Old Time Hockey in the Rocky Mountains (enlarge photo)

Think Canada ... think winter ... chances are you're thinking of snow and cold weather. Many Canadians have grown up with long winters, and have embraced winter sports as a way of coping with long periods of cold weather. Pond hockey is one of the truly great things about Canadian winter. Indoor ice hockey is great, but, it can't compare to the pure, unrestrained power and beauty of hockey played on a frozen pond, lake or river. Pond hockey requires no referee or league fees, only minimal equipment, a few pucks and not much more.

After a long absence from Canada, I had forgotten how stunning the mountains could be. I was thoroughly enjoying the wintertime mountain scenery when I rounded a corner and this scene opened up before my eyes. I immediately stopped the car, grabbed my camera and 20mm lens and moved in close. Too focused on their game to acknowledge my presence, the players continued to play.

I liked this angle as it allowed the steep mountain wall in the background to give scale to the players and the game. In close, the strong players are imposing, but put into perspective, you can't help but realise how small we all are. This game is nothing but a blip in time and a few scratches to the frozen surface of the pond for this timeless mountain scene.

(Please note that the original photo was taken on colour slide film. I've used Photoshop to convert the photo to a black and white image.)