In November, Mountains and Treasures celebrated our first full year in business! 🥳 It has been a lot of fun releasing images and seeing which ones do well in the Bow Valley and beyond.
All of our images are available in multiple print and wall art formats, including luster paper, canvas and metal. Our canvas and metal prints arrive with all mounting hardware already attached, so they’re super easy to hang! You can also find most of our images as greeting cards.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of our most popular wildlife photography from 2023.
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Wolf After Snowstorm
This image was a surprise hit, selling on canvases, metals, matted prints, and greeting cards. The image itself was also a surprise! Steve had been photographing another pair of Bow Valley wolves moving through the trees after a fresh snowfall.
Because it was quite dark and difficult to get a good shot, he didn’t think he had any good images until he got home and loaded them all onto his computer. To his amazement, this young female wolf had been watching him the whole time without him noticing.
It really goes to show how aware these beautiful animals are of their environment. If you’ve seen a wolf in the wild, you can really count yourself lucky!
You can find this image in canvas, metal and paper print format, as well as greeting cards in our online store. If you’re visiting Banff, you can also find this image in person at Branches Marketplace (in Cascade Mall).
Pika with Flowers
Pikas are an obvious favourite with their adorable faces and large ears. Although they’re around the size of a mouse or small rat, they are actually part of the rabbit family (lagomorphs) and not rodents!
Living mainly in rocky areas at high elevations, they aren’t easy to get photos of as they dart from place to place. Even if you haven’t seen them before, you have most likely heard their high-pitched “peep peep!” when you go hiking in the Rockies.
Pikas build nests amongst the rocks, and are continually gathering materials for them. Similar to the way squirrels or chipmunks prepare for the colder seasons. To capture this image, Steve watched them for several hours as they went back and forth finding the best tidbits to bring back to the nest.
Luckily he happened to capture one with a tiny bouquet in her mouth! This little flower girl was extremely popular this year, and it’s not hard to see why.
Bighorn Eating Berries
This classic shot of a bighorn ram snacking on saskatoon berries took almost two days of bighorn watching to capture! Taken in Waterton Park, Alberta, this image has been very popular in 2023.
In bighorn sheep, larger horns means more status for the rams. Their horns can grow to weigh as much as 30lbs! (Imagine the headache?!) Bighorns are well known for their dramatic head-to-head combat, but much of their time is spent peacefully grazing.
The Boss of Banff
Steve captured this image in early April 2022 as The Boss stepped out into the sunlight. You can hardly even tell from his sweet little smile that he was eating a deer carcass a few minutes before!
The Boss is a 25-year-old dominant male grizzly bear who has spent his life around Banff National Park. He is something of a local celebrity to residents and visitors alike. He has made the national news several times including for being struck by a train (and surviving!) and for fighting with his equally well-known rival Split Lip.
You can read all about him in this blog post!
Mountains and Treasures has several different images of The Boss available as prints, including a new one from November 2023. It’s interesting to see how his weight fluctuates depending on the time of year, as he prepares for hibernation in the winter.
You can also find lots more photos of grizzly bears in our grizzly bear gallery.
Eagle in a Snowstorm
Steve captured this image as he and the eagle waited out a surprise snow squall. Bald eagles are such beautiful and majestic birds that can be spotted from time to time in Banff National Park.
The single feather sticking up and his intense expression of bold determination makes this image a favorite of many people we meet at the markets.
The Stalking Wolf
This image features another member of the Bow Valley Wolf Pack. Most likely a brother from the same litter as the female wolf from “Wolf After Snowstorm.” It’s not surprising that two wolves made the list of our most popular photography prints this year. These elusive animals fascinate us but are some of the most difficult to catch a glimpse of.
The Bow Valley Wolves have not had an easy time in the Park, with the trains and highway causing many fatalities. It’s also essential that the wolves do not acclimate to human food, as this creates a risk for both the wolves and visitors. Fortunately though, this current pack seems to be thriving, with ten or more individuals often spotted together.
Being able to see the wolves so often is a matter of luck for Steve as he spends so much time outside snowshoeing and skiing. He always makes sure to have his camera with him! Like many animals, the wolves look best in the winter with their full, fluffy coats.
This image is available to order online. Or if you’re in the Bow Valley, stop in at The Viewpoint book store in Lake Louise to see it in large canvas format and matted prints.
Red Fox in the Snow
Snowy images have been very popular this year – possibly because they’re so minimalist and easy to match with most home décor! This sweet little fox caught mid-step on a snow drift has been another fan favorite this year. With his smoldering eyes and gentle snowflakes in the background, it makes a lovely and calming conversation piece.
Looking Forward to 2024
We want to thank everyone so much for your support during 2023. We were a little surprised by how fast Mountains and Treasures grew, from a photography hobby to a legitimate business! We can’t wait to see what 2024 has in store for us.
