Selep Imaging Blog: January 2024

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Beautiful Bow Lake in Canada

Bow Lake in Banff National Park Alberta Canada in Fall by Jeanne Selep

Image 1: Bow Lake in fall, Banff National Park, Alberta Canada

On vacation, I always want the weather to be great for photos, but nature doesn't always cooperate. On the fall day in late September when I went past Bow Lake in Banff National Park, Canada, the day was gray with swirling clouds and light snow.

Bow Lake with light snow in Alberta Canada by Jeanne Selep

Image 2: Bow Lake in Banff National Park, Alberta Canada

The view was still beautiful, despite the clouds. A light snow had dusted the mountains, accentuating the textures of the mountains' rocks and the large talus (rock debris) piles. In winter, or a heavy snow, the mountain would be mostly white. Without snow, the rock's textures are less pronounced.

Bow Lake with reflection in Banff National Park Alberta Canada by Jeanne Selep

Image 3: Bow Lake Alberta Canada

My photos from that day show an atmospheric and somewhat dreamy mountain and reflection. The clouds moved below the mountain tops and the light changed from time to time as the sun tried to peek through. The misty shot makes the mountain look deceptively small - the tiny band of green trees on the other side of the lake are forests of tall towering evergreen trees.

Bow Lake in Alberta Canada by Jeanne Selep

Image 4: Bow Lake in Banff National Park, Alberta Canada

The snow emphasized the huge talus piles across the lake. If I had ideas to go climbing (I don't), the huge amount of talus makes me think climbing here would be super dangerous. Canadian Highway 93 has pull-off spots, from where some of these photos were taken. Avalanche warnings are posted all along Highway 93. These tall peaks seem to be crumbly. We walked on some minor areas of talus, making me think that walking on the other side of the lake would not be my idea of safe.

Miranda Grisa Paddle boarding on Bow Lake Canada

Image 5: Paddle boarding in the Mountains

A lucky opportunity allowed my daughter to paddle board on Bow Lake.

Image 6: Paddle boarding on Bow Lake

She wasn't dressed for paddle boarding, but she's skilled enough to know she was unlikely to fall into the icy water; and what to do if she did fall into the water. (So don't try this on your own!) If you look closely at the large version of her photo, you will notice it is lightly snowing. Considering my daughter was paddle boarding in the mountains, while it was snowing, over icy cold water, I perhaps should have been more worried than I was.

Miranda Grisa Paddle boarding on Bow Lake Canada by Jeanne Selep

Image 7: A favorite shot - Miranda Paddle boarding in the Mountains

She said looking in the water's reflection from the middle of the lake was stunning, something she'll never forget. I can only imagine it - mountains and clouds reflected below, all around, and the real mountains rising up in front of her. The lake was mirror smooth, but the camera caught more ripple detail, in the same way camera's can capture drops of water in a splash or waterfall that normally our eyes would not see.

Bow Lake in Banff National Park Alberta Canada by Jeanne Selep

Image 8: Bow Lake Alberta Canada

The photos above and below show the mirror-like lake reflection I remember from most of the day. Bow Lake is known for the fantastic reflection of the mountain faces behind it. When you stand on near the shore, the mountain's reflection seems to fill the lake. The lake has intense blue-green water in the right light conditions, which sometimes adds subtle color to the reflection.

Image 9: Bow Lake Alberta Canada

The picture below was taken very near Bow Lake. For a moment the sun started to break through the clouds, and I snapped "a cool sight". But a camera can't capture the range of vision our eyes can see, and so the clouds are are grayer in the photo, the sun was blinding white, and the mountains and snow were less monochrome. This photo only gives a memory of the moment. But I included it here anyway.

Banff National Park Mountain with sun effect off Highway 93 by Jeanne Selep

Image 10: Sun poking Through Clouds

Background notes:
Bow Lake is located in Alberta Canada's large Banff National Park. Bow Lake is about 60 miles (95 km) North of the City of Banff along Highway 93, or 25 miles (40km) north of Lake Louise.

Bow Lake with mist snow in Alberta Canada by Jeanne Selep

Image 11: Bow Lake Alberta Canada in Fall

Here in Wisconsin, we just had a real snow storm and very cold sub zero weather (below 0 degrees Fahrenheit), and it seems to be cold across much of the USA, so Stay Warm!

Click on the images to see them enlarged.

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Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Rocking my Rock Window

Image 1: Agate Geode Rock Window by Jeanne Selep, backlit by sunlight

I made my Agate Geode Rock Window during the pandemic, and I can honestly say it changed my life! (details near end...)

Silicate SIo4 SUO2 AGATE GEODE Rock Slice Window Detail by Jeanne Selep

Image 2: Detail view of Agate Rock Window

I had a collection of agate geode rock slices purchased over decades that I wanted to display or use somehow. Inspired by Sigmar Polke's stained glass windows in Zurich, Switzerland (see below), I decided to use my agate slices to create a window of my own. This way, I could actually use my collection of rock slices instead of storing them wrapped in dusty bubble wrap in a crumbled brown paper bag in a brown box. (Can anyone relate?)

Image 3: Agate Rock Slice Window on a Snowy Day

This was going to be a fast project, using a repurposed vintage window I already owned. I was not attempting Polke's stained glass masterpiece, constructed to last for centuries; and I wasn't going to cut stones to fill in every square inch, either.

Image 4: Auditioning Rocks for my Window

I laid my geode slices out on the window over a light box to "audition" them, only to realize I didn't have enough rock slices.

Image 5: Agate Geode Rick Slice

I went to my favorite rock shop and stained glass store to buy more slices to finish the window. The available slices were not circular or were too expensive. I looked on-line - too expensive, and/or you didn't pick what slices you would get. I tried to see if any of the Gem and Mineral shows would run during the pandemic - (nope).

SIO4 SIO2 AGATE GEODE Rock Slice Window Detail by Jeanne Selep

Image 6: The Comet like slice top right has become a favorite!

Eventually, I went back to a shop and bought inexpensive odd shaped slices, which I didn't really want to use. (Some of which have since become favorites). I had wanted to use mostly round circular pieces, and so I placed the best ones near the center of my window.

Image 7: I arranged my favorite slices near the center of the window

Months later the window was finally finished. I absolutely love how my window glows in different lighting situations and seasons. I consider it one of my best completed projects.

Image 8: Agate Geode Rock Window by Jeanne Selep

(Here is the how-to...) I prepared the window, and washed the rocks and window very well. I auditioned and arranged the rocks in a way I liked, using a light box. (auditioning the rocks for weeks!). I took a photo of the final arrangement as a reference. Then I spread clear E6000 glue in a thin coat on the rocks to glue the rocks to the clean window glass, and let the glue dry. Clear silicon or new resin products would probably work as well.

Image 9: Auditioning even more Rocks for my Window

Below is the most famous of Sigmar Polke's Geode Windows in Zurich, Switzerland that inspired me to attempt this project. I found his windows on-line and have never seen them in person. This site here has more pictures and info on Polke's windows, which I hope to see someday!

Sigmar Polke's Agate Geode Window in Zurich Switerland

Image 10: Sigmar Polke's Inspiring Geode Window in Zurich Switerland

HOW THIS WINDOW CHANGED MY LIFE, for the non-TLDR* crowd.

So here's the story of how this window has changed my life. (Deep Breath...) I had the slices to use, and was inspired by Polke's Windows. I wasn't entirely satisfied by my selection. I heard about the Tucson Gem and Mineral show (the world's largest Gem and Mineral show!) because my son visited Tucson. By then, I had already finished this window, but still wanted to have a better selection of slices (for the next window!). My nephew lived in Tucson, and graciously let me visit. I went to the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. (End of breath 1). Days before I left I invited my 20-something daughter to come along. She said yes. We went to the show; and also saw the Grand Canyon in the snow, and walked about 3 miles on the Angel Bright trail (in snow!), and visited Saguaro National Park, and Antelope Canyon, and Sedona and more. And I also skied for the first time in 30+ years. (Another breath). I fell in love with the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, and plan on seeing more shows. My daughter now wants to see all the National Parks. So I decided I too would make a goal of trying to see all the National Parks. (Breath) Because I went to the 2023 Tucson show, I have traveled on three other big vacations in 2023 and visited seven National Parks with my daughter; and visited three Canadian National Parks as well with my son and daughter. More trips are being planned for 2024 and beyond, all because of a dusty bag of rocks being turned into a minor art window! (End of deep breath.)

* non-TLDR - Fun note: My daughter informed me that TLDR (originally typed TL;DR) is a acronym for "Too Long; Didn't Read", used by some people as a way to summarize posts. Apparently TLDR has also morphed into being the header for a summary text at the beginning of articles or e-mails, to summarize for the TLDR crowd what the writing they won't read is about. I think it's interesting here because when blogging I'm always stressing to keep paragraphs short and compact, and that goal cuts into interesting story telling details and notes. Blogging styles and skills are constantly evolving for me, and this post in particular is an example of me playing with writing styles. BTW, I only first heard of TLDR in 2023, LOL! If you read this far into this post, thank you and here is an extra smile for you! 😃