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This Land Photography

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Unplanned and unexpected - Johnson Lake Sunset, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Unplanned and unexpected - Johnson Lake Sunset, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Johnson Lake Sunset, Banff National Park

Shian Tan February 3, 2017

I had been set up and waiting for the sunset over at Two Jack Lake nearby, chasing that elusive alpenglow on Mount Rundle. However, the light just wasn't happening that evening and there was barely a cloud in the sky. I was driving home to grab some long overdue dinner when the sky just exploded. The light lasted just a few minutes and it was amazing to watch the transition of colours into the blue hour. Lesson learned: dinner can always wait!

This is a relatively less-photographed lake in the Canadian Rockies and often gets overlooked in favour of its more famous neighbour Two Jack Lake. It was actually closed to the public in August 2016 due to the detection of whirling disease, a parasite that can be deadly to fish (find out more here). The fact that the disease is easily transmitted between bodies of water on fishing, paddling, or swimming gear serves as a reminder that even when land is protected by National Parks status, it is still incredibly fragile and there is a very fine line between conservation and making the lands accessible for the enjoyment of all.

In Images, Photography Tags Johnson Lake, Banff National Park, Rockies, nature, lanscape, conservation, whirling disease, sunset, mountains, Two Jack Lake, Mount Rundle, Alberta, Canada, landscape, photography
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