Author: Mel Komus

Lake Louise is world famous for its turquoise lakes, the Victoria Glacier, soaring mountain backdrop, incredible hiking, and the luxurious Chateau Lake Louise hotel.

The vibrant waters and one of Canada’s most photographed lake is five kilometers from the hamlet of Lake Louise. Named for Queen Victoria’s fourth Daughter, Lake Louise is a truly awe-inspiring sight that takes your breathe away the first time you see it for yourself.

During the summer the lake is an intense shade of turquoise due to the light refracting off the rock flour (glacier silt) deposited in the lake by glacier run off. The colour of the lake is most vibrant in July and August when the flow of the melt water is at its highest.

I’ve had the opportunity to visit Lake Louise twice, however not once in summer months, yet! People always say you never know what weather you get when in the mountains … well they are right!

The first time I experience Lake Louise was in November 2016. I was attending my first ever photography workshop, November Frost, with  Paul Zizka, John E Marriot and Dave Brosha. I had a free morning prior to checking in at the hotel and decided to head up to Lake Louise to check it out. Generally when visiting a new location for the first time I like to leave my DSLR behind and experience it simply for myself and perhaps takes some photos on myphone. There was a bit of snow this time of year but not as much as I would have expected for November.

Once the workshop began I had the opportunity to visit Lake Louise for an early morning sunrise shoot and then a late night astro shoot. It was certainly frosty and turned out to be a little frigid on those early morning and late night shoots

I had the intention to visit Lake Louise in the summer of  2017 while passing through on my way to British Columbia. However this coincided with Canada 150 celebration and free entry to our National Parks.  If you wanted to see Lake Louise at this time you needed to park in the overflow parking lot and wait for a bus to take you to the Lake. Unfortunately since I was passing through time did not allow for it.

I did return to Lake Louise in the fall of 2017, this time in the month of October, just after the Canadian Thanksgiving. I was really hoping to see some fall colours and finally see the fall larches in the Canadian Rockies. This trip was for the Offbeat Photography workshop, October Gold held at the incredible Baker Creek Mountain Resort! (which I highly recommend you check out if you’re in the area)

The day before the workshop was to begin, Banff National Park was hit with a fresh snow fall (more snow than I was expecting for October). I may not have see the fall colours or fall larches I was hoping for, but as always Lake Louise was incredible.

If you have the opportunity in the future I highly recommend taking the time to visit to Lake Louise! I guarantee you will not be disappointed. I have yet to make my way all the way around the lake, and would like to one day hike to the Lake Agnes Tea House.

I’m eager to return to Lake Louise as I feel it has so much to offer from a photographers perspective. It is one of the most photographed places in Canada and therefore trying to shoot it in a new and fresh perspective is something I look forward to attempting.

For instance the image below – what sets it apart from the typical images that include the waters, the mountains, the glacier – well I also chose to include the wooden walkway – why? Because the story was about what it would be like to stand there seeing the first light on Mt Victoria and for me the walkway conveys the feeling of being there in the moment with me as I shot this image.