Bear Glacier

Bear Glacier is one of the most accessible tidewater-style glaciers in British Columbia, where a sprawling river of blue ice flows down between rugged peaks and calves directly into the turquoise waters of Strohn Lake, often filling it with small icebergs. Pull off along Highway 37A and you have an immediate wide composition with the glacier, lake, and surrounding mountains all in frame; a wide angle lens works well here to capture the full scale. For tighter shots of ice textures or drifting bergs, a short telephoto helps isolate the details. Overcast days are ideal since soft, diffused light reduces harsh shadows on the ice and brings out the deep blues and greens in the water. Early morning gives you the best chance at calm lake reflections. The pullout is right off the highway with no hiking required, making this an unusually easy stop for such a dramatic scene. (Bear Glacier Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada)