2008 Banff Mountain Photography Competition
Best Photo — Mountain Environment
Darwin Wiggett: Trampled Underfoot
“I was travelling in Banff National Park in the fall and noticed an area near a parking lot that was really trampled by foot traffic. It reminded me that some areas that are heavily visited are often ‘loved to death’. Everyone wants to walk away from the parking lot out into the wild areas even though there is no official trail from some overlooks. There comes a point when the freedom to roam our natural areas must be balanced with protection of those areas. Is it time for us to go down the route of limiting visitors to stay on established trails? This photo suggests we should think of this as an option to protect fragile alpine and riparian habitat. The fact that the photo looks so skeletal reminds us of the urgency of the message.”
Darwin Wiggett photographs Canadian landscapes, and kids and dogs, from his home in Cochrane, Alberta. An avid mountain photographer, Darwin is well known for his workshops, articles, seminars and books on photography. He is published worldwide in magazines, and is represented by numerous stock photo agencies.