Top 3 Photography Locations in Banff, Alberta
By far one of my favorite places to visit in the world is Banff, Alberta. The vast national park offers some of the worlds most unique sights and also some of the nicest people anywhere. So where do you begin and where do you go? Hope I can provide some insight around that below !
Calgary -
You’ll be landing in Calgary most likely on your trip to Banff. Before you even land, if you are sitting on the left side of the plane, you have to look out left about 45 minutes prior to landing. Because this is when you get your first glance at the natural beauty that surrounds this area. What you’ll see (pictured below), is the amazing view of the mountain range and a beautiful entrance to your vacation.
Taken on iPhone.
Calgary is an amazing town that has some great locations to photograph and some amazing food to try, so if you have extra time, I highly recommended checking out Calgary for the day. Once you’ve landed in Calgary, it’s time to get your car and make a short drive out to the mystical land of Banff, Alberta. For photographers this is a haven for amazing views and beautiful captures. Most likely you will be staying in Canmore, as that is the closest “major” town near Banff. Below are some of the places you should check out during your trip to Banff, Alberta.
Lake Louise -
When you arrive here, there is a fairly large parking lot, but sometimes even that gets filled out. You then walk through a small park, but once you turn the last corner, the beauty of Lake Louise takes over you. The crispy blue waters and the beautiful valley that lives between the mountain ranges, gives this amazing location this iconic view. As you see in the picture below, the view is really vast and so I recommend photographers to carry your widest lens. If you have a focal range near 16-35mm, it’ll be great for landscapes like this.
Moraine Lake -
I constantly found myself in awe of the natural beauty that encompasses this part of the park. Photographers come to capture this lake from around the world and it’s one of the places you can find yourself in shock and awe at the vast landscape. I highly recommend going very early in the day to avoid the rush. The main parking lot there definitely fills up quick, and to avoid having to take a shuttle in, get there early and stay there as long as you want. Plus side for photographers for arriving early, is that it’s one of the most beautiful sunrises you’ll see. Even though the focus isn’t on the sun, the way the light hits the mountain range is absolutely stunning. When I went to Moraine Lake, I literally sat there for 3 hours taking in the amazing views and the crisp fresh air this area offers.
Rawson Lake - Bonus Location!
This lake is a bit further out from Banff, but definitely worth the drive and hike out to it. You can easily just park in the main area of the lake to enjoy the view, but there are hikes around the lake that I think are totally worth it. Unless you are into capturing some animals in the wild, the only lens you’ll need to carry would be your super wide angle to capture the vast landscapes that surround that area.
I can’t wait to be back in Banff again and taking in the amazing views. Plus zipping around the mountains is also a great time! Comment for any questions!