Banff/Jasper: 4x5 or 6x17?

[Steve M Hostetter]

speaking of mosquitos,,, I took a trip up to the Kankakee river and a guy was in a boat hurrying twards the shore.. He got up near my truck and I could see a cloud of bugs surrounding him.. I rolled up my window in a hurry and the guy looked my way and smiled in pain..

[Merg Ross]

Thank you so much for all your help, folks! I will take the 4x5 with me on this trip.

- Han

I think the 4x5 is a good choice, given your array of lenses. Be sure to visit Peyto Lake in Banff NP, the color is amazing; and of course, as mentioned earlier, Lake Louise is a must. You should get good clouds, at least I did a bit later in the season than your proposed visit. The area is fantastic, have a good trip.

This is a photograph of the Mistaya River in Banff NP.

[lfgary]

You didn't ask, but I will volunteer it anyway. Here is my favorite picture of my trip to Banff. Taken in the dead of winter with a orange filter. This is 30" x 40" in my home.

[venchka]

Yeah I've heard about the Lake Louise. Looks like I really need to sit down and start to do some serious research into this trip now....Thank you for your suggestions!

Han

Moraine Lake next door to Lake Louise.
Emerald Lake and a really tall waterfall whose name escapes me now.
Lake O'Hara if you can get in.
Maligne Canyon.
Maligne Lake & Spirit Island.
Angel Glacier
Mount Robson

That list could keep you busy for a summer. And only scratch the surface.

[pkphotog]

Emerald Lake and a really tall waterfall whose name escapes me now

Takkakaw Fall in Yoho Valley?

[Chris C]

The Chamonix has a graflock back doesn't it? If so, have you considered getting the Shen Hao 6x17 back? Could allow you to shoot both 4x5 and 6x17 without having to carry too much more.

http://www.badgergraphic.com/store/c...t_detail&p=123

[redrockcoulee]

For a different kind of beauty you may want to check out Bankhead, walls and foundations from an old cold town very close to the town of Banff on the road to Lake Minawanka (spelling is no doubt wrong)

[Nathan Potter]

Moraine Lake next door to Lake Louise.
Emerald Lake and a really tall waterfall whose name escapes me now.
Lake O'Hara if you can get in.
Maligne Canyon.
Maligne Lake & Spirit Island.
Angel Glacier
Mount Robson

That list could keep you busy for a summer. And only scratch the surface.

Great list! Some of my favorite subjects. Takakaw (sp.) Falls is quite spectacular in Yoho Valley. Climb up the trail opposite the falls for a better direct view of the double falls and if you climb high enough the glacial lake feeding the falls will come into view. Angel Glacier has a particularly nice shape (almost hanging above the berg filled lake) and will be a modest half mile hike from the parking lot. Of course Mt. Robson is spectacular from the Robson River right from the Yellowhead Highway north of Jasper. I also like the intimacy of Johnson Canyon closer to Banff.

If you have access to a four wheel drive vehicle a great day trip is to the Bugaboo Mts. north of Radium Hot Springs. The gravel road into the Bugaboo Spire (need a good map) ends in a cirque with an impressive view of the spire poking up thru a glacier. I've had to move a couple of fallen trees near the end but made it OK with a four runner.

And for inspiration you might visit the Byron Harmon photo gallery (run by his grand daughter now I believe) right in downtown Banff. Ask for directions at the info center. Great LF photographs from the early Icefields areas.

Nate Potter, Prince Edward Island, Canada, temporarily.

[shadowleaves]

The Chamonix has a graflock back doesn't it? If so, have you considered getting the Shen Hao 6x17 back? Could allow you to shoot both 4x5 and 6x17 without having to carry too much more.

http://www.badgergraphic.com/store/c...t_detail&p=123

Yes. I finally ordered a Widepan 617 back for 4x5 cameras from Panflex Ltd in China, the special design of which is said to enable shooting 6x17 with 210mm lense and Telephoto 300mm lense without vignetting...

[shadowleaves]

Thank you so much folks for your help! I really appreciate it. - Han