Three Sisters Milky Way

Description

Three Sisters Milky Way can be printed on Fine Art Paper; Canvas; Metallic or Acrylic. Fine Art print is available in four materials in five sizes; Frames are available via special order; Prices are available on request; Shipping is added on top of special orders.

This is a limited print, there are only 99 prints available, no matter the material each person selects. When purchased you receive a COA (Certificate of Authenticity) and a laser hologram sticker with a unique serial number.

Three Sisters Milky Way

The Three Sisters Milky-Way photo is a sought-after view of Canmore, Alberta’s world-renowned Three Sisters mountain range with the Milky Way lined up above the peaks and, at the right angle, reflected below. For photographers and nature lovers interested in astrophotography in Alberta, this is one of the most iconic scenes to chase—and one of the hardest to get right because success depends on clear weather, dark skies, low moonlight, and a narrow seasonal window that typically runs from April to September.

This guide focuses on where to photograph the Three Sisters Milky Way, when the alignment works best, and what to plan for before you go, including weather, lunar phase, and tools like PhotoPills and The Photographer’s Ephemeris. Many photographers seek out this image because the mountains are extremely popular, but the combination of timing and conditions makes practical guidance especially valuable if you want to capture this scene successfully.

Where

During sunrise and sunset; photographers are usually at Policemens Creek; where they can get beautiful reflection shots. Other locations along the river allow reflection shots.

One of the most sought-after shots in Astrophotography is a reflection shot of the Milky Way over the three sisters. This is an extremely difficult shot to get because the weather must be just right. This means there is no cloud; no wind and no smoke. Furthermore, the Milky Way Center is only visible from April to September in the northern hemisphere.

Forest fires tend to start in May and last until August depending on the year and whether the summer is dry.

When

This particular photograph was taken on 29th July 2022 at around 10:45 pm when the new moon was a day old. The Galactic center was not visible until 12:20 am on the 30th of July however the alignment of the three sisters was around 10:45 pm.

Why

I had decided for this composition to take the photograph in landscape mode however I did not get an adequate photograph of the three sisters Milky Way in portrait mode because the wind picked up and the reflection was destroyed. I also had a Canon loaner and tested the 24mm F1.4 lens with Astrophotography. I also created a Three Sisters Milky Way resin art bear in acrylic for $180 CAD. It is hand painted with multiple layers on 1/2” thick wood, comes in different sizes, and is typically ready in 4-5 weeks.

I use PhotoPills to determine the moon’s location and the Milky Way to align my shots. I also use the Photographer Ephemeris to determine the sun; golden hour; blue hour and other alignments. I am planning a YouTube video and an ebook to show how to capture the Milky Way and align your shots.