![“Purple Hues Hungry”, photography by @eric-boucher.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmctSB9PyKHKQSxJ1U9becLVdG8X4EFwhovRdVEDctntbA/%E2%80%9CPurple%20Hues%20Hungry%E2%80%9D%2C%20photography%20by%20%40eric-boucher.jpg)
# “Purple Hues Hungry”
><sub>(Photography by @eric-boucher using a Canon Powershot SX60 HS, .)<sub>

Standing on the edge of a deep ravine, I was taking in the views: Extending for kilometres to the north, an enormous breathtaking valley leading all the way to Jasper, the northern most village on the unforgettable legendary *Icefield Parksway*, Highway 93, on one side. On the other, the southern road leading one to the world famous *Lake Louise*. 

Here, a few kilometres from Saskatchewan Crossing and away from the usual tourist traffic, the air was pure and the uninterrupted wildlife went about as if I wasn’t even there. I guess I must have somehow blended in, poised and moving in slow motions, breathing thoroughly. A good stretch after a few hours of driving around would give me a bit of a respite before heading back to camp for dinner. Reconnecting with the earth and its inhabitants would clear my mind from the clutter of an engine running in the back ground of my CD player playing surreal music in a land where the soul of its harmonies lays in natural life and elemental processes with the glory of all its surprises.

For some reasons, the thought of a herd of high mountain sheep came back to my mind as I remembered vividly encountering a group of about 20 of them, right here, about 20 years ago… I was finding ground zero again. Finding myself needing a fully stress-free body and peace of mind, I relieved myself on the edge of the cliff following my sister *Natasha’s Golden Rule* of thumb when it comes to peeing in the wild: When nature calls, one ought to at least find a nice view to do so. A piece of wisdom I have carried with me since her uttering of this personal and rather unusual directive, but that is another story all together!

Of course, standing there motionless for a few minutes almost, brings the odds to encounter wildlife one more step closer. Still wearing my camera, as one never knows what may come, I heard and quickly noticed a small creature, luckily, moving on the right corner of my eye. Not pressing any actions, stay calm and still breathing deeply, I allowed my eyes to deviate from the attractiveness of the full summer foliage swaying under the soft breeze of temperature differences constantly moving with the air flow traversing from British Columbia to Alberta’s dry lands.

I guess I wasn’t the only one getting hungry and feeling like my stomach had reached my heels. Apparently totally unaware of my presence, probably simply undaunted, an intrepid little chipmunk had appeared out of the bushes carrying his lunch along, an *Arctic Aster*. Well known for its vibrant semi-translucent purple petal, the flower caught my eyes right away. It is a rather common sight to see visitors trying to feed them as they, both the tourists and the chipmunks, are quite bold when it comes to sharing spaces together here in the fresh air of the Canadian Rockies.

On the other hand, it is rather uncommon to witness this eager little being scrumptiously devouring its food without regards to me standing there. I thought I had to take a chance to capture the moment. Slowly, I brought the camera to my eye as I turned it on with my right hand while the other carefully removed the lens cap. My dear ravenous rodent friend had not even budged and allowed me to take all the shots I wanted. In the glimmer of its left eye, one can almost see the reflection of my camera. 

It truly was a sincere intimate moment I thought I’d share with you as, if it weren’t for the purple hues this photograph would not carry the soul of these precious fleeting moments.