On Thursday, 10 September 2009, I worked with Calgary professional model Anya on a photo shoot in Banff National Park. We left Calgary at about 11 am and returned at about 11:30 pm. It was a long, but fun day.
Our first location was at Lake Minnewanka. When we arrived, it was windy and cool, at about 18C or low 60sF. We took several shots for about an hour or so before taking a lunch break.
For lunch, we went to into Banff townsite and ate a quick meal. Afterward, we enjoyed a brief tour of the Cascade Gardens beside the Administration Building. I wanted Anya to have some time to enjoy Banff.
Please note that the previous links to the Cascade Gardens and to the Administration Building were from a prior visit to Banff.
After our brief tour, we settled upon a location near the Administration Building but across the Bow River. These shots have Mount Rundle in the background. Because it was direct and strong, the sun forced Anya to keep her eyes closed except for brief periods when I took the photographs. A scrim or other device would have been helpful.
In the early evening, I took our last series of photographs near Bow Falls (link from prior visit to Bow Falls). In these shots, Anya looks as though she is lit by the setting sun. In fact, were it not for my Canon 580 EXII speedlights, she would have been a complete silhouette. At this particular location, there were mountains behind us that shielded us from the sunlight. The foreground, however, was still brightly lit. With the setting sun came cooler temperatures. We worked until about 7 pm.
After our last location at Bow Falls, we packed up our things and then went for supper. And we finally arrived back in Calgary at about 11:30 pm.
Working with Anya was a positive and rewarding experience. While serious about her professional modeling career, she was relaxed, enthusiastic, confident, energetic, and fun. She incorporated new ideas and suggestions easily as well as utilized many of her own creative ideas. Knowing that I am still experimenting as I continue to grow and develop my photography skills, she was patient, encouraging, and enthusiastic. In summary, Anya is a genuinely beautiful person, in all respects, who is a pleasure to work with.
I highly recommend Anya as a professional model, and she can be contacted through her modeling agency I Model Management.
On Thursday, 10 September 2009, I photographed Anya at Lake Minnewanka in Banff National Park. You can view a Flickr slideshow of my photographs of Anya from our Banff photo shoot. And, if you click on my Flickr profile link, you will be taken to Flickr where you can see more of my pictures.
In the Banff National Park you can visit a very beautiful Lake Louise. The beautiful Lake Louise, a hamlet located 54 km northwest of the Town of the Banff. It is home to the landmark Chateau Lake Louise at the edge of Lake Louise. It is located 15 km from the Lake Louise, Moraine Lake provides a scenic vista of the Valley of the Ten Peaks. The Lake Louise Mountain Resort is also located near the village. Banff Park Museum is a national historic site. The Bow Valley, past Hector Lake, Bow Lake, the Peyto Lake, Moraine Lake, North Saskatchewan River and many other beautiful places you can visit here. It is a beautiful place to see and a total combination of natural beauty.