Photographing Waterton: The Wildflower Festival ~ RJ Pisko

RJ Pisko photo

RJ Pisko, Columnist, Pincher Creek Voice

“There is only you and your camera.  The limitations in your photography are in yourself, for what we see is what we are.”  ~Ernst Haas 

Finally – it’s springtime in the Rockies, and shortly after our beloved May Long, it will again happen – that embarrassment of color that smothers the hillsides of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, and this year, what with abundant late snows in  southern Alberta, the wildflower carpet is sure to be nothing short of miraculous.   Nature lovers drool over the thought of Waterton’s Wildflower Festival, June 15-23, 2013.


*Activities include Wildflower Identification, Wildflower Habitat, Wildflowers by Horseback and by Cruise Boat, Photography Workshops, Botanical Watercolours, Afternoon Tea and much more.

Events throughout the 9 days are led by highly qualified professionals including talented wildflower photographers Paul Gilbert (author of "Wild Colours" and "Wild Light" books), Steve Harrington and Frans Brouwers;  botanical artist Margaret Best; naturalists and scientists, John Russell, Dr. Brian Reeves, Jo-Anne Reynolds, Lyndon Penner.

It’s a wonderful opportunity to mosey, meander and amble through our adored park’s forests and grasslands, every footstep releasing nature’s perfume, to marvel and wonder, to drink in the unspeakable beauty – and photograph it all.  And there’s the rub – will those lovingly, painstakingly captured images be true to what you saw, to what you felt, to the sweetness of being there?

RJ Pisko photo

My goodness, such flowery writing, but a couple hundred words can’t begin to reflect the feeling of dong the “Waterton Wildflower Festival” thing.  I do want to offer a few hints, in advance of the festival, to those who will venture forth with their $119 point ’n’ shoot digital cameras and those who will perspire under the weight of their backpacks full of big DSLR bodies and pricey, dedicated macro lenses, bellows systems, tripods, water bottles and big zooms (in hopes of seeing a bear and capturing the quintessential Bruin image for the den wall over the fireplace).

The lowly point ‘n’ shoot digital subcompact camera, though, will focus so close  (often within a centimeter or two) as to capture razor-sharp images of grains pollen in the very chalices of wildflowers – don’t discount the budget digital camera. The pros and advanced amateurs (gadgeteers?) will spend five times as much on one dedicated macro lens and may not go home with any finer images.

Bring a dollar store windshield sunscreen to reflect daylight into shaded pockets of blossoms.  Pick up a pair of skateboarder’s kneepads and elbow pads at the thrift shop – seriously!   A compact, cheap umbrella will filter out and soften obnoxiously contrasty direct sunlight – and it might rain, too – so you and your camera stay dry while you create the most mystical images of raindrops on petals.  A tripod capable of ground-level adjustment can be a blessing; so can a flexible-legged  Gorillapod.  A doubled zipper lock freezer bag full of dried beans, rice, or better yet Styrofoam beads (yep, a Bean Bag) works well at ground level, too.
A waterproof layer to fend off the morning dew will get you on your belly so you can be eye-level with your flowers (watch out for ticks!) as you would your children and pets.  Got you interested?  Get some simple gear together and get planning for the festival.

*(from www.watertonwildflowers.com)

“Photography is more than a medium for factual communication of ideas. It is a creative art.” ~Ansel Adams

RJ