A Few From Glacier NP, 2009

[Mike Lewis]

All of Ralph's great shots and mentions of Glacier NP prompted me to post a few from a trip I took there with my wife in 2009. We went to 3 national parks, Tetons, Yellowstone, and Glacier. The weather actually was pretty bad, and we had to go before the GTTSR was open for the season, but it was still a great trip. The weather finally gave us some fleeting sun as we got to Glacier NP.

One of the coolest parts about these shots is that they were all taken off of the 3rd floor balcony of the Many Glacier Lodge - talk about a room with a view! Even for someone like me that frequently has to struggle to get up for the wonderful early light, this was pretty easy.

Right off the balcony the first night we were there:

The next morning some fleeting sunlight right at dawn of an otherwise overcast day:

I was really ready the next morning, and took a number of shots but I like this result the best:

Comments welcome!

ML

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Bloody hell - that reflection in #2 is insane!

What a view - can't be many places like that where you can just shuffle out in your PJs and snap a winner

I hear the View Hotel in Monument valley is similar...

Great pictures Mike - were you using a polarizer at all?

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Yep, I was right - here's the view from the View Hotel

Mike - make sure you add that location to the Locations section of the forum - I know there will be folks who will want to know where it is, so they can stay there.

 

[Mike Lewis]

Chris,

Thanks for the quick replies I have to try to remember about the polarizer. I think I DID have it on for the first shot taken in the evening. The next 2 shots I don't think so, but I can't say for certain at this point I guess I need to take better notes but like you said, I was standing in socks and half awake

Wow, you are right, that view from the hotel is also a total knockout!! We'll have to try to get back there; I was not back into photography again yet the only time we made it to Monument valley.

Nice shots and thanks for the replies.

ML

 

[Rudi Venter]

WOW Mike! Stunning!

Indeed a room with a view of note! Well captured, I would love to visit there sometime.

Thanks for sharing!!

 

[Mike Lewis]

Thanks Rudi! And I am off to find the locations section to post Many Glacier Lodge as it was not only super photographic but an all-around fantastic place to stay...

ML

 

[Laurie Parker]

Stunning view and to wake up and see that first thing can only be breathtaking. love the three shots but That first one with the trees edging the lake, gorgeous reflections does it for me,fab captures

 

[Bryan Hunt]

Photo's 1 & 2 are stunning but there is something about the moody atmosphere in photo 3 that does it for me

 

[Hamish Gill]

I spotted these on your site... They are awesome!
Not much between them, but I think it's between the second and third ones for me ... That reflection is pretty nuts
I can certainly imagine thy being annanazing place to wake up in the morning...

 

[Pete Askew]

I echo all of the above. It's No 3 for me too.

 

[Dan Cattermole]

Stunning!! Not much else to say other than that... Just stunning!!!!

 

[Dan Cattermole]

And as for number 3... Well..... My fav.

 

[Ralph Thornton]

All three a great shots from a wonderful location. I might have cropped out the roof of the hotel in the first one. I definitely like #3 of the sunrise on Mount Wilbur. Your photos prove that you don't have to have Going-to-the-Sun Road open to get great shots in Glacier.

Here's one of mine taken from the ridge just outside the hotel. There's a little more snow here and no reflections on the lake.

 

[Mike Lewis]

Thanks!

Thanks to everyone for all the excellent feedback. I guess I'd be telling on myself a little to say this, and I can partially blame it on the weather, but these shots I got off the balcony of the hotel ended up being the best stuff I shot on the entire trip

ML

 

[Paul Lange]

Great shots and the fact that you only had to travel a few steps to your balcony to get them doesn't mean anything. You've captured them just at the right time. 3 does it for me but the reflection in 2 is just crazy.

 

[Mike Lewis]

Crop Suggestion, etc.

Thanks Ralph! I envy you being able to spend so much time there - what a fantastic place to be able to visit so often. I really want to get back up there, hopefully later in the summer or even the start of fall next time. Your snowy treatment is very nice as well, and it is fun to see the same location from a slightly different vantage point and in a different season.

Yes, the roof should probably be cropped out. I meant to do it originally, and then forgot, and then the 'official' version sort of became the shot with the roof in it. But I agree, other than lending authenticity to the balcony location , it really doesn't help the shot out in any way. I'll have to crop it and see how I like it.

Thanks to everyone for so many nice comments. I am going to try to give back with lots of feedback to other posters on RPF - the few times i have ever posted something and not gotten any comments back was always the pits. Sure not a problem around here!

ML

ML

All three a great shots from a wonderful location. I might have cropped out the roof of the hotel in the first one. I definitely like #3 of the sunrise on Mount Wilbur. Your photos prove that you don't have to have Going-to-the-Sun Road open to get great shots in Glacier.

Here's one of mine taken from the ridge just outside the hotel. There's a little more snow here and no reflections on the lake.

 

[Ralph Thornton]

Thanks Ralph! I envy you being able to spend so much time there - what a fantastic place to be able to visit so often.

It is very nice living where I do. I pinch myself every morning when I see the morning light hit the mountains.