"Athabasca Glacier", a photo from Alberta, Prairies

Photographer's Note

Click the image for the large version!

"The Columbia Icefield is a surviving remnant of the thick ice mass that once mantled most of Western Canada's mountains. Lying on a wide, elevated plateau, it is the largest icefield in the Canadian Rockies. Nearly three-quarters of the park's highest peaks are located close to the icefield; ideally placed to catch much of the moisture that Pacific winds carry across the British Columbia interior. Most of this precipitation falls as snow; up to 7 metres a year!

Since more snow falls in a year than can melt during the short summer season, it accumulates. As time passes, the snow transforms into ice and begins to flow outward through gaps in the mountains surrounding the icefield, creating great tongues of ice called glaciers.

The Athabasca is the most-visited glacier on the North American continent. Situated across from the Icefield Centre, its ice is in continuous motion, creeping forward at the rate of several centimeters per day. Spilling from the Columbia Icefield over three giant bedrock steps, the glacier flows down the valley like a frozen, slow-moving river. Because of a warming climate, the Athabasca Glacier has been receding or melting for the last 125 years. Losing half its volume and retreating more than 1.5 kms, the shrinking glacier has left a moonscape of rocky moraines in its wake."*

For more images from my recent trip back to Canada, they're available on my travelogue.

I hope you like the shot,
- Dan

* Parks Canada

IgorDeleze, dlevy23, Floydian, darrasin ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

cessy (13647) 2007-08-29 7:38

woooww... what a stunning landscape
even the small size already make my jaws dropped .. fantastic shot, Dan
a perfect BW landscape picture

IgorDeleze (585) 2007-08-29 7:58

Hello Dan,
Stunning picture! The large version is simply fabulous.
I like the B&W post processing. It give an excellent atmospher.
Great job.
Greeitngs.
Igor

anes_lc (14968) 2007-08-29 8:18

spectacular landscape ...and so beautiful in b&w version
all my respect for this shot,just perfect
best regards,anes

dlevy23 (2018) 2007-08-29 8:55

Hi Dan, this is a great photo. Nice composition and POV. The inclusion of the people shows the size of the place.
Great use of the B/W.

Daniel

OLF (4017) 2007-08-29 11:42

Hi Dan,
Very beautifull picture with a fantastic atmsophere!
The White and Black choice seem's to be a very good choice.
Well done!
Regards.
Olivier

izmirli (3989) 2007-08-29 13:21

merhaba dear dan
magnificent black white,panoromic picture.wonderful depth and landscape.well done.
best regards.
gürkan akçakır.

Floydian (30970) 2007-08-29 16:53

Hi Dan,
A great landscape and you present it in b&w which i've never seen before from this place. The lp version is impressive and it seems that the glacier moved further back than i was there in 1997. Are the shields with the year numbers still there?
Including some people for scaling was a clever idea and gives really scaling to the people who have never been there.
Really great work...i like it.
Regards, Henk

Cormac (26565) 2007-08-29 18:56

I like this one a lot! The sky in this looks almost supernatural, and the notch in the mountains right in the centre of the frame draws all attention right toward the centre. The black & white converson works really well too. Nicely done!

darrasin (2860) 2007-08-29 22:19

Hello Dan! The quality of the larger version is superb. The BW conversion is superb as well and the inclusion of the hikers emphasizes the amazing size of the glacier.

Well done!
Doug

Ann75 (0) 2007-08-30 9:21

Hi Dan,

Most people choose for colour photos in the Canadian Rockies, but here you have a black and white display which goes fantastic. It really brings out the light and the contrast in the scene. Great composition with excellent details! Exellent work, Dan!

Greetings,
Ann

AdamBurton (8585) 2007-10-24 14:01

Hi Dan,

I went here, walked up to the glacier and then walked away without taking any pictures. Just didnt quite know what to do - its not an easy glacier to shoot. By creating the pano you have captured it really well here. The people are great to add scale, and although Im not a big fan of B&W landscapes, this works really well.

Adam.

totoamoto (1107) 2008-06-28 6:04

Salut Dan
LA version large est superbe. Quelle immensité, elle est très nette et le noir et blanc rend super bien grâce à ce ciel magnifique..
Félicitation
Cyril