Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Maroon Bells, Colorado

Elizabeth and I got up at 4:45 this morning to get up to Maroon Bells for the sunrise and believe it or not we were not the first car there when we pulled in at 5:30.  I got set up on the lake in good time to catch the little bit of color that appeared about 6, by that time there were about 15 of us taking pictures.  It was a beautiful still morning and Maroon Bells reflected perfectly off the glassy smooth lake.  Also the reflection of the pine trees and rocks off the water caught my attention, the gradation of the greenish yellow colors was so vivid.  Eventually a breeze picked up and blew the reflection away, so I started wandering around the meadow shooting pictures of the various flowers with Maroon Bells in the background.  As I got to the top of the meadow I took the above picture of the whole scene, a composite of 5 separate frames that I couldn’t have shot in a single frame.  I think it nicely captures the overview of the whole area.

It has been great having the opportunity to take so many pictures over the last few weeks, I’m off to Europe now and it may be a few weeks before I get another post on here.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Snowmass, Colorado

Decided to walk down the Canal Trail in Snowmass today, I’ve had some success there in the past, mostly in the winter so I wanted to try it in the summer.  It was a beautiful morning, perfect for wandering along the trail.  It crosses the Campground ski trail and as I walked across I noticed a whole field of Columbines, a veritable goldmine compared to yesterday.  The trail meanders on along towards the peak at the headwaters of Snowmass Creek, it is either Snowmass Peak or Hayden Peak.  There are groves and groves of Aspen trees and the tall white flowers in grottos nestled at their feet.  It took me over two hours to wander out and back taking pictures of just about everything.  As I came back across the ski runs I spent some time taking pictures of the various wildflowers, it was incredible.  Some clouds had come up so the light was low and the slight breeze made it difficult to shoot the flowers, but I think I got something decent.  I took the above picture on my way back through one of the grottos.  When I got back to the parking lot I wandered up the ski trail where there was a large field of wildflowers, what a great morning.  I finally had to put my camera away, my head was so tired from all the picture taking, a great problem to have.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Ashcroft, Colorado

I’m up in the Aspen area this week for my daughter’s summer camp and no visit to Aspen would be complete without wandering up to Ashcroft, winter or summer.  And I’m glad I did visit.  I had Elizabeth drop me off at the Pine Creek Cook house and I wound my way back to Ashcroft through fields of wildflowers.  The picture here does not do the scene justice since the web pictures really squash the reds.  It was a thunderstormy afternoon and I spent a couple of hours listening to the occasional thunder clap as I photographed the fields and the Aspens, what a great couple of hours.  Eventually I got tired of the flowers and started shooting some Aspen trees when I noticed a group of Columbines nestled in some bushes in an Aspen grove.  You’ll just have to wait to see those pictures.  Luckily it just started raining on me when Elizabeth arrived back to pick me up, so I didn’t even get wet!

Sunday, July 13, 2008

South of Agate, Colorado

Out taking pictures of Eastern Colorado for my series Forgotten Land, drove out highway 86 east from Castle Rock through Elizabeth and Kiowa eventually reaching Limon.  Pulled off on a side road about 20 miles shy of I-70 because the sun was setting and I figured I should find something to shoot.  Stumbled across an old cow shed across from a plowed field with grooves that caught my eye.  It was such a transposition getting out of the car into a completely different world almost.  The wind was blowing along pretty good, which was nice because it cooled me off and I love the sound that it makes as it whistles through things around you.  After I spent some time getting pictures of the plowed field I stepped through the fence on the west side of the road and started to explore the situation over there.  It looked almost like there was a house there at some point with only the foundation and the various out-buildings still left.  There was lots of junk on the ground, fence posts, old signs, a Colorado license plate from 1957.  The wind was whistling through all of the buildings and the leaves in the nearby trees as the sky turned an incredible shade of pink and red, was a gorgeous sunset.  A couple of cars did go by early on but for half an hour I felt like the only person around with a horizon to horizon 360 degree view of the subtle grass covered rolling hills.  I know I just left the unwashed masses in Denver but this place made me feel so alive and giddy, it was a great feeling and the reason that I come out to Eastern Colorado.  It’s hard to explain, but the vastness of the plains is incredible.

I drove on down the road and finally just made a spot to pull my camper over for the night.  Officially I am in the right of way for the public road, but I’m not sure if it is legal to park on the side of the road overnight.  I know that someone must own the land I am parked by, but there is not a house in sight for several miles.  I’ll stay here until someone tells me I can’t be here.  I am sitting here typing on the computer with the side door to the camper open, the wind is still blowing along and the gusts come in and cool me off, the moonlight reflecting off the fence next to the van.  I just love the solitude out here and the feeling of nature all around you, what a wonderful place.

Saturday, July 05, 2008

Regina, New Mexico

We actually got away from Denver for a short week’s trip to our place in Regina, the spa as I call it.  Had a wonderful time eating fabulous New Mexican food at Hazel’s, riding my bicycle, and swimming in the swimming hole.  The weather was mostly cloudy so the sunsets were disappointing, although there were a couple of nice ones like this.