Winds of Change by ArturStanisz

It was one of those early evenings near Fitz Roy when one could expected either dramatic sky movements and developing spectrum of strong sky colours or an absolute photographic disaster, with fully overcast skies and zero chances for a decent light. Frankly, I found this composition during my 2014 Patagonia Photo Adventure, but then I postponed its realization because I ran out of time when I got too involved in photo possibilities offered in other areas. Back in 2014 I envisioned how this place would look like with proper light and clouds movement. I framed this composition in my mind and went back to Canada. But in 2015, I returned to this spot and finally took this photo.
The wind was biblical that evening. It was hard to keep a hat on, not mentioning the possibility of having a still object like tree or a bush for the composition in the foreground. I love strong wind because it tends to bring a change resulting in spectacular light effects. My excitement was growing and I knew I had to hold on around this spot.
I took many photos over there and many of them turned astray because of this strong wind that kept making my foreground objects blurry. I kept running like crazy trying to find a still foreground that would allow me to make a well balanced photo and frame this extraordinary sky that I saw.
I found many dead trees and roots near the top of the ridge and I decided to include them in my composition. To me they show a quintessential prove of this how wind shapes Patagonia’s landscape. They are the roots of strength, persistence and uniqueness. And this is Patagonia I love.

Details on Patagonia workshops that I will lead in 2016 can be found on my website: http://www.arturstanisz.com.

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Dazzling Apex by ArturStanisz

!Please view on black to appreciate the details!
I took this photo one night near my campsite on Turner Glacier located on Baffin Island in Nunavut, Canada. The mountain visible on the photo remained unnamed for a long time as I had problems identifying it. Only recently, I was able to find out its name: Loki Mountain. From the moment that I stepped on the Turner Glacier this mountain caught my attention. At first I only saw its apex. Then, as I was hiking through the glacier, the mountain was growing slowly showing more and more of its shape. It took many hours before I could see its entire face. Even though on this photo it might appear small, in reality Loki Mountain is a granite pyramid that is almost 1000 metres high. I am not exactly sure why, but during these few days that I spent near it, a lot of good light was happening around this mountain. The night I took this photo was no exception. The aurora was dancing above the peak as if it had some sort of a magnetic power. The crack featured in the foreground is an actual crevasse. I also had a chance to explore and photograph it from the inside. While I was fighting with cold weather and strong winds on Baffin Island a fellow photographer, Jeff Swanson was battling the biggest fight. Unfortunately, he lost it. So here it is for you Jeff Swanson ((http://ift.tt/1Kmy8QL). For all willing to help/donate for the cause , please visit this site: Melanoma Research Foundation http://ift.tt/1Kmy96Z

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Summertime by ArturStanisz

Canadian Rockies are landscape photographers’ paradise. Early mornings tend to bring delightful conditions for photographers. I would even dare to claim that mornings are better to shoot than evenings just because of the Rockies geographical location. In the evenings clouds tend to stay over the mountains as the range spreads to the West while in the morning sky is clearer because on the East there are Alberta’s plains with clouds that do not form as heavily as it is the case in the opposite direction. It is an incredible feeling to hike through these immense valleys surrounded by gigantic peaks. And here I find myself on yet another photo hiking trip in this exceptional place. On my latest 4 days long trip I explored the area of Mt. Robson (the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies) and in my opinion it is a world class hiking & photographing destination. This simple composition as seen on this photo aims to showcase one of the Canadian Rockies icons, the great Mt. Robson with all the elements that created this spectacular landscape.

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The Outbreak by ArturStanisz

I took this photo on the first weekend of July, during the overnight trip to one of my favourite places near Vancouver, the Garibaldi Park. It is a popular hiking destination, but there are still plenty of hidden spots for photographers. After about 18km of hiking I reached this viewpoint. I started to scout the area, found my camping spot and set my campsite. Initially the weather looked promising, but within one hour things started to change. Some weird haze began to cover mountains diminishing visibility. I quickly realized that it was a smoke coming from wildfires. At that moment I almost gave up on shooting that evening. But just before the sunset, the area cleared up so I ran to shoot some photos. This is one of them.
About 30 minutes after this shot the smoke covered the whole zone.

Note: This what you see on the sky these are not clouds but the smoke from wildfires. The wildfires have devastated the area of Pemberton. The worst wildfires in BC up to date. Thankfully, the worst has passed and it is getting better.

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Awakening Paine Grande by ArturStanisz

It is a very early Patagonian morning in the Chilean Torres del Paine. The dark night colours haven’t been able to disappear, yet. The thick nocturnal blanket is still visible and successfully encapsulates the sky above the Paine Grande. Suddenly, a shy pink colour emerges from behind. It is quickly growing in intensity. I am grabbing my camera and I am trying to make it operational as soon as possible. I am running in my mind landscape photographer’s mantra: aperture, shutter speed, ISO. I have a very close foreground! Not easy…. Focus blending will be necessary. The colours on the sky are intensifying. I am executing my first shot. It is too windy and reflection is too blurry. Second shot. It is a bit better. The wind is calming down. I am taking another five shots to catch the best show. I am done with that. Now I need the shot for the foreground. I am trying to focus, but it is too dark. So I am turning my headlamp on. Focus and then shot. I am rechecking the focus. The shot looks sharp. But just in case I am taking one more photo.
The description above presents the whole 10 minutes that I needed to execute this shot. The photo was taken during the Patagonia Photo Adventure 2015 that I organized for people interested in photography and travelling. My Patagonia Photo Adventure 2016 is being prepared right now. Patagonian light doesn’t disappoint. Can’t wait to go back to see it again!

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A View to Remember by ArturStanisz

The Pacific Rain Forest of British Columbia is a fascinating place full of different natural wonders. It is one of the greenest and flora abundant places in the world. One can spend a lifetime trying to explore its treasures, but it won’t be enough.
Forest has been always one of my favourite photo subjects. I have spent a lot of time hiking and bush –whacking in search for the essence of the Pacific Rainforest. Here I find myself in yet another of such unforgettable quests.
The view captured on this photo quickly became one of my favourite ones. It showcases green lush forest as seen from a unique cave perspective. I have been exploring this canyon for couple of hours. The entire river that flows at the bottom disappears in the cave for about hundred meters. In the early summer the water level is low enough to allow exploring entire cave. And this is what I did.

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