Nothing went right - what I learned

This blog was meant to be called ‘Come on an adventure with me’… sadly, it was a failure on several accounts, so good learning lessons all around and continuing to be grateful that I can even do this! So all is well, and here’s exactly what went wrong for the day!

I had a plan but didn’t follow it

Plans are best when you follow them. This day I didn’t for some reason and a couple variables out of my control led to several failures on this adventure outside. So let’s dive into what went wrong, my takeaways, a casual reminder to always be prepared and the fact that sometimes things are out of your control. That’s OK!

I normally set out my gear the night before, and do a check on the day I go out with my checklist. I thought it was just a fun shoot that I didn’t need to whip out the checklist, and so annoyed at myself in the morning as I’m packing my gear and inevitably forgetting things. So, have a list, even check it twice to ensure you’re not forgetting some key essentials like a memory card for 1 of 2 of your cameras, and no backup sleeve! 

Things don’t always go as planned

So, I’m pumped for the day, even though things got off to a bit of a bumpy start, the skies were already opening up, and promising with the colours already showing in the sky…

The drive to pickup my buddy was so promising and hindsight being 20/20 we both had instincts about staying in Canmore but ignored and headed to our planned destination - Vermilion Lakes in Banff National Park. Upon getting to the sunrise destination it looked incredible as I’m setting up a timelapse, while trying to scrounge through my bag for a backup memory card so I can snap some HDR shots… NOPE! 

Usually when the sky is that colourful before sunrise, it just opens up, the clouds burn off and we are left with a magical display of wonders wrapped up in a beauty sunrise. This particular morning though, the clouds just seemed to roll in and gobble up what was left of any reds, and oranges to leave us with a blah, blueish/grey sky. 

I won’t lie, was a bit bummed about the lack of banger sunrise, and the gear hiccups but grateful AF just to be able to do this, so on to the next destination! We met a local photographer there, exchanged insta handles and off to Lake Louise! With the clouds coming in, I was hoping for a bit of snow to fall for the perfect winter shot at Morant’s curve - $10 bill photo.

This would be attempt number 6 at Morant’s curve and at this point it’s just about getting that ‘SHOT’. There’s easily better places to shoot, you know oil/consumer goods being transported on a railroad built by many lives lost, all on stolen first nations peoples land… but for a few reasons I will go into in future blogs, it’s a shot I just gotta get now. 

So we showed up to Morant’s curve, stood around for more than an hour and nothing. No train, just grey skies and a small skiff of snow. Had another great conversation with a gentleman who’s on holiday with his family from the UK. He’s trying to fit this hobby of his with a family in tow, or at the ski hill this time. 

Settled here at Morant’s Curve, met a guy on holidays from the UK who setup for a shot here, both of us with no luck!

What I’ve learned

Well it’s on to attempt number seven for Morant’s curve; at least I didn’t travel 1/2 around the world to get in this shot like the gentleman mentioned above but still gotta be grateful for so many reasons: first off, for my buddy Colin, who had cash for gas when we made it to Lake Louise and I realized, not having a wallet, that we didn’t have enough gas to return. Serious! One of the many failures on the day! I’m also grateful to be able to take photos, create content and enjoy the Canadian Rockies that I get to wake up to daily. Life is never perfect but always gives us the opportunity to be grateful for what we have! And my cup is full and spilling over with gratitude!

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