2006 Banff Mountain Photography Competition
Best Photo — Mountain Flora & Fauna
Peter A. Dettling: Migrating North — Mountain Bluebird
“In Grand Teton National Park, I spotted a few mountain bluebirds flying low over a field in search of food. I parked my car and grabbed my binoculars. They came closer and closer until I realized that I had a real chance to photograph some of these beautiful birds in flight. I reached for my camera, mounted my biggest lens and waited. My patience was eventually rewarded. One of the birds flew for a split second straight towards me as I pressed the shutter. I knew instantly that I had something special, if the image was correctly exposed and sharp. After checking my camera’s screen, my mood rose to a state of pure joy and satisfaction.”
Originally from Chur, Switzerland, Peter Dettling is an award-winning photographer and painter whose passion for the natural world has taken him all over the globe. Since becoming an artist, he has been looking to combine his art with his passion for conservation issues. His images have been published in numerous magazines and featured in gallery shows in North America and Europe, most recently in the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Dettling moved from Switzerland to Canada in 2002 and now lives in Canmore, Alberta.