Look inside the book.

Light Travel: Photography on the Go teaches and inspires outdoor photography by revealing the magic of portable digital cameras. Learn how to compose and edit images, pick a camera, and capture evocative images worldwide.

• Author: Tom Dempsey, 2009. Perfect-bound and stitched binding, 210 pages, 226 color photographs, 10-page glossary of photographic terms, fully indexed. Photoseek Publishing ISBN #978-0-578-03918-3.
• Only sold here. US$40 includes tax and free shipping within USA and Canada. (Add US$15 for shipping to other countries.)
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• Or mail order in USA and Canada by sending a check for US$40 to: 

Tom Dempsey
354 NW 112th St
Seattle, WA 98177-4841

What readers say:

“…full of sound guidance and jaw-droppingly gorgeous full-color photographs” – reviewer Dan Barnett in the Chico ER newspaper. (March 4, 2010)

“I purchased your great book and I’ve read it cover to cover. It’s just wonderful.  Congratulations.  Those pictures!  …the locales delighted me. It’s just lovely.” – Scott W. of Seattle, WA. (March 7, 2010)

“Dad said to tell you that your book has the best technical information he’s seen.  And your photos are beautiful….  He says it’s an amazing book, a great book, and he likes the detail you go into.  He says it would be a great text book.” – Nancy & Bill Rauhauser. (January 24 & 31, 2010)

“Wanted to let you know I received your book today.  I am so thrilled with it .   I would like to thank you and Carol for sharing your talents  and the wonderful photo journal of your travels.   I just purchased my first Digital SLR camera (Rebel Xsi & the Canon ef-s 18-200 lens) and have much to learn.  I look forward to reading your book and applying (I hope) all the wonderful information you have shared on  photography.” – Sherry H. (April 27, 2010)

April 21, 2009: We cruised close enough to photograph La Cumbre volcano, which erupted with a fountain of lava creating a red river flowing into the Pacific Ocean, expanding Fernandina (Narborough) Island, in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, South America. (This eruption cycle started April 10, 2009 after 5 years of quiet.) Fernandina Island was named in honor of King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who sponsored the voyage of Columbus.

The Blue-footed Booby is a bird in the Sulidae family which comprises ten species of long-winged seabirds. The name “booby” comes from the Spanish term bobo, which means "stupid" or "fool/clown," which describes its clumsy nature on land. Like other seabirds, they can be very tame. The natural breeding habitat of the Blue-footed Booby is tropical and subtropical islands off the Pacific Ocean.

These Galapagos Marine Iguanas (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) are at Puerto Egas, on Santiago (or San Salvador; or James Island), in the Galápagos Islands archipelago, a province of Ecuador, South America. The Marine Iguana is the world’s only sea-going lizard and is found only on the Galapagos Islands. They feed almost exclusively on marine algae.

The Booted Racket-tail (or Racquet-tailed Hummingbird; Ocreatus underwoodii) flies in Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve, near Quito, Ecuador, South America.

View Tom’s latest images from Ecuador’s Highlands and the Galapagos Islands from our trip April 8-27, 2009, in three web shows:

   1. Beautiful hummingbirds of Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve (78 images), near Quito, Ecuador, South America.
   2. Quito; Otavalo; Cotopaxi volcano; Quilotoa crater lake (127 images).
   3. Galapagos Islands 2009 (235 images).

Lupine flowers bloom above beautiful Lake Quilotoa, Ecuador, South America. Quilotoa is a scenic water-filled caldera that is the westernmost volcano in the Ecuadorian Andes. The 250 meter (820 foot) deep crater lake has a greenish color from dissolved minerals. The 3 kilometers (2 miles) wide caldera was formed about 800 years ago by the collapse of a dacite volcano, following a catastrophic eruption which produced pyroclastic flows and lahars that reached the Pacific Ocean, and spread an airborne deposit of volcanic ash throughout the northern Andes. Fumaroles are found on the lake floor and hot springs occur on the eastern flank of the volcano. The route to the "summit" (the small town of Quilotoa) is generally traveled by hired truck or bus from the town of Zumbahua 17 km to the South.

The Galápagos giant tortoise (Geochelone elephantopus; or Geochelone nigra) is bred at the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS; operated by the Charles Darwin Foundation) in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, in the Galápagos archipelago, Ecuador, South America. This species is the largest living tortoise, native to seven islands of the Galápagos archipelago. Fully grown adults can weigh over 300 kilograms (661 lb) and measure 1.2 meters (4 feet) long. They are long-lived with a life expectancy in the wild estimated to be 100-150 years. Populations fell dramatically because of hunting and the introduction of predators and grazers by humans since the seventeenth century. Now only ten subspecies of the original twelve exist in the wild. However, conservation efforts since the establishment of the Galápagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation have met with success, and hundreds of captive-bred juveniles have been released back onto their home islands.

Kicker Rock ("Léon Dormido") is an old split lava cone off the northwest coast of Isla San Cristóbal (Chatham Island), which is the easternmost of the Galápagos Islands, governed by Ecuador, in South America.

Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor) on Isla Genovesa (or Tower Island), Ecuador, South America. Frigatebirds, which are in the family Fregatidae, are related to pelicans. In breeding season, the male distends a striking red gular sac. The Great Frigatebird is a lightly built large seabird up to 105 cm long with predominantly black plumage. The female is larger than the adult male and has a white throat and breast and a red eye ring. The male's scapular (shoulder) feathers have a purple-green sheen.

Fog clears from Mount Robson (3954 meters / 12,972 feet), part of the Rainbow Range. Berg Glacier and Berg Lake, Mount Robson Provincial Park of British Columbia, Canada

A waterfall plunges from Snowbird Pass, above the toe of the Robson Glacier, beneath Mount Robson, in Mount Robson Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada. (Panorama stitched from 5 images.

A yellow canoe crosses blue-green Moraine Lake, in Valley of the Ten Peaks, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada.

Angel Glacier (above), Cavell Glacier (below), Cavell Pond and evergreen trees on Mount Edith Cavell, Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada.

Roadside pink flowers at Glacier National Park, British Columbia, Canada.

Monashee Mountains (left), Columbia River (center), Selkirk Mountains (right), seen from Parapets Viewpoints, atop Mount Revelstoke National Park, British Columbia, Canada

Yoho Valley, seen from the Iceline Trail, in Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Canada. Center right is Takakkaw Falls. (Panorama stitched from 16 images; scroll right to see wide image on small monitors.)

• in Alberta: 1. Banff National Park (NP) | 2. Jasper NP | 3. Bicycling Icefields Parkway, Jasper to Banff | 9. Waterton Lakes NP (see also Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, Montana, USA)
• in British Columbia (BC): 4. Mount Robson Provincial Park (PP) | 5. Yoho National Park | 6. Kootenay National Park | 7. Mount Assiniboine PP

The Columbia Mountains are comprised of four Ranges, located within the Rocky Mountains complex say USA geographers, but outside the Rockies say Canadian geographers:

• Purcell Mountains: 10. Bugaboo Provincial Park, BC (or “Percell” Mountains in USA terminology)
• Monashee & Selkirk Mountains: 8. Mount Revelstoke NP and Glacier NP, BC
• Cariboo Mountains: 11. Bowron Lake PP Canoeing Tale, BC
• Coast Range: 12. Garibaldi Provincial Park, BC
• See also: 13. Animals of North America

Visitors approach the precipice of Hanging Rock, a State Park in North Carolina, USA.

My wife and I enjoyed our trip to southeast USA, October 20-November 10, 2008 witnessing striking autumn colors and fascinating sites of US history. Click any link to read further on my web site Photoseek.com:

• North Carolina:
  • Page 1: Appalachians: Map ; Great Smoky Mountains ; Blue Ridge Parkway ; Hanging Rock, Piedmont
  • 2: Durham: Duke University Chapel & Gardens, Eno River. Outer Banks: Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, Bodie Island Lighthouse, Wright Brothers Memorial, Kitty Hawk
• Tennessee:
  • Appalachians: Great Smoky Mountains National Park ( geology , Cades Cove , Little River Road , Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail , Clingmans Dome ) ; Cherokee Lake
• Virginia:
  • Page 1: Appalachians: Shenandoah National Park , Luray Caverns , geology
  • 2: Appalachians: Cumberland Gap , Natural Tunnel State Park
  • 3: Plantations: historic maps , Historic Jamestowne (Pocahontas), Colonial Williamsburg , Shirley Plantation , Monticello/Jefferson , UV Rotunda
• West Virginia:
  • Babcock State Park , Harpers Ferry , Green Bank Telescope , New River Gorge Bridge , Hawks Nest State Park , geology map

Enjoy!

– Question from Brian  to tom@photoseek.com :

My name is Brian and I will be going on a trek to the Everest region in spring of 2009.  I am really excited about the trip.  I have been thinking about adding on the Gokyo Lakes trek also.  This is how I happened across your web site.  Your images are truly incredible [see Tom's Nepal web page].  BY FAR the best I have seen.  So, thanks for your site!  Your images have convinced me to add on the Gokyo Lakes trek to the Everest Base Camp trek.  After all, when will be the next time I will have this opportunity?  The web is a pretty amazing creation isn’t it?  I am looking forward to the trip.  I will have to buy a new camera for it.  I have been using an old Pentax PZ-1p for a long time.  I am looking at the Pentax D20 which operates on double A batteries as opposed to Lithium cells.  Do you have an opinion on that?  I guess I think it would be easier to carry around a lot of double A instead of trying to charge or replace the Li cells.  I have about 4 lens but for ease I am thinking of 28-90mm and 100-300mm.  These lenses are not that fast so maybe the 50 mm 1.4 lens.  Thanks again for your art, it is breathtaking and inspirational (heck, it has convinced me to do an add on trek!)  Have a great weekend, Brian         Friday Sept 26, 2008

– Tom Dempsey answers:

Hi Brian: the view from the peak of Gokyo Ri in Nepal is very spectacular and worth the effort!  Annapurna Sanctuary was also spectacular and actually more enjoyable due to lower altitude (only 14,000 ft) and fewer days on the trail.

Nepal Trekking Tip: I recommend wearing a scarf over your mouth to keep out dust and better hydrate each breath in the high altitude air, to reduce the “Khumbu cough” that nearly everyone experiences above 10,000 feet elevation.

Right: trekkers ascend the steep slope of Gokyo Ri at about 17,000 feet elevation, and admire the view of Third Gokyo Lake (Dudh Pokhari, 15,584 feet / 4750 meters), in Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal, in the Himalaya mountains, in Asia.

Here is a full review of the Pentax K20D, where dpreview.com gives their highest rating “Highly Recommended”:

• Read the detailed review of Pentax K20D: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxk20d/
• Conclusion: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxk20d/page34.asp
• “Robust body with dust and weather seals, high build quality.”
• Dust reduction by anti-static coating and optional sensor ‘shake’. Dust alert makes sensor cleaning simpler.
• Not so good: “The live view mode is neither as seamless as Sony’s implementation nor as useful for tripod-based work as Olympus’s and consequently feels like a feature that has been added purely to make the camera more marketable.” (Live view is a feature new to DSLR cameras, a bonus, previously found in most compact digital cameras.)
• The extra megapixels in the K20D (14.6 mp) don’t gain any enlargement quality advantage over the competing Canon Rebel Xsi/450D, or Nikon D90 (12 mp each).
• For me, the biggest problem of the Pentax K20D (and Nikon D90) is the weight: body with battery: 800 grams (1.7 pounds).

If you are going to get a camera that heavy, 1.7 pounds, I recommend considering the Nikon D90 (specifications on dpreview.com) which weighs the same, has similar price, has useful live view, shoots HD movies (which the Pentax doesn’t do). For travel, consider mounting the Nikon D90 with the all-in-one wonder lens, like I use on every trip: Nikkor AF-S DX VR 18-200mm 3.5-5.6G IF-ED lens (20 ounces / 560 grams; new in 2006; about $800) which lets you hand hold images in up to 4-stops dimmer light, using Vibration Reduction (VR). No lens changing required!  I hardly ever use a tripod now, which is a big change for me from earlier cameras. Pentax doesn’t offer an equivalent high quality, image stabilized lens, so far as I have heard.

Right:  Machhapuchhre (or Machhapuchhare), the Fish Tail Mountain (22,943 feet / 6997 meters elevation) is a sacred peak, illegal to climb, in the Annapurna mountains (part of the Himalaya range), in Nepal. Tibetan Buddhist prayer flags fly from a monument at Annapurna South Base Camp (ABC, at 13,550 feet elevation) in the Annapurna Sanctuary.

To save 8 ounces of weight, you might consider the Nikon D60 (17 ounce camera, with battery), which I currently use exclusively along with the Nikkor 18-200mm VR travel lens. I may later add a longer telephoto for better animal photography. The D60 plus 18-200mm VR lens is only 38 ounces.

For batteries, I buy enough rechargeable batteries to last the time I am away from power, like two weeks for Nepal. (11 batteries was more than enough — I only used about 6 batteries before recharging). I get about 400 shots per charge on the Nikon D60 and D40X. (Keep a spare warming in your pocket for temperatures below 45 F., and change it every ten minutes if temperatures are near freezing.)

Have a great trip!  — Tom Dempsey, photographer, Seattle, Washington  http://www.photoseek.com

– Brian’s Question: I have a 28-90 (42-135 digital equivalent) that I use most of the time.  On a trip like this, do you think additional zoom capability is necessary? or is 135mm enough?  Could always swap out with a 100-300mm, but like yourself I am a minimalist and on the trip I would rather not worry too much about camera equipment and having to deal with filters (UV and polarizer only)…

– Tom Answers: I would definitely bring more zoom power on this trip of a lifetime to Nepal. (I rarely used polarizer in Nepal, because at high altitude the polarized sky turns too black, and it flattens the image appearance too much.)

– Brian’s Question: Regarding an 18-55mm lens sold with a camera kit, is that a real 18-55 or is it a 27-83mm based on the conversion? Also, are the available lenses designed to focus light on the digital light sensor for digital SLR, and not film emulsion?  Are our older lens that we used for film less “effective” when mounted on a DSLR because they have not been designed for a sensor rather film? 

– Tom Answers: Many photographers like using the heavier conventional lenses on their APS-C cameras, because they save money, and they only use the sweet spot in the center of the lens, for sharp, undistorted images. The newer lenses “designed for digital” “or designed for APS-C” usually capture equal quality images, with less weight and bulk. In my opinion, using either the old or new lenses, the latest APS-C DSLR cameras capture much better quality than scanning 35mm film. Please confirm quality differences with specific lens reviews:

• http://www.popphoto.com/buyingguide/lens-pentax.html
• http://www.photozone.de/Reviews/overview

The sensor size determines the angle of view conversion factor (to give you the equivalent angle of view of a film camera lens shooting 35mm size film). APS-C size cameras have a sensor about 24×16 mm, such as the Pentax K200 or K100 (or Nikon D60 or Canon digital Rebel). Divide 35mm by 24mm and you get about a 1.5x angle of view conversion (or some call it focal Length Multiplier; or others call it a field of view crop factor), when using 35mm film camera (“full frame”) lenses on an APS-C sensor camera. Good explanation:

http://www.dpreview.com/learn/?/Glossary/Optical/Focal_Length_Multiplier_01.htm

 If you are accustomed to 35mm film terminology, when you buy a digital APS-C camera coming with a lens labeled as a 18-55mm real focal length, then you can know that it captures an angle of view equivalent to a 27-83mm lens on a “conventional” film camera (multiply by 1.5x). Most digital SLRs can use conventional 35mm lenses. But such lenses are designed to create an image circle that covers a 35mm film frame and are therefore larger and heavier than necessary for sensors which are smaller than a 35mm film frame. ‘Digital’ lenses (such as Canon EF-S lenses, Nikon DX Lenses, Olympus 4/3″ System) are lighter because their image circles only cover the sensor area.”

– Brian’s followup January 13, 2009 to Tom Dempsey
Subject: RE: pentax k20d first impressions.

Well, I received the Pentax k20d from B and H last week.  I spent about three days with the manual and playing with the menus, custom functions and in general screwing around with the camera to get familiar with it.  It is quite similar to the Pentax PZ-1p that I have used for years.  This camera is well built, solid feel in my hands.  Has plenty of features that I will make use of while not bogged down with complicated functions of a pro camera.  The camera functions well mechanically and the image stabilization works well.  All in all, a great camera at a fantastic price.  If I used Canon or Nikon prior to this I would stay with those brands but as a Pentax user, the K20d delivers the goods to the market it was designed for. 

By the way, the new Nikon D90 offers superior resolution with 12 megapixel sensor, a 920,000-pixel 3-inch LCD with live view, and 1280 x 720 (720p) movie support 24fps with mono sound, but its 26 ounce body is much heavier than the 18 ounce D60 or D40X. I currently prefer the lighter weight D60 (or D40X) camera when trekking all day with a camera bag around my shoulders. When combined with the all-in-one Nikkor 18-200mm VR lens (20 ounces), the Nikon D60 (or D40X) offers the best quality for the weight yet invented for active travelers — camera and lens together weigh “just” 38 ounces.

Dynamic Range:

By the way, Nikon’s new Active D-Lighting feature in the Nikon D60 (and D300) only improves dynamic range of JPEG shots, and has no effect on RAW files. Better dynamic range captures more detail simultaneously in both bright and dark parts of images. If you shoot any JPEG files, be sure to use Active D-Lighting (although it delays preview of your latest shot by 2 seconds; and delays the next shot after a quick burst of four).

However, if you only shoot RAW like I do, Nikon’s Active D-Lighting is useless and slows performance, so I don’t use it.

Canon offers a superior dynamic range feature helping both RAW and JPEG, called “Highlight Tone Priority” mode, new in the Canon EOS 40D and Rebel XSi. The Canon Rebel XSi is one of the best lightweight cameras for travel, similar to the Nikon D60 or D40X.

RAW is better than JPEG:

RAW gives you several extra stops of dynamic range versus normal JPEG files on the latest DSLR cameras. RAW also extends the dynamic range of advanced non-SLR compact cameras such as the Canon G9, though by half as much versus a DSLR, due to a smaller sensor. If you need to edit shots after shooting as I do, shooting RAW gives much better quality than JPEG, especially to preserve details in bright highlights, and to change white balance. To get the most out of every image, I recommend using a good RAW editor such as “Adobe Photoshop Lightroom version 2.0″:

Recommended photo management software:

I love Adobe Lightroom version 2.0 (currently selling for $299, or $99 upgrade; or save about 50% with academic discount), which elegantly organizes images, and drastically reduces my time spent in Adobe Photoshop. My photo editing is now quicker than ever from download to edit to output. The excellent upgrade from Lightroom version 1.4 to 2.0 thankfully adds graduated filters, localized editing brushes, and a quicker interface to Photoshop such as for Photomerge, stitching panoramas. It easily and automatically exports image files to handsome web pages, or to files of any size, such as for e-mail or for Microsoft Powerpoint presentations.

The nitty gritty: Adobe Lightroom automatically outputs to standard sRGB color space (or Adobe RGB if desired), while working internally with the broader color space of Adobe RGB or ProPhoto RGB. Adobe Lightroom smartly stores its non-destructive editing commands and labels in a powerful database (and in .XMP sidecar files for RAW), and is compatible with JPG, TIF, most RAW and .XMP files. If you buy a new camera with RAW, check if the latest Lightroom update has added support for its RAW files — for example, Adobe Lightroom version 1.4 added support for the Nikon D60 camera; and version 1.1 added Nikon D40X.

For more details about photographer Tom Dempsey’s current and past equipment (cameras, software, printer, projector, tripod, film, scanner), see: http://www.photoseek.com/camera-history.html

A good wildlife lens for Nikon travelers is the Nikkor AF-S VR Zoom 70-300mm F4.5-5.6G ED-IF lens (105-450mm in 35mm equivalent terms), which resolves detail about 30% sharper (for bigger prints) than the versatile Nikkor 18-200mm VR travel lens, throughout its range. For Canon Rebel cameras, use the lightweight Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS or full frame conventional Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM lens. Better but much bigger and heavier lenses such as f4 or f/2.8 are available (good for indoor action), but for outdoor photography on the trail, I prefer carrying just 1 or 2 lenses weighing less than 2 pounds each during the trekking day. Plus a backup lens stored in my luggage is carried by porter or vehicle.

Many lenses for DSLR cameras on the market as of 2008 are still the older, heavier lens design optimized for 35-millimeter film cameras. By upgrading to newer lenses that are “Optimized For Digital APS-C”, you can save bulk and weight and enjoy comparable image quality.

The following new lenses are some of the few “designed for APS-C only” that exceed 200mm, useful for a wide range of subjects including wildlife shots:

• Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS (Image Stabilization). 2.8 in. x 4.3 in./70 x 108mm (maximum lens length); 13.8 oz./390g. (The Canon Rebel XSi APS-C crop factor of 1.6 gives this lens a field of view equivalent to a 88-400mm lens on a conventional 35mm-film or 35mm-sensor camera.)
• Tamron Di II VC AF 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 LD Aspherical (IF) MACRO (Model B003) ultra high power 15x zoom lens in Canon and Nikon mounts (with AF motor for Nikon) new in Fall 2008. “Di-II” is Tamron’s lighter weight design exclusively for APS-C sensors.
  • Lightweight 19.4 oz. (550g); and relatively compact 101mm × 80mm (3.8″ × 3.1″). “Recommended” on dpreview.com.
  • Minimum focusing distance of 19.3” over the entire zoom range for a maximum magnification ratio of 1:3.5 at its 270mm telephoto end (74 x 49 mm actual coverage; focusing closer than Nikon’s 18-200mm lens).
  • Captures image sharpness similar to the competitors (the 18-200mm Canon IS, Nikon VR, and Sigma OS lenses) at the same light weight, while zooming further (15x versus 11x). (The Canon 18-200mm IS has the best hand-held image stabilization of the group.)
  • The down side: My testing showed the Nikon 18-200 (VR I) focused more reliably, and image crops at 200mm beat the sharpness of Tamron’s 270mm. The main Tamron 18-270 weakness is slower autofocus, inappropriate for action photography. My copy focused inconsistently in low indoor light on a tripod. Severe lens creep must be stopped with your hand whenever camera is pointed up or down. I returned the Tamron lens and upgraded to Nikon 18-200mm VR II.
  • Older version without Vibration Compensation: Tamron Di-II AF 18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 LD Aspherical (IF) Macro : 430g (15.2oz). 2.9 x 3.3 inches. (Canon’s crop factor of 1.6 gives this lens a field of view equivalent to a 29-400mm lens, and Nikon’s 1.5 crop factor makes a 27-375mm equivalent lens in terms of conventional 35mm.) (The Nikkor 18-200mm VR is sharper and superior to the Tamron 18-250mm.) Click here for Bob Atkins’ review.
• As of 2009, very few telephoto zoom lenses exceed 200mm in the desirable lightweight “designed for digital, APS-C-only” versions (above). Each brand has their own terminology, as follows:

Lighten your load by shopping for following new, smaller lens formats specially “designed for digital for APS-C size sensor cameras only”:

• Nikon/Nikkor DX format lenses for APS-C only (with “VR, Vibration Reduction” desired)
  • For example, the Nikkor AF-S DX VR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED lens (new in 2006) is great for travel because its size and weight are reduced and optimized for Nikon cameras with DX sensors (such as the Nikon D300, D5000, D60, & D40X cameras, all APS-C size). The DX lens design eliminates the extra glass which would have been required to cover a full 35mm frame. Nikon DX format cameras have a “field of view crop factor” of 1.5, so this lens labeled 18-200mm can be thought of as a 27-300mm in 35mm-equivalent terms.
• Canon EF-S lenses for APS-C only (with “IS, Image Stabilization” desired)
• Sigma DC lenses for APS-C only (with “OS, Optical Stabilization” desired)
• Tamron Di II lenses for APS-C only (with “VC, Vibration Compensation” desired).
• Note: Because the above DX, EF-S, DC and Di II lenses are designed for cameras with APS-C size sensor only, they will cause vignetting (darkened corners) at the wide angle end of their zoom if used on “full frame sensor” SLR cameras, such as on the expensive Nikon D3 (FX format), Nikon D700, Canon EOS 5D, or pricier Canon EOS 1D camera.
• For sharper handheld shooting in significantly dimmer lighting situations without a tripod, I highly recommend using lenses designed with image stabilization (VR, IS, OS or VC above). By eliminating much of my time formerly spent setting up my tripod, I can now hike much faster to better keep pace with non-photographers on group treks.
  • Note that the Sony Alpha (A-series) builds the image stabilization into the camera body with sensor-shift technology, which is a fine idea, except that comparable Nikon D40X/D60 and Canon Rebel cameras gain back Sony’s handheld advantage through lower noise at a higher ISO settings. Then using a Nikon VR or Canon IS lens beats Sony’s handheld low light performance.
• Also look for the fastest focusing lenses with ultrasonic motors to capture flighty animals, a feature branded as follows:
  • Canon – USM, UltraSonic Motor
  • Nikon – SWM, Silent Wave Motor
  • Sigma – HSM, Hyper Sonic Motor
  • Olympus – SWD, Supersonic Wave Drive
  • Panasonic – XSM, Extra Silent Motor
  • Pentax – SDM, Supersonic Drive Motor
  • Sony & Minolta – SSM, SuperSonic Motor
• The quality of new lenses usually equals or exceeds comparable past models.

Alternatives: If you want a good travel camera system that is smaller and less costly than a DSLR, look at the following amazingly versatile cameras:

• Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1: Panasonic may have started a revolution in smaller, lighter weight cameras by eliminating the clumsy DSLR mirror, keeping the sensor large, adding an excellent EVF (Electronic Viewfinder; which Panasonic calls Live Viewfinder, LVF), and including a flip out & twist live view, high-res 3″ LCD (great for macro, hip-level and overhead shots)! In March 2009, Panasonic introduced the GH1 which weighs only 23 ounces including 28-90mm equivalent kit lens. Use the 14-140mm lens (28-280mm equivalent) for a compact 32-ounce travel camera; or use the kit lens plus 45-200mm (90-400mm equivalent, better for wildlife shots). The sensor measures 17.3 x 13.0 mm, almost as big and sharp as APS-C size, sacrificing only about one stop of light in ISO sensitivity. Here’s the clincher: the GH1 records full HD movies with Dolby stereo sound and continuous autofocus! (In comparison, the few DSLRs which record movies only record mono sound and use fixed initial focus, such as the Nikon D90.) With its nicely compact Micro Four Thirds lens system, the Panasonic GH1 bests the image quality of competitors Olympus E-520 and Fujifilm FinePix S100FS, and rivals the image quality of Canon EOS 450D / Rebel XSi up to ISO 800, achieved in a significantly smaller size and weight.
• Fujifilm FinePix S100FS camera (new Februruary 2008) is much cheaper than a DSLR and offers an “all-in-one solution” in just 34 ounces, with a 28-400mm lens in 35mm-equivalent terms, an impressive 14x zoom with lens-shift image stabilization (improving handheld shooting in 1.3 stops dimmer light). 1 cm focus Super Macro. Flip down 2.5 inch LCD. Movie and sound capture. RAW mode. Excellent 2/3-inch Super CCD HR sensor. You can correct this camera’s bad chromatic aberrations by using third-party software on the RAW files. Otherwise the camera offers impressively sharp images, surprisingly similar up to ISO 800 compared with the Nikon D60 or Canon Rebel XSi DSLR. The S100FS has about 1 to 4 stops of ISO disadvantage versus DSLR cameras, depending upon ISO and image stabilization settings. (Each stop halves the effective ISO sensitivity.)
• See my “Table of Best Travel Cameras” for more reviews of excellent compact travel cameras.

Wildlife and birding lenses for APS-C cameras:

For serious photography of wildlife or birds using an an APS-C size sensor camera, I would want a telephoto lens labeled at least 300mm (which has the angle of view equivalent to a 450mm lens in 35mm terms). If your telephoto lens falls short of this, then you must crop a lot, and/or increase viewing distance for prints. A maximum aperture of f/5.6 or f/6.3 saves money and weight, yet can take decent images in good daylight.

However, professional wildlife and bird photographers may prefer an expensive f/4 lens or faster (maximum or brightest aperture) to obtain the best sharpness and image quality, in a 500mm or longer conventional lens in 35mm equivalent terms, using a full frame 35mm-sensor camera.

Note that cameras with APS-C size sensors have an “angle of view crop factor” that extends the telephoto by 1.5x for Nikon (or 1.6x for Canon) cameras in 35-mm-equivalent terms. For example, my favorite travel lens is labeled as 18-200mm, which has the field of view of a “27-300mm” in 35mm equivalent terms on a Nikon DX format camera such as the Nikon D60 or D300. The Nikkor AF-S DX VR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED makes a great all-around travel lens, with a big 11x zoom that minimizes lens changes so that you don’t miss a shot. However, this 200mm telephoto is too short for serious wildlife photo enlargements, unless you are satisfied with web display or small 4×6 prints of the animals [see above Danphe Pheasant photo example].

Full-frame conventional 35mm lenses are bigger and heavier:

The expensive “full frame” DSLR cameras (such as the Nikon D3 (FX format), Nikon D700, Canon EOS 5D, or pricier Canon EOS 1D ) require the conventional lens size which focuses sharply to the area of 35mm film, about 36 x 24 mm. Many new lenses are being “optimized for digital” to work with both conventional and APS-C size sensors. For example, Sigma brand lenses labelled DG and Tamron Di lenses are the conventional size, optimized for both full frame and APS-C sensor cameras (though sometimes working better for one particular format).

Using these large, conventional lenses on APS-C size cameras can have some plus and minuses:

• Advantages of conventional size lenses: The small APS-C size sensor (measuring about 22 x 15 mm) uses just the central area of the conventional 35mm lens, or the “sweet spot”, where images are usually sharpest, with lowest distortion (by not using the outside edges). Also, older lenses may be cheaper, easier to obtain, or already owned in your kit. And if you upgrade from an APS-C camera to a full frame DSLR, the conventional lens may stay compatible.
• Disadvantages: Conventional size lenses are bigger and heavier (versus the newer Nikon DX, Canon EF-S, Sigma DC, and Tamron Di II lenses “for APS-C size sensor cameras only”), and most people won’t eke an advantage from conventional lenses versus the APS-C-only lenses.

In the lens brand list below, Popular Photography magazine October 2008 rates the following excellent travel lenses as roughly equal in image quality: Nikon 70-300mm 4.5-5.6G VR (I own and enjoy this sharp lens); Canon 70-300mm DO IS USM; and Sigma 120-400mm 4.5-5.6DG APO OS HSM AF:

Canon full-frame conventional lenses for wildlife & travel images:

• Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM. 3.2 x 3.9 in., 25.4 oz. /82.4 x 99.9 mm, 720g; makes a great extension to the IS kit lens sold with the Canon EOS 450D / Rebel XSi
• plus bigger professional lenses with wider maximum aperture

Nikon (Nikkor) full frame, conventional size lenses with VR (highly desirable Vibration Reduction), in order of increasing price, for wildlife & travel photography:

• Nikkor AF-S VR Zoom 70-300mm F4.5-5.6G ED-IF lens (which is 105-450mm in 35mm equivalent terms when used on APS-C cameras). Sports and wildlife/birder photographers will get sharper results than the 18-200 VR Nikkor (at apertures brighter than f/11) by using this Nikkor 70-300mm. Specifications: 26 ounces; 5.6″ length; 4.9 foot minimum focus; also compatible with full frame Nikon D3 DSLR. The lens size and price point are attractive, ~$500 on www.pricegrabber.com
• Nikkor AF VR Zoom 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED lens: 3.6 x 6.7 inches; 48.0 oz. (1360 g). Ken Rockwell says “This lens is a miracle…to shoot still subjects with long exposures without needing a tripod…but for sports you may want the 70-300 AF-S VR“: http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/80400vr.htm One reader told me that this lens “does not have AF-S, so I found the focusing too slow for moving birds … and it didn’t bring birds in close enough”. I replied that on a Nikon DX format camera, this lens has the field of view of a 120-600mm lens in 35mm equivalent terms, amazingly less bulky than the comparable lens required on a 35mm film camera. ~$1400 on www.pricegrabber.com
• Nikkor AF-S VR Zoom 200-400mm f/4G IF-ED lens: 4.9 x 14.4 inches; 115.5 oz. (3275 g). One of my readers was “impressed with the speed of its AF and the quality of the pictures, but the lens is awfully large and heavy”. It costs more than $5500 on www.pricegrabber.com. I can’t see myself using a huge, expensive lens like this unless my photo income increases substantually – I can always hope.
• …plus bigger professional lenses with wider maximum aperture… see more Nikon lenses at: www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Camera-Lenses/Autofocus/High-Power-Zoom.page

Tamron and Sigma make good value full-frame conventional zoom lenses suitable for shooting birds and wildlife plus a wide range of other subjects, fitting many different brand camera bodies:

• Tamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC (Vibration Compensation) LD Aspherical (IF) Macro lens: New lens, has attractive specifications for wildlife/travel photography, weighing 19.4 ounces and measuring only 3.06 x 3.9 inches. Good close focus to 16 inches. This is a Tamron “Di” lens, designed for both full frame and APS-C sensor cameras. On Nikon DX format cameras, this is a “42-450mm equivalent lens” (on APS-C cameras with 1.5x field of view multiplier). The Low Dispersion (LD) and Aspherical glass elements are highly desirable. The angle of view zooms from 75°23′ to 8°15′ on an APS-C camera. About $600.
• Tamron AF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di LD Macro lens. 3.0 x 4.6 in. 435g (15.3oz). Not image stabilized.
• Tamron SP AF200-500mm F/5-6.3 Di LD (IF) lens. 3.7 x 8.9 in. 1237g (43.6oz). Not image stabilized.

The following full-frame conventional zoom lenses by Sigma are a good price-value, fitting several different brand camera bodies:

• Sigma APO 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM lens: 1910g / 67.4 oz. 3.7 in. X 9.9 in. Filter diameter = 86mm. $1000 on www.pricegrabber.com
• Sigma APO 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM lens: 1750g/61.7 oz. ; 3.6 in. X 8 in. $850 on www.pricegrabber.com
• Sigma APO 80-400mm F4.5-5.6 EX DG OS lens: Optical Stabilization helps by about 2 stops or so. Does not have HSM and may be slow to focus. 1750g/61.9 oz. 3.7 in. X 7.6 in. $1000 on www.pricegrabber.com
• Sigma APO 50-500mm F4-6.3 EX DG HSM lens: 1,840g/64.9 oz.; 3.7 in. X 8.6 in. It has no optical stabilization; but good DSLR cameras can compensate with high ISO settings.
• plus bigger professional lenses with wider maximum aperture.
• Sigma glossary of terms: DG = Sigma’s conventional full-size lens. (In the future, look for newer, smaller, very desirable 300mm+ Sigma “DC” lenses for APS-C only). OS = Optical Stabilization, very desireable. HSM = Hyper Sonic Motor for quiet and high-speed AF (Auto Focus), very desirable.

Tokina full-frame conventional lens for wildlife:

• Tokina 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 ATX 840 AF D: Angle of view 29° 50’ to 6°13’ on APS-C camera; Minimum focus distance 2.5m (8.2 ft.); dimensions 3.1 in. (79mm) X 136.5 mm (5.4in.); 1020 g (35.9 oz.); introduced June 2006, for Canon EOS and Nikon D. Unfortunately no image stabilization.

See Tom’s related articles on Photoseek.com:  The Best Travel Cameras  |  Digital versus Film  |  How to Take Better Pictures

Above: Sinopah Mountain (8271 feet or 2521 meters) reflects in Pray Lake at sunrise, in Montana, in the Two Medicine area of Glacier National Park. (Panorama stitched from 4 images.)

Below are highlights from my images from Glacier National Park, Montana.For more images, see Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park on Photoseek.com:  1. Glacier NP, Montana (2007 trip image gallery) ; 2. Waterton Lakes NP, CANADA ; 3. abstract nature patterns of Waterton-Glacier ; 4. animals & insects of Waterton-Glacier 

Left: Baring Creek tumbles over red and yellow rocks, in Montana, in Glacier National Park

Below right: This “Jammer”, a Glacier National Park Historic Red Bus, was built by the White Motor Company in the 1930′s, then rebuilt in 2001 to run on propane. A fleet of these vintage motor coaches provide tours and shuttle services in the park.

Glacier National Park offers some of the best mountain scenery in the world, ripe for nature walks, day hikes, and backpacking trips. I am delighted by the fantastic and colorful rock patterns at every scale, from inches to miles, throughout the park. Your chances are very good for seeing wild animals such as mountain goats, deer, marmots, ptarmigan.

Right: Water cuts through the mossy red rocks of Avalanche Gorge, Glacier National Park, Montana.

Above: Upper Grinnell Lake Overlook, Grinnell Glacier, and Mt. Gould. Glacier National Park, Montana.

Left: Mountain goat, Bearhat Mountain, Hidden Lake. Glacier National Park, Montana.

Below right: Snow naturally frosts the trees at Hidden Lake, in Montana, in Glacier National Park.

Hiking Tips for Glacier and Waterton National Parks

Recommended hiking guidebook: “Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park”, from The Mountaineers Books (2003 edition).

Below right: Sunrise at Lake Saint Mary, and Wild Goose Island, in Montana, in Glacier National Park.

Weather

• www.glacier.national-park.com/weather.htm
• Forecast for West Glacier: www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=west+glacier%2C+mt
• Forecast for East Glacier:  www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=east+glacier+park%2C+mt
• NWS forecast for all zones in Montana:  www.weather.gov/view/prodsByState.php?state=mt&prodtype=zone
• Fire & smoke risk: To see the latest air clarity, look at the webcams for the park:  www.nps.gov/glac/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm

If Logan Pass is closed, driving around the south end of Glacier NP on Highway 2 takes only an extra 30 minutes, by way of East Glacier, to West Glacier.

Below right: Baring Creek flows over sediment ripples that are fossilized into the red rock.

Campground tips

• Hot Showers are available at:   Rising Sun Campground Store;  Apgar West Entrance KOA;  St. Mary Lake KOA;  adjacent to Many Glacier Campground at Swiftcurrent Motor Inn; Rising Sun Inn (6 miles west of St. Mary Visitor’s Center, & 5 miles west of St Mary Campground);  Waterton Park townsite campground;   and others outside the park.
• Per site limits are 2 vehicles, 8 people, & 2 tents (where space is available) in Glacier NP.
• After Labor Day, all Glacier NP campgrounds are “first come first served” (non-reservable) campgrounds — arriving between 10am-1:30pm very likely gets a site. Check out time is 12:00 noon (re-register by 11:30 am).
• Camping along Going-to-the-Sun Road:
  • Rising Sun Campground (on Lake McDonald) is open thru Sept 17, 2007. Adjacent to the campground is a camp store, a casual restaurant, and token operated showers (1 shower stall for men, 1 for women). Flush toilets; dump station. $20. In August 2007, it usually filled up after 6:00pm. 
  • Saint Mary campground, $23. Flush toilets; dump station, open 5/25 – 9/23/07; first come first served after Sept 3 (sites are reservable June 1 through September 3).
  • Campgrounds near Lake McDonald / West Glacier:
    • Apgar Campground (rarely fills up)
    • Fish Creek campground is closed after Sept 4, 2007. Reservable in summer, but usually doesn’t fill up.
    • Sprague Creek Campground) is open thru Sept 17. $20. Flush toilets.
    • Avalanche Campground is closed after Sept 4.
• Many Glacier Campground open thru Sept 23, then primitive (waterless) thru Sept 29. $20. Flush toilets; dump station.  Filled up most days from 2 to 7:00pm in August 2007. Public showers & laundry are located behind Swiftcurrent Motor Inn’s Registration building. 3 shower stalls for men, 4 for women.
• Two Medicine Lake Campground:  generally shaded by trees, some privacy. Open thru Sept 23. $20. No showers.
• Glacier NP campgrounds, current filling status & details:  home.nps.gov/applications/glac/cgstatus/cgstatus.cfm
• Plus numerous RV parks outside the National Park, with full facilities, such as the towns of West Glacier, East Glacier, & St Mary:
  • Polson / Flathead Lake KOA (800) 562-2130
  • West Glacier KOA (800) 562-3313 
  • St. Mary / East Glacier KOA  (800) 562-1504

Right: Rockwell Falls on Cobalt Creek, on the hike to Cobalt Lake, in the Two Medicine Lake area of Glacier National Park.

Day Hikes               

Check trail status at: www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/trailstatusreports.htm
Tom’s PRIORITY KEY for hikes below:   ***best.   **excellent.   *good if you have extra time. In addition to hikes below, many short hikes are available, with waterfalls, views, geology and so forth. Rainy day activities include waterfall hikes, games, or a good book.

West Glacier area

• ** Bowman Lake, Numa Ridge Lookout (11.4 mi round trip, 2935 ft). “Magnificent grandeur of Bowman Valley & jade colored Bowman Lake…”  Drive 21 miles from Apgar to Polebridge, via Camas Road, to the “Outside North Fork Road” of which 11 miles are bumpy gravel. (Don’t take the “Inside Road”, which is very slow & bumpy, almost 4wd). From Polebridge, drive 6 miles gravel road to the trailhead at Bowman Lake Campground.

Two Medicine Lake area

• ** Upper Two Medicine Lake (9.4 miles round trip, 370 feet gain)
• * Cobalt Lake (11.4 miles round trip, 1400 feet gain) good viewpoints, attractive Rockwell Falls, colorful rocks, beautiful lake, beaver ponds, meadows. With extra energy, hike Two Medicine Pass (4.4 miles round trip, 830 feet, from Cobalt Lake) for “commanding view” of neighboring Paradise Park and Park Creek drainage.
• Short hikes:
  • Running Eagle Falls (0.6 miles round trip)
  • Paradise Point (1.2 miles round trip) scenic peninsula that juts into Two Medicine Lake
  • Aster Falls (2.4 miles round trip)

Going-to-the-Sun Road area

• *** Siyeh Pass (10.3 miles traverse one way with shuttle, 2390 up, 3300 down) (or 9.4 mi round trip without shuttle, 2390 feet gain). High alpine scenery.  Open 8/9/07.   Or even better to hike the following:
• ***  Piegan Pass (13 miles traverse one way with shuttle, 1720 feet up) via Grinnell Lake & Josephine Lake to Swiftcurrent Lake trailhead. Same trailhead as Siyeh Pass, at Siyeh Bend.
• * Otokomi Lake (10 mi round trip, 1900 ft) Deep red rocks, green forest, colorful scenery. Start at Rising Sun Campground.  Open 8/9/07.
• ** Gunsight Lake (12.6 miles round trip; 1700 feet gain): popular day hike. Start at Jackson Glacier turnout, 4.9 miles east of Logan Pass. “Views of glaciers and mountains fill the horizon.”
• *** Hidden Lake (6 mi round trip, or shorter if you don’t descend to lake, 1200 ft). We hiked this in 2002 — one of our favorite hikes in the world — well worth hiking again, this time in blue sky weather. “The parking lot at Logan Pass usually fills between the hours of 10:00am to 2:00pm, though this can vary during peak weekends.” Logan Pass (6,646 feet) is 32 miles from the west entrance and 18 miles from the east entrance. 
• *** Swiftcurrent Pass (15.2 miles one way, backpacked in two days, 1400 feet gain, car shuttle) via Garden Wall (which can also be hiked 11.8 mi, 800 ft, one way with shuttle; plus 1200-ft, 2-mile side trip to spectacular Grinnel Lake overlook) “If you just have one day in the park, hike this”. Swiftcurrent Pass can also be day hiked 1 to 15 miles round trip, from zero or 3500 feet gain. Hiking up 2300 feet gains you a sufficiently good view.

Right: A goat shows his teeth above Hidden Lake (see more: Waterton-Glacier animals).

Many Glacier Campground area

• *** Iceberg Lake (9.4 miles RT, 1220 ft) (see also Ptarmigan Tunnel) Ice bergs in milky blue lake below 3000-foot cliffs. TRAIL OPEN – 8/8/07.  4.8 miles roun trip to junction above Ptarmigan Falls, plus 4.6 miles RT to Iceberg Lake.
• ** Ptarmigan Tunnel (11.2 miles RT, 2315 ft) (see also Iceberg Lake) Fun tunnel, spectacular scenery. 4.8 miles round trip to junction above Ptarmigan Falls, plus 5.2 miles round trip to Tunnel.
• *** Cracker Lake (11.2 mi RT, 1140 ft) Most eye-catching turquoise lake in park; 3000-foot cliffs; nice waterfalls. TRAIL OPEN from Cracker Flats to Cracker Lake 8/2/07. 
• *** Grinnel Glacier (7.6 miles with boat rt, 11 miles without, 1700 ft) Gets close to the glacier, plus outstanding scenery. Open 7/13/07. Or hike Grinnel Lake, best via Piegan Pass traverse (above).

Waterton Lakes NP, CANADA (bring USA passport)

• ** Carthew Traverse (12 miles one way, 2300 ft, car shuttle) We loved this so much in 2002, we may hike it again. High alpine lakes, meadows, waterfalls. (Stays within Canada; no boat required.)
• * Bertha Lake (8.6 mi rt, 1542 ft) “Beautiful subalpine lake”. Falls.
• * Goat Lake (8 mi, 984 ft rt) “Pretty area”. This trail starts at the exceptionally colorful Red Rock Canyon (which has a nice short nature trail, seen in 2002).
• Goat Haunt (2-12 miles round trip, 1000 ft gain). Requires boat ride on Waterton Lakefrom Canada into USA (& back). Bring USA passports. In 2002, this boat ride was not very scenic in the opinion of Carol and I — * you probably need to hike or backpack into the mountains for better views. (Must get backcountry permit in Glacier NP, not Waterton.) The commercial boat (403) 859-2362 down Waterton Lake (Canada) to Goat Haunt, USA, may be cancelled, but other boats may run. Must leave Waterton dock by 4pm sailing to enable check in to US customs at Goat Haunt between 9am-5:30pm. Click here for latest Goat Haunt trail info from Glacier NP. At Goat Haunt you can do any or all of the following:
  • Day hikes from Goat Haunt: several “excellent hikes” 2-12 miles, and/or
  • camp overnight at open-sided shelters at the Goat Haunt boat dock, without having to carry a pack, or
  • backpack from Goat Haunt: Lake Francis 12.4 miles round trip, 1000 ft, plus optional 8 mile rt day extension to Brown Pass where “views are tremendous”

Backpacking

Check weather and reserve backcountry campsites at 8:00am, one day in advance, at the following offices: St. Mary Visitor Center, Two Medicine Ranger Station, Many Glacier RS, Polebridge RS, or Apgar Visiter Center. Popular campsites may be hard to get. Backpacking permit fees = $5 per person per night in 2007. Advance reservation fee ($30) is waived if reserved less than 24 hours in advance.

Left: Glaciers at the headwaters of Boulder Creek Canyon, seen from above Siyeh Pass, Glacier National Park, Montana

Above right: Sexton Glacier clings to the north face of Going-to-the-Sun Mountain, and melts into Baring Creek, flowing into Saint Mary Lake, in Glacier National Park, Montana.

Above: Morning light strikes the peaks above Lake Saint Mary in Glacier National Park. (Panorama stitched from 3 images.)

Left: Mount Wilbur 9,321 feet (2,841 meters), on the trail to Iceberg Lake and Ptarmigan Lake, in Montana, in Glacier National Park

Below right: Mount Wilbur 9,321 feet (2,841 meters), on the trail to Iceberg Lake and Ptarmigan Lake, in Montana, in Glacier National Park

Left: Part way down from Swiftcurrent Pass, we see Bullhead Lake in Swiftcurrent Creek Valley, Glacier National Park.

Above right: The Gem Glacier hangs on the shoulder of Mt. Gould, in Glacier National Park, Montana.

Index to Glacier National Park on Photoseek.com: Hiking Tips , Hidden Lake , Two Medicine Lake , Siyeh Pass , Baring Creek Falls , Piegan Pass , Lake Saint Mary , Ptarmigan Tunnel , Garden Wall , Upper Grinnell Lake , Swiftcurrent Valley. Image gallery of 120 Glacier National Park images from 2007.

Index to Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park:  1. Glacier NP, Montana ; 2. Waterton Lakes NP, CANADA ; 3. abstract nature patterns of Waterton-Glacier ; 4. animals & insects of Waterton-Glacier

1. Glacier National Park, Montana, USA. Image gallery of 120 Glacier National Park images from 2007.
2. Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, CANADA.

These parks not only have spectacular mountains, but also have fantastic and colorful rock patterns at every scale, from inches to miles. (For more abstract patterns from around the world, see My Fine Art Gallery: Abstracts.)  The following images are highlights from “Abstract nature patterns of Waterton-Glacier” on Photoseek.com:

Above: Colorful fractured rock pattern, on the hike to Hidden Lake in Glacier National Park, Montana. One of my favorite pattern images.

Below right: Smooth exfoliating rock pattern.

Below right: Cracked rock pattern above Logan Pass.


Left: Hikers crossing Carthew Pass, Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, Canada.

     Below right: Red Rock Canyon, in Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, Canada.

Above: My boots and poles stand atop an orange rock and yellow lichen pattern, on the trail from Two Medicine Lake Campground to Cobalt Lake in Glacier National Park, Montana.

Below right: From near Siyeh Pass, you can see glaciers at the headwaters of Boulder Creek Canyon, Glacier National Park, Montana

 

Left: Fossilized seabed ripples in Glacier National Park, Montana.

Above: Colorful exfoliating rock pattern. Glacier National Park, Montana. (Photo by Carol Dempsey.)

For more abstract patterns from around the world, see My Fine Art Gallery: Abstracts.

Index to Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park:  1. Glacier NP, Montana ; 2. Waterton Lakes NP, CANADA ; 3. abstract nature patterns of Waterton-Glacier ; 4. animals & insects of Waterton-Glacier

See also: My Fine Art Gallery: Abstracts ~ USA: Montana Ghost Towns ~ CANADA pages: Canadian Rocky Mountains ~ Bicycling Icefields Parkway, Jasper to Banff  ~ Bugaboo Provincial Park, BC ~ Garibaldi Provincial Park ~ Bowron Lake Canoeing Tale