Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/06/19
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I do not know about photographic big events, but I was on Stampede last year with my Leica M6 and Nikon with 70-300 Nikon zoom. This year I am going to be there for few days. On Friday 6 July there is big parade in downtown, I think, it starts at 9am. It is good to be earlier to pick up good spot at front. Take a tourist chairs for your family, the parade runs for more then 2 hours. The parade is a historic fashion show with animals, local politician and figures like Hart brothers (WWF). That nite there is a firework at 10pm. They fire from Stampede Park area. After the parade entertainment starts. There are two main places of actions: downtown and Stampede Park. In downtown there are a lot funny figures, music players, red RCMP guys on the streets. And on a square, near US consulat - Gov.Centre (~1st, 6av) are historic presentations, each takes around half hour. We have there: dances, natives parade on horses, different bands, gun fights... In Stampede Park you have animals presentation (different types of cows, horses, pigs, goose...), native village with biggest tipi and tipi contest, there is flea market, military show, and of course rodeo, where my 300mm lens was too short. On rodeo you have wagon racing, cow chasing, bull and horse riding. Before rodeo starts, around 10 am each day there are country singers presentations on rodeo stadium. Singers also sing in one of the tents, it is dark inside. Mostly Canadian divas are there. You can get close with any of singers and snap photo together. I will advise you to go there on Sunday, free entrance and breakfast. Try to use some tricks to avoid those big lineups at the entry or for food. I attended rodeo here as in Spain I attended corrida, just to see. Outside of Calgary, Drumheler has Mars - desert type of scenery, interesting late evening shadows, it is great for portrait location. In dinosaurs museum you can use flash and no tripod. I am not excited about Banff, too commercial, nature is devastated. I would rather go to Lake Louise and photograph the Lake or 10 km further down the road is famous Moraine Lake of the 10 picks. This year I will probably take 2 M cameras plus 35 and 90mm lenses (or new Tri Elmar if I get it on time). When it will be a sunny day, I will take slow film with me (Velvia, K64, Reala), in order to blur the background. The photos conditions are tricky, because of really big differences between shadows and sunlight, K64 will be better then Velvia for that. Fill flash will be ideal there, too. I'm thinking also about ND filter. Some info about Stampede is on: http://www.calgarystampede.com See you, Victor Earth, Solar System http://communities.msn.ca/VictorPhoto Response to: From: Ron Miller & Bee Lian Tan <rkmiller001@earthlink.net> Subject: [Leica] Calgary Stampede Trip Message-ID: <3B2E4AD7.82EF9955@earthlink.net> References: Dear fellow LUGgers, I will be visiting Calgary and neighbouring areas in the fair state of Alberta in two weeks with my family. Would like advice from folks who have encountered the Stampede - I have never photographed for such a huge event and would like to know what to expect in terms appropriate gear and film combo. I'm bringing my M6 35mmf2 asph, and since i cannot afford companion lenses for my M kit, I'm bringing my dad's C- - - - AE1 with 55m and 135mm lens to help with the long shots. I'm looking for flexibility and pushbility in film suggestions in B&Wprimarily and perhaps chromes/print films. Plan to stop by Dinosaur Park (Brooks), Waterton Glacier Park, Hungary Horse south of the west entrance of the glacier park. If any leftover time would like to see Banff NP (rather than Lake Louise or Bannf itself as I have been through there before). Tips and suggestions on local dining and sites much appreciated. I shoot just about anything that gets in the way! Thanks, Bee Lian _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.