reflections on Wedge Pond

Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada
Canon EOS 50D, 10-22mm @10mm, 1/60 sec, f/7.1, ISO100

When I visited Wedge Pond, in Kananaskis, earlier this month, I was hoping for some wind, so I could so I could do some kite aerial photography. There was very little wind, and people were making the most of the lovely summer weather, fishing and swimming in the lakes. The lack of wind allowed me to capture this reflection in the water, with a fly fisherman slowly moving across the lake in his kayak.

As an Aussie, I had no intention to go swimming, as the ambient temperature was only about 25 degrees, and the water was cold (~35 degrees is more like swimming weather for me). The locals thought otherwise - probably because the summer in Alberta is very short, so the make the most of the summer weather while it lasts!

On my last weekend in Canada earlier this month, I visited Heritage Park Historical Village in Calgary. One of the things that attracted me to visit the park is the rodeo that was scheduled that particular Saturday. This was the first rodeo held at Heritage Park, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the park. I hadn't been to a rodeo for many years, and decided to visit the park, and check out the rodeo.

As some readers of this blog have indicated they like blog posts with multiple photos telling a story, I have decided to include a range of photos of the bull riding from the rodeo. Enjoy the photos below!

blacksmith shaping hot metal

Heritage Park, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Canon EOS 50D, 24-105mm f/4L IS @24mm, 1/80 sec, f/10, ISO2500

Yesterday I returned from a hectic three-week business trip to Calgary, Canada. I managed to get out and do some sightseeing on the weekends, and last weekend I visited Heritage Park Historical Village - a very large museum site spread across 127 acres. In one of the historical villages, they had an operational blacksmith shop, with two gentlemen dressed in period clothing, and using period tools and techniques. (Their safety glasses were more modern...) I watched the blacksmith working, and the smell in the blacksmith shop reminded me of a steel mill that I had visited a couple weeks earlier - on the other side of the globe.

blacksmith and striker working together

Heritage Park, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Canon EOS 50D, 24-105mm f/4L IS @28mm, 1/50 sec, f/10, ISO2500/div>

blacksmith shaping hot metal

Heritage Park, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Canon EOS 50D, 24-105mm f/4L IS @45mm, 1/60 sec, f/10, ISO2500