Hallett from Sprague lake

I photographed this last year at the end of a freak spring blizzard and wanted an accompanying photograph from the early summer.  So, I got up at three am and pointed the Jeep west.  This is an easy place to see the sunrise.  It's a pleasant hike that's all but paved and about a twenty minutes drive from the nearest motel and convenience store.  This particular morning I wasn't alone, a local photography guide was out earning his keep.  Whatever, it is low hanging photographic fruit in a national park, after all and very pretty at that.
One person from the group mentioned to me that "it's a shame the colour didn't happen this morning."  I was stunned and didn't have an answer.  (well, OK, I had an answer, but I've learned not to let anything out of my big mouth until I've put coffee in.)  Maybe I just see colour differently.
In the foreground of the photograph above, you will see that the trees and grasses are somehow brighter than the ones immediately behind them.  That's the lake reflecting the light of the sky.  This one is from early in the morning, the earth shadow has just receded from the pink bath preceding the sun.  It happens everyday, but never the same way twice.

Ponderance Place

These little benches dot the shoreline of Arapaho Bend Natural Area.  They are so small that, only one person can sit on them at any one time.  For me, it's always a choice of using it for my camera bag, or as a subject.

Closer

Sometimes you have to tell yourself the story.  It's alright, though, I'm certain you can hear it.  All sound begins with silence.
Have a pleasant weekend.

In The Shadow Of Earth

That may seem like an overdramatic title until you realise the dark blue band along the horizon is actually the Earth's shadow.  In this image you are looking west at the end of the civil twilight that preceeds dawn.  The heavily faceted quartz crystals in the granite errily reflect the alpenglow as though they are glowing from inside.  Veedauwoo itself is an overdramatic location that has on more than one occasion tried to kill me.  I still love it, though, and was glad to be there in the warm morning braced with the rocks for the last sunrise of summer.

Doing What's Natural

Racing the sunrise this morning, literally.  Running down the trail while trying to get the camera mounted on the tripod.  Couldn't manage to get it centered in the head correctly, so I stopped and did it right.  Fired off a few shots of civil twilight hitting the clouds (view one here) just in case I missed the action when I got up the hill.  Threw the rig over my shoulder and continued the sprint.  I don't run much.  Recently joked that the only reason for an adult to run is from the cops.  Now look at me.  Victim of poor planning.  Got up early enough, but didn't pack anything the night before.  Completely out of practice.  But the running actually felt good, until the hill.  Then I started thinking about taking pictures of the frost melting off the stones in the trail because I was going to be face down soon, waiting on Search and Rescue.  Just a bit of drama in the morning, though, blood moving kept the fingers pink and the boots warm.  This is what I'm meant to do.  Get outside to experience me experiencing the natural world.  Wish it paid the rent, though.

Got up the hill, found my spot and started gunning through the film (digital memory just sounds wierd).  I walked through this local Natural Area a few weeks ago and got an idea the sun would be just about right this time of year for some early morning pictures. The shot above taught me the real importance of tripods... you can keep shooting while catching your breath.  Felt good to be outside shooting, again.  Thankfully the sunrise is pretty late, don't think I could handle a 3am start. There's an interesting feature right behind where I'm taking this shot.  In the next few days you'll be able to see what I think is worth runnning uphill in 15 degree weather to capture.  Funny thing, on the walk back down, I met a cop out to see if the report of a huge buck was true.  He asked me to stay on the trail.  I fought the urge to run.

Teaser

I'm slowly catching up to the current photos.  Still about a week behind.  This one comes from the morning after our two day snow storm.  I was not feeling well (or motivated) when I crawled out of bed.  While I was making coffee a little sun beam started poking through the mini-blinds and into the back of my head.  If you're housebound for a two day storm with no sunshine, what are you supposed to do if it all of a sudden comes through the window?  Forget about how you feel, grab the camera and get to work.  Didn't last long after twenty minutes of plodding around in the foot deep snow, the clouds took over again.  Oh well at least the coffee was ready when I got back to the apartment.

Photo details:  Nikon D3, 24-120mm VR @ 40mm, 1/125@f/16, ISO 400

Cold Burn

Cold Burn
Originally uploaded by McF Studios

Way before dawn. Seems like an appropriate first image. This is from a recent portfolio trip to the Palisade WSA, on the western slope of Colorado. Chasing a notion that fall colour is peaking out there (it was past the peak), I packed and ran out of town for the week.
This area was mentioned in a book called "Colorado's Canyon Country", which suggested the photogenicty (don't bother looking it up it's not a real word, but "artistic license and such"). This was the view from camp on the first morning. After finding the Palisade, I got the map and compass out to find roads leading to the canyon rim. Found this spot down an old mining road with what appeared to be an old "Property For Sale" sign. These former pinon trees were once victim to a wildfire, but most of the ground cover had re-grown and you'll get to see some of that in future posts. No idea what plane that is, doesn't matter much I guess, since I don't have any immediate extraterrestrial photo plans.
I mentioned it's before dawn. For some reason I got up at 4am, even though I know the light wouldn't start until 6:30am. But there I was in a down bag staring at the stars and waiting. No complaints. I eventually started reading, since I was planning on shooting close to the Jeep.

     From my notebook:
blonde girl in jeep pulls / astride expressionless checks / me out I giggle

Leaving Fort Collins in a fog.
I consider the week ahead staring
bleary into the grey mourning.

ttfn-r.