Lake O'Hara - Canada's most sought after campsite - Guide and Landscape Photography

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Lake O'Hara is a quiet slice of paradise set in amongst the Canadian Rockies. With it's strict quota system the trails remain well maintained and sparsely populated.
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Avoid the tourist crowds and find out how to visit Lake O'Hara.
Accommodation Options
Lake O'Hara Lodge: www.lakeohara.com
Lake O'Hara Campground: reservation.pc....
Elizabeth Parker Hut: www.alpineclub....
Enter the bus lottery: reservation.pc...
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[@EricTremblayAdventures]

Definitely one of my favorite spots, we leverage the computer advantage & camped there twice in 2022, twice in 2023 & snagged another 9 nights for 2024. I have a full 5 OHara videos not edited yet, lol… likely in May.

[@wildearthaustralia]

Nice work Simon!

[@simoncennals]

Thanks guys, I appreciate you!

[@danareeves7597]

Oh my lands these shots are gorgeous!!! I would love to know your settings on these shots and if you used filters? Just stunning!!!

[@simoncennals]

Hey Dana, have you got a certain shot in mind? I don't really use any filters on camera, partly as it's often very cold in Canada and I don't want to fiddle with them in the cold and it's extra weight when hiking! If you have a certain image in mind I'd be happy to share any info on how it came about!

[@danareeves7597]

Hey! Thanks so much for responding. As far as the images that I would like to know your settings on how about the ones at 7:11 and 10:33? Gorgeous shots by the way!! I truly enjoy your videos. That part of the world is just breathtaking. Thanks for taking us with you on each adventure.

[@simoncennals]

Hey Dana! No worries, for the first one of that shot of Lake O'Hara there's a bit more than meets the eye! It's a slight time blend, so over the course of an hour I took multiple images as light moved through the valley and blended them together so there is a little more golden light in the tress than would have appeared in one shot. Those shots were taken at F11, 1/100, ISO 400 @17mm. Essentially because F11 is where that lens is sharpest I started there and balanced it out with the other settings. As for the second image that one is a focus stack. Two images, one focused on foreground and one focused on background and put together for front to back sharpness. Looks like settings were F8, 1/320, ISO1600 @ 35mm. Think I shot this hand held which is why I used a higher ISO to get a faster shutter speed. Hope that helps!

[@danareeves7597]

Hey, thank you so much for being willing to share your steps to get the perfect shot. I struggle with my own photography and easily get frustrated when I don’t get the perfect shot straight out of camera, but I’m learning that even for great photographers like yourself it’s a process. Are you self taught or do you have a background in photography? Also, one last question. I know you shoot Canon, but have you made the move to mirrorless? I can’t tell in the videos. I have a Nikon d850 which I love but know I should probably go ahead and make the leap with mirrorless. Thanks again, for the info.

[@simoncennals]

@@danareeves7597 I have a Canon R6 which is mirrorless but I use it to film. A lot of images are taken with a 6D an older DSLR. Both are very capable as is the D850 mirror less cameras do have some great advantages in auto focus, video function and stabilization but with landscape photography you aren't often utilizing those things!

[@headinthemountains1666]

You also might want to mention that entire summer inventory for the campground and day bus is usually gone within 5 minutes the first day it goes online (usually January).....so good luck.....thats why the trails are not overcrowded. Both a good and bad thing.

[@simoncennals]

Yeah always hard to book and the system changes all the time. Can often find cancellations and the fact that you have to work for it makes it what it is. I'd rather have it hard to get too than overcrowded like other spots.

[@headinthemountains1666]

@@simoncennals I would agree with you. Hopefully one day I will get that golden ticket.

[@durino6666]

7:14 is sunset?

[@simoncennals]

Yeah, sunset is great from that spot.

[@mikeeeeeeeeee1]

Hi Simon, thx for the great video. Wondering which wide lens did you use on opabin plateau? I’m wondering if I should bring 20mm or 16mm. Thank you!

[@simoncennals]

I always carry a 16 to 35mm. Couldn't tell you what focal length the shot was at but I'd imagine at 16!

[@mikeeeeeeeeee1]

Thank you!

[@THUANG88]

Hi, what is latest bus shuttle schedule departure from parking lot to campsite? some web mention is 10:30Am, some mention is 5:30Pm. which is correct?

[@simoncennals]

It's bookable on the Parks Canada website. I'd go with whatever it says on there.

[@ramithchanuka2072]

Let me know is it difficult to finding a opabin plateau circuit hiking route without having a map

[@simoncennals]

No, not too bad. There are Parks Canada people around the campground to ask and they'll be a map at Le Relais, the little shop that sells carrot cake!

[@ramithchanuka2072]

@@simoncennals Thank you, Which route is most beautiful alpine circuit or opabin plateau ? Can i see waterfalls in opabin plateau route

[@simoncennals]

@@ramithchanuka2072 opabin plateau is part of the alpine circuit. In the video I suggest a route that sees the best sights with less.hiking.