Adams Ridge Sundown

Did I mention I always carry my camera with me?  Well on my way to drop off the garbage at our Condo complex, I saw a great sunset developing.  I lucked out in finding a great electrical pedestal to rest my camera to get a steady shot.  Turns out I had to use HDR processing to get all the detail of the clouds, trees and the sun.  I just can't wait until the green hues of summer turn yellow, orange and red!

Let's Fall!

I took this shot on Darwin Wiggett's Winter Magic tour in February.  I just loved how this tree was hanging stuck in the air waiting to fall someday.  It reminded me of the new season upon us.  Certainly, in Calgary where I am from is in a completely different situation than Pittsburgh, where I am llving now. 

Giraffe in Solitude

We visited the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium on the weekend to check it out. I liked going to the Calgary Zoo, but with all the bad PR they are getting and $5 dollar parking, I was really looking forward to the one in Pittsburgh.  Well the parking is free and plentiful here, lots of different animals and there is an aquarium!  Here is my favorite one of the day that did not show much evidence of the countless children and crowds on a great day at the zoo!

Wind Turbines on Armenia Mountain

 Right along our wellsites, there is an extensive wind farm on top of Armenia Mountain in Northern Pennsylvania.  I watched for hours during our frac jobs how these turbines seems to have a life of their own.  If there was no wind in one direction, they would rotate towards the wind.  Such majestic creations of engineering. Converted to B+W with Nik Silver Efex Pro.

Penn State Lushness

As of today I have been in Pennsylvania for over a week now.  I just can't get over the forests, the countryside, and the lushness all over the state.  I just can't wait to move here in June.  It will be a great new adventure that I will share with my wife-to-be!  After work, I found a nice looking creek flowing through a forest. Lots of greenery!

©Matt Graham 2010 - Penn State Lushness

Fire and Aluminum

This photo is quite fitting today.  Last night was my stag, and I drank a lot of beer. I am burnt out.

I found this old, burnt up Molson Canadian beer can among the forest fire remains of the Kootenay Plains controlled burn from the summer of 2009.  There were many reasons that the Government of Alberta prescribed the burn such as controlling the pine beetle and mitigating the possibly of a catastrophic fire in the future.  In the next years, the burn areas will be ripe with new lush greenery and wildflowers as the ecosystem fight back from adversity.

Meanwhile, for me I will nurse a hangover and try to remember all the craziness that happened last night.

©Matt Graham 2010 - Aluminum and Fire

Mistaya Canyon Pathway

At the conclusion of the photo tour on Sunday, I headed back to Calgary.  The most unfortunate thing was that this Sunday was unlike another Sunday. It was the Gold Medal game day for mens hockey in Vancouver.  I realized this by the time I lost radio reception! So I put faith in the Canadian mens team and took pictures along Highway 93.  I took advantage of this drive back as it will probably was the last time I'll be there for a while.  Moving to Pittsbugh in June will be great, but I sure will miss the Rocky Mountains of Canada.

One of the stops I took was just south of the North Saskatchewan River. Mistaya Canyon, is a great spot along Highway 93.  It's not as busy as Athabasca or Sunwapta falls.  As well, there are some great viewpoints that are not obstucted by "human stupidity" barriers.  I really liked the pathway that led to the canyon, with the bluesky peaking through.

©Matt Graham 2010 - Mistaya Canyon Pathway

Maligne Canyon in the Winter

Here are two for Tuesday! The first full day of the tour found ourselves throwing on crampons and heading down into Maligne Canyon.  Lots of people have seen the amazing power of the Maligne River crashing down the canyon in the Summer.  This was my first time seeing what beauty Winter brought to the canyon.

I must admit that for walking up the icey canyon, crampons are essential for safety and staying put when you are lining up your composition. I found the Hillsound Trail Crampon Pro simply amazing.  They have two ratcheting straps per foot and really beefy spikes to give you total confidence on the ice. 

© Matt Graham 2010 - Massive Ice Fall

© Matt Graham 2010 - Bluesky Canyon