Athabasca Glacier

Paul Tupman

Athabasca Glacier

Athabascar Glacier, Icefields National Park, Alberta, Canada.
March 2008

Taken on our road trip through the Rocky Mountains in March this year, we were already falling behind on this day, losing time after so many great stops and photo opportunities along the way through the Icefields National Park onto our next destination of Pocahontas, just outside of Japser. We had agreed that we would have to limit our stops to reach our destination before sunset, but when we turned a corner and saw this, we couldn’t resist!

A foolish decision to save time, we decided not to go through the usual process of jumping out of the car and putting on our many layers of warm clothes, hats and gloves… this would just be a quick stop.

Big mistake!

This place was cold… this place was very cold… this place was fer-fer-fer-freezing!

Not only that, but the best shooting point was actually a short run down the road… it would have been a walk had it not been so cold!

Destination reached, we set about shooting, fingers shaking, body temperatures dropping… it wasn’t long before we couldn’t stand any more and headed back to the car… ran back to the car! Claire even getting hysterical with laughter during the process – as they say, we could but only laugh!

Anyway, lesson learned! We had been so careful before and always been appropriately dressed… this wouldn’t happen again!

Glad to have got at least one shot from the experience!

Athabasca Glacier belongs to the following groups:

Icy Cold and Landscape Photography Available for sale as

Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Framed Prints and Posters
Athabasca Glacier by Paul Tupman
Athabasca Glacier by Paul Tupman
  • Dan Biggins

    Dan Biggins

    This is stunning Paul-well worth risking hypothermia for! Fantastic shot.

  • Paul Tupman replied

    Thanks again Dan.. it was an experience we wont forget in a hurry! :-)

  • Stuart Chapman

    Stuart Chapman

    Cracking shot and so pleased that after getting there the cold didn’t sap your battery down to complete nothingness!

    Such gorgeous light streaks across the left hand mountain, you can really feel the clouds moving across being the puppetiers to the light and shade dance that is taking place across this blue and white unspoilt landscape. The clouds just wisping off the mountains in total innocence which interplays with the purity of the unspoilt snowy scene.

    In short – I like

  • Paul Tupman replied

    Thanks so much Stuart.. and for the advice on viewing large. Yes I agree.. this landscape was vast. The small area between the two mountains is actually the glacier and huge icefield carving its way through the mountains… and those clouds definately must have been whipping up a blizzard or two on the other side of the mountain.. as for batteries… spare battery attachment!

  • Stuart Chapman

    Stuart Chapman

    and p.s. to anyone else – You must view this one large

  • Nikki Trexel

    Nikki Trexel

    ooh…....wow.
    i’m glad you at least got one shot….’cause it’s a true work of art. i love it.

  • Paul Tupman replied

    Thanks so much Nikki… :-)

  • Marion Cullen

    Marion Cullen

    This looks just TERRIFIC blown up large, so much detail and beautiful tonal range. Paul, this is damn incredible!

  • Paul Tupman

    Paul Tupman

    Thank you so much Lumieux… what a fantastic thing to say… and thanks for taking the time to view large and take it all in… :-)

  • Laurie Search

    Laurie Search

    Beautiful!

  • Paul Tupman

    Paul Tupman

    Thanks Laurie… :-)

  • Shadowdreamer

    Shadowdreamer

    Beautiful

  • Paul Tupman replied

    Thank you Shadowdreamer. :-)

  • drjones

    drjones

    this is stunning!

  • Paul Tupman replied

    Thanks drjones… much appreciated! :-)

  • Schock100

    Schock100

    simply beautiful

  • Paul Tupman replied

    Thank you Schock100.. :-)

  • Christine Wilson

    Christine Wilson

    wow instant fav there is a still erieness about it almost like another planet this is so amazing

  • Paul Tupman replied

    Thanks so much Christine… really appreciated. :-)

  • Gary L. Suddath

    Gary L. Suddath

    wow awesome shot,excellent

  • Paul Tupman replied

    Thank you Gary… :-)

  • Goose

    Goose

    Your Canadian shots are really quite stunning… Certainly makes you wanna go visit, cold or not!

  • Paul Tupman

    Paul Tupman

    Thanks so much Mindy… well, I definately want to go back! :-)

  • Steven Novak

    Steven Novak

    An absolutely stunning shot paul.

  • Paul Tupman replied

    Thanks so much Steven… :-)

  • Birgitta

    Birgitta

    Believe it or not, my favourite part of all is the clouds. :-/
    They’re so whispy & strange looking and they give the impression
    of being HUGE, towering over the whole landscape which already
    seems huge! What a sight. You must have felt like you were in another
    world after so much time in the desert! heh..

  • Paul Tupman replied

    Thanks so much Birgitta… and I know what you mean about the clouds… I love how you have 2 completely different formations around each mountain! And yeah, it was all a bit alien to me… the last time I saw snow was a long long time ago in a place far far way…

  • debb

    debb

    Brilliant – breathtaking image :)

  • Steve Mezardjian

    Steve Mezardjian

    Absolutely fantastic capture Paul!

  • Stefan Trenker

    Stefan Trenker

    this looks great – stunning view and very interesting as an IR

  • Paul Tupman replied

    Thanks Stefan… I can see where you are coming from, but actually there are no IR filters here, just lots and lots of snow!
    Thanks again… :-)

  • Stefan Trenker

    Stefan Trenker

    @Paul: thanks for the info. why i came to think it might be an IR – the sky looks very much like it, also the clouds.
    BUT what should have shown me right away that it can’t be an IR are the trees – in IR they are normally white ;o)

  • Basia McAuley

    Basia McAuley

    What magnificent scenery! I’m totally envious, to me this is heaven..

  • Paul Tupman

    Paul Tupman

    Thanks so much again, Basia… it was a fantastic place to be! :-)

  • Paul Finnegan

    Paul Finnegan

    well worth stopping for. truely stunning

  • Simon Mears

    Simon Mears

    yes, truly stunning are the words

  • miclile

    miclile

    It’s been said before but I’ll say it again… stunning!

  • Paul Tupman replied

    Thanks so much miclile… :-)

  • Anette Tyler

    Anette Tyler

    Beautiful. Lovely atmosphere

  • Paul Tupman replied

    Thank you Anette… :-)

  • LinaJ

    LinaJ

    beautiful shot!

  • Magnum1975

    Magnum1975

    Wonderful. Never thought to turn them black and white. All the ones I have of this place I have in colour. Have to do some playing with mine now.

  • Mugsy

    Mugsy

    Powerful image!

  • Jayme Rutherford

    Jayme Rutherford

    Beautiful!

  • Mui-Ling Teh

    Mui-Ling Teh

    I love the forms you’ve captured here. I can imagine how cold it must be; but I can’t help but admire this regardless; this was not one to miss!

  • Karin Taylor

    Karin Taylorcommunity helper

    wow, that’s just amazing scenery Paul!

  • Sam Neal

    Sam Neal

    a stunning picture, the scenery is amazing. Perhaps one day we will have enough money to go abroad, however scotland will have to do for now :o)

    sam

  • MarAndra

    MarAndra 5 days ago

    Uuuuh, I’d like to climb there someday…

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