to buy only EF lenses (better re-sale value and opportunity) and because I have a cropped sensor, wide-angle EF lenses are fairly useless to me for landscape shots. However, do you guys think it would be worth adding something else to the mix? I'm considering the 50mm f/1.8 (though I would rather wait a little more, save up and get the f/1.4), 100m f/2.8 macro, or the 70-200 F4 L lens (no IS). I'm really not sure what kind of situations I might find myself in so I don't know if it's worth rushing a little to buy one of these lenses in time for the trip OR which one would be most useful on this kind of trip. Any advice? (I already know in advance thericyip is going to recommend the nifty fifty)

Thanks!

Do some hiking in Whistler, the scenery is absolutely breathtaking, and the scenery you'll see from the trails will be a bit different. On one of my trips out west I actually cut out some of my itinerary in order to stay in Whistler longer as I enjoyed it that much. I had spent 2-3 days hiking in the mountains.

There are some very neat rainforests in the provincial park south of Tofino on Vancouver Island.

Calgary, to be brutally honest, I found to be pretty dull as a city. I much prefer Banff, Vancouver, Victoria, Whistler. Vancouver has a lot of personality as a city and has many great neighbourhoods with interesting food scenes. Banff, Victoria, and Whistler are tough to beat for natural sights.

The 18-55 on a crop sensor is in my experience decent for landscapes. I went on one of my BC trips when I was first starting out using a dSLR and that's all I had used. It may even be easier for you and allow you to focus on learning if you're not lugging around tons of lenses. Though, a fast 50mm can certainly be neat for some stuff.

You've listed a number of possible lenses. My advice, go with what you have (at most get the 50), learn, and that may help you figure out what you want to focus on next. Then again, that's just how it seemed to work for me.

Yes, Calgary is pretty dull, if you want to see scenario, get out of there and into the mountains.

A friend of mine used to go out to Banff and everywhere else out there each summer. The photos he brought back were awesome and been meaning to get out there one of these summers (was going to do that this year actually).

One place you might want to check out is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peyto_Lake">Peyto Lake</a>. It's about a ten minute walk off the highway from what he told me. I'm sure there's a website out there on the must see spots.

Also, if your 18-55 isn't wide enough (frankly I think nice wide angle shots of the scenario would work best out there and at 18mm it should do for most shots, I didn't use anything but the wide angle lens when I was out there during the winter) you can always try and take a series of photos and then get them stitched together afterwards.

I'm making the same trip in September

plan on bringing my Sigma 10-20 and my 17-85 IS kit lens

When you're in Calgary, drop by "The Camera Store", and pickup a copy of "How to Photography the Rockies" by Darwin Wiggett.

It's a _very_ good book for Banff/Jasper/Kootenay. It's the closest thing to a step-by-step guide for all the nice spots, many of which you'll completely miss otherwise.

There's very good instructions on Peyto Lake, including how to get to a much better spot to shoot from rather than the crowded platform.

Victoria is very pretty, and is well worth the trip.

We spent two weeks in Banff/Jasper/Kootenay, and it was fantastic. Our main focus was wildlife, but we did lots of scenics/landscapes. My preference is Jasper over Banff for wildlife. I had a fisheye, 15-30, 18-50/2.8, 50-500 on 1.6x crop, 1.3x crop and 35mm film. I used everything.

Being summer, haze will be an issue... I don't know how the forest fires in Kelowna will affect the area, especially if you're driving thru. It'll be hard, but get up _early_, the light will be the best, air will be cleanest, and a touch of mist/low-clouds will make for great shots. Sunset is also rather late, so you might want to plan for a few siestas.

Ah I miss the long summer nights out there. The longest day here, sun sets just a few minutes after 9PM while right now, out there, it's setting at 9PM now.

I'd suggest you make a little trip to Vancouver island, especially the coastal areas it's just amazing

With a 10 day trip starting in Calgary (and a LOOP return to Calgary) including Banff and Whistler, I'd forgo the Island. Including it in this trip would mean spending too little time in the other places. Getting to the coastal regions of the Island will eat up alot of your time in transit - ferry is required from Vancouver. But I agree that the Island should be on anyone's 'bucket list'. Including it on a 10 day loop from Calgary is gonna give you a verr superficial and rushed taste of the many sites you'll see.

On this trip you definitely don't want to miss Peyto Lake - stunning. If it is a loop trip you may want to include Jasper - it is also beautiful. I don't know the mountain passes too well but if it gives an alternate way through the Rickies then it is a good idea as it will prevent you from returning along the same route.

Are you renting a car?

Ten days is too short for all of these. I made the trip from Calgary to Jasper and back to Calgary in about 15 days and I still felt I need more time.

The problem is you'll be driving a lot and you won't have much time to stop and enjoy the beauty of those places.

If I were you I would restrict my trip to either the Alberta portion or BC portion. I think 10 days isn't nearly enough to cover both if you really want to enjoy the trip.

Keep in mind it is a five hours flight to Calgary plan to catch the earliest flight from Toronto and a as late as possible flight from Calgary.

You'll definitely need a wide angle lens for landscapes and a long lens for wild life which you'll see a lot.
You might get some use from a f/1.8 or faster lens since at this time of the year it is still enough light around 11PM to get some interesting twilight shots.

Speaking of which, a tripod could come in handy for panorama shots and sunrise/ sunset shots.

Anyways, this is going to be a fantastic trip so enjoy it.

Around Banff: Definitely Peyto Lake! The color of that lake is quite unbelievable!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28564293@N ... 217989901/

Make a stop at Fairmount Lake Louise and hopefully when you get there, the Lake is calm and would give you a perfect mirror image of the mountains

If you go further to Jasper, take the time to go up the Columbia Icefields and walk closer to the Athabasca Glacier. Seek out the guide at the bottom of the hill before walking up and maybe you get the chance to even walk at the glacier. That should be spectacular. We missed out on that since we didn't know you have to talk to the local down below.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28564293@N ... 218779703/

The drive to BC might be a little difficult for you if the forest fires would still be a problem. You have to pass by either Kamloops (close to Lilloet) one way or the other, going to Vancouver. The mountains look so dry and brittle as compared to Alberta. It was pretty evident last June when I was there. Please be careful and consider this when driving through BC.

That's my two cents!

p.s. I have survived the whole thing with just my 24-105L. I think 50mm would not be useful unless you're interested in doing macros. Bear in mind, in your camera, 50mm would effectively be longer.

Thank you so much everyone for all the feedback!

I have heard from a few friends I have in Calgary that apart from the rodeo season (which is over now), Calgary is quite boring so though I'm flying in and out of there I won't be spending too much time.

Banff and Jasper I had already planned to do, with the majority of the trip in BC. I had completely forgotten about Peyto lake so thanks for all the tips, and I'll be sure to check out the book you recommended Kin Lau.

I'll be sure to post some of the better pictures once I get back.

Hi, here's what I did when I went to the Rockies a few years ago.

I flew in to Calgary. Don't forget to visit the Cowboys Bar & Nightclub!
Rent a car from the airport.
Drove to Banff the next day.
Stayed a few nights and drove to Lake Louise. Taking lots of snapshots along the way.
Stayed a few nights and drove to Jasper. Taking lots of snapshots along the way.

Fav places:

Anyone every been to Whitehorse? I am going at the end of November, and have no idea what to expect.

SNOW!

Daryl

Alberta badlands are quite nice and very photographic. Drumheller is sort of badlands central. Also just out of Drumheller is Tyrell museum, simply the best museum in all of Canada.

Cypress hills in Southeast Alberta is one of the most picturesque vistas in the 3 prairie provinces. Dark cypress and white birch forest, dark hills, if lucky some wildlife amongst the white birch.

If you are adventurous, drive off the highway onto some rural roads. The prairies, especially Alberta, cash crops are wheat, oats, flax and canola. Planted side by side gives beautiful views of immense squares of yellow, purple, green and gold. For this view alone it's worth flying in/out of Edmonton in summer.

South of Edmonton, Wetaskiwin has a triple museum of vintage cars, agricultural vehicles and airplanes that is one of Canada's less known gems.

In BC, south Okanagan, the wine trail, is quite pretty.

OK, sorry.

There was a joke I heard when I was in Alaska many years ago that the best thing about Anchorage was that it was next door to Alaska. I think the same thing can be said about Whitehorse, its next door to the Yukon.

Now keep in mind I was last there 20 years ago and it may have improved, but then it was a gray, little government town. The most interesting thing was the SS Klondike paddle wheeler dry docked at one end of town. That was very cool and interesting right down to old copies of Life magazine in the passenger lounge. I would go back just to photograph it again. I don't think it is open in November.

There were a few buildings that were nice, and I seem to recall a bit of a shanty town on the outskirts along the river. November could be good for northern lights.

I was only there two days (and one was rained out) so I didn't do much exploring. It was a stop on the way to Skagway and the Inside Passage.

Daryl

If I have to make a stop to relieve a 10 to 12 hours drive between Calgary and Vancouver, is it better to stay in Kamloops or Okanagan Valley along the way? Does anyone know a better choice?