Photography Workshop

Accommodations
A double occupancy room in the hotel-style CMH Bobbie Burns Lodge for the duration of your stay, featuring a full range of inviting onsite amenities. 

Food & Beverage
Three meals per day – a chef-prepared breakfast and dinner plus packed lunches, après-hiking snacks and non-premium non-alcoholic refreshments. 

Heli-Assisted Guided Adventure
Professionally accredited guides will accompany you on your adventure, featuring heli flights up and down the mountains plus return flights to your lodge. Learn more about Heli-Hiking  

Photography Instruction 

Enjoy creative guidance from professional photographer Taylor Burk as you capture action shots while out exploring the Conrad or Mount Nimbus Via Ferrata, followed by hands-on lessons and group editing sessions back at the lodge. Learn more about what to expect on a Via Ferrata 

Ground Transportation
Transportation on the CMH coach from the Calgary International Airport (YYC), Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise or Golden to the CMH Bobbie Burns helipad, and return to Golden, Lake Louise, Banff, Canmore or the Calgary International Airport (YYC). 

Equipment
Use of CMH hiking equipment, including boots, rain jackets, wind pants, day packs and hiking poles. Some of our guests opt to use their own equipment – the choice is yours. For a packing list and other helpful information, head to the Plan Your Trip page 

What to pack 

• Alcoholic beverages
• Premium non-alcoholic beverages
• Massages
• Retail goods available for purchase
• Airfare to and from your city of origin
• Photography equipment. See 'Recommended Equipment' below for recommendations on what to bring.

You will also need to pack your photography equipment that you will require for the day. Our recommended packing list is: 

• DSLR or Mirrorless Camera allowing for manual setting adjustments
• Lenses, ideally a telephoto and wide-angle lens
• Lightweight Tripod
• Headlamp
• Battery charger & spare batteries
• Memory cards
• Microfiber cloth
• Drybag for camera (conditions can be wet on the Conrad Via Ferrata)
• Optional: Laptop for editing, filters (Polarizing Filter, ND Filter, UV Filter), camera manual, portable power bank, camera harness for via ferrata, hard drive

What will I learn in this workshop? 

With a hands-on approach, this workshop will cover a wide range of topics designed to help you develop your skills and express your creativity through your lens. Immersed in the action on two via ferratas, you'll learn how to capture a story in your photos, touching on everything from the basics of camera techniques to tips for settings, composition ideas, and the intricacies of post-processing. 

How much photography experience do I need? 

This workshop is open to all levels of photographer, Taylor will cater to beginner through to advanced. And you don’t even need to be a photographer to join - you're more than welcome to come for the experience and enjoy the good company in nature! 

How can I prepare my photography skills for the trip? 

You can choose to maximize your in-person adventure by preparing with Taylor's online landscape photography course. Develop essential skills, nurture your creative vision, and refine your technical proficiency in advance of your visit to CMH Bobbie Burns. 

If I’m bringing my laptop, is there a specific editing software that I should download? 

Any editing software is fine. Use what you are most comfortable or familiar with. The techniques Taylor teaches can be implemented across all software, however if you are looking for a recommendation, Taylor uses and highly recommends Adobe Lightroom. 

What does Taylor shoot with? 

Taylor shoots with a Canon 5d Mark IV, as well as a Canon AE-1 film camera. 

What happens if it rains? 

The via ferrata may not be accessible during heavy rain or other adverse weather. If this should happen, we’ll rely on going hiking or learning editing techniques indoors. As most photographers will tell you, moody weather conditions make for some of the most dramatic and desirable photographs! 

What is a via ferrata and do I need climbing experience to do it? 

A via ferrata is a series of iron rungs and wire cables that are affixed to a mountainside, providing a secure, climbable route through otherwise impassable terrain. You are affixed to the route with a climbing harness. Climbing experience is not required to do a via ferrata, however guests must be relatively comfortable with exposure and heights. Read our blog post for more information. 

What if I don’t want to do the via ferrata with Taylor Burk? 

Taylor Burk is looking forward to all guests joining him on the via ferrata to capture action shots through the adventure, however if you aren’t interested in the via ferrata, let our guides know when you get to the lodge and you can join our other guests on a hike for the day. You will still be able to capture beautiful photography on your hike and receive tips from Taylor Burk in your evening workshop sessions. 

Is the via ferrata guaranteed? 

We endeavor to do everything we can to get you out on the via ferrata, but it is not guaranteed. Because it is more technical than a hike, it is entirely weather dependent. The day's conditions will help the guides determine if the via ferrata is available. Your participation in the via ferrata is also at the discretion of your guide. If you're unsure if you would enjoy the experience, chat with your guide about it during your first day out hiking! 

How fit do I need to be? 

Expect to hike on your first day of the trip. Days two and three will be spent exploring the via ferratas (or hiking, if you choose to skip the via ferrata). On the hike, you may need to walk up to 1km (sometimes further, depending on group preference) carrying your equipment. Guests taking on the via ferratas must be relatively comfortable with exposure and heights. 

Are all your guides certified? 

Most CMH guides have made a lifelong career of their passion. They are dedicated professionals, trained in the European guiding tradition, which emphasizes both respect for the mountains and concern for the well-being of guests. Our guides are fully trained and regularly re-trained in first aid, wilderness rescue, emergency procedures and prevention. Many of our Heli-Hiking guides are fully certified by the International Federation of Mountain Guides Association (IFMGA) - on average, a 10-year process. The rest are Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG) certified, also with rigorous standards. Each one of our guides is an experienced and knowledgeable interpreter of our mountains’ flora, fauna, geology and natural history, ensuring that your Heli-Hiking experience is both safe and enriching. 

Will we have any wildlife encounters? 

In all of our trips, we strive to avoid any contact with wildlife. However, all of our guides are trained in safely dealing with wildlife encounters, should one occur. 

What happens when nature calls and we’re in the field? 

We hike and explore remote areas where there are no conventional washrooms. Mother Nature provides trees and rocks for privacy. We recommend bringing toilet paper and a ziplock bag. Paper used in the field can be disposed of back at the lodge. 

How many helicopter trips will I have to take?In addition to your heli trips to and from the lodge, each day offers the chance to heli to new adventures – with unprecedented access. On average, you can expect two or three helicopter trips per day, depending on your preference and weather conditions. 

Are gratuities included? 

The CMH team is committed to ensuring that you enjoy the trip of a lifetime. While gratuities are not included in your trip fees – nor are they mandatory – they may be offered on a voluntary basis. Gratuities are divided among all of the lodge staff and your pilot. 

What's the weather like? 

Due to the high mountain environment, expect to experience various conditions. The weather can be sunny and warm, but be prepared for cooler temperatures, rain, wind and possibly snow. Mountain weather can change with very little warning. Temperatures range from highs of 10 to 35 degrees C (50 - 95F) to lows of -1 to 15 degrees C (30 - 50F).