January 27, 2011
Sunwapta Falls in Jasper National Park

Continuing a look back at our trip to Alaska in 2009, just north of, and bordering, Banff National Park is Jasper National Park, and I sometimes have trouble remembering what's in one park and what's in the other. Sunwapta Falls in Jasper National Park is a major tourist stop because it's easily accessible from the main road. It's also difficult to create a unique composition because there are only a few spots where the falls are clearly visible behind the chain-link fence. Yes, Parks Canada must protect all of those tourists from themselves.

On my previous stops at Sunwapta Falls, I framed closely on the spire that's at the base of the falls and also on the boulder that's at the top of the falls. The water must have been running higher on our visit in July 2009 because the rock outcropping in the lower right of the frame in the image above had water completely behind it and helped it stand out. Because the water flows so fast over the falls and is so turbulent (read white), I find a moderate shutter speed works best because it gives a sense of motion while still capturing the turbulence.

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