Month: June 2026

June Swoon

While I love photographing Rocky Mountain National Park, sometimes I like to hang out a sea level and enjoy the sun and beach like everybody. I spent a week in Hawaii enjoying Waikikki Beach and of course took the opportunity each morning to photograph sunrise. I was lucky enough to catch this iconic view of Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head one morning. I’m usually out before dawn hiking the park, here there were many surfers out way before dawn catching waves. Technical Details: Nikon Z8, Nikkor 24-120mm F4 S VR lens

I know in the internet universe your never supposed to apologize for lack of activity or lack of posts as it’s considered a net negative. However, I apologize for my lack of recent postings to my blog here. I’ve done a better job keeping my social media feeds active, but my attempts to get a blog post or two out recently have failed.

There has been lots of time in the field and I’ve been busy photographing, but I’ve also had a fairly busy travel schedule with a trip to Hawaii thrown in for good measure. With a few days of fun and sun in Hawaii behind me, I’ve been readjusting to my 11:40 PM alarm clock calls, and my treks to Rocky Mountain National Park to photograph my favorite place in what is now it’s summer goodness.

Alright, lets get back to Rocky Mountain National Park. After returning from a few days at the beach, I managed to make my first trip up Trail Ridge Road to photograph sunrise. In true Colorado fashion, I was greeted by a breif blizzard and freezing temperatures. Quite a change from Hawaii but the views of the Hayden Gorge and Terra Tomah Mountain this morning where impressive. Technical Details: Nikon Z8, Nikkor 24-120mm F4 S VR Lens

Trail Ridge Road did not open this year until the second to last day of May due to snow and weather. That’s great as we need all the help we can get with moisture right now. With Trail Ridge opening on the later side and a trip to Hawaii on the 1st, it took me over a week to finally get up there for the first time this year. As many who love visiting Rocky Mountain National Park know, visiting Trail Ridge Road for the first time each season is like seeing an old friend. After its long hibernation its like nothing changed from season to season. The Marmots and Pika abound, the tundra begins to turn green and wildflowers mix slopes still dotted with snowfields. It’s always a pleasure getting back on Trail Ridge and the new opportunities it presents for photographers.

Yesterday, I headed up into Wild Basin to revisit one of my favorite spots in all of Rocky. It was a clear morning so I took in sunrise at Ouzel Falls. Most photographers want to shoot waterfalls in even diffused light. Ouzel is great because sunrise and the mist from roaring waterfall create a dreamy, colorful burst as the sun crosscuts Ouzel Falls. Technical Details: Nikon Z8, Nikkor 24-120mm F4 S VR Lens

I’ve also managed to make a little foray back into Wild Basin to photograph Ouzel Falls. One of my favorite places in Rocky Mountain National Park and one of the best places to photograph streams and waterfalls. With our low snowpack, the rivers and streams of RMNP are already starting to ebb as opposed to their roaring torrents one usually finds them in early June. With Monsoon season officially starting yesterday, hopefully Rocky see’s lots of good afternoon thunderstorms to keep these streams moving as the summer moves along.

Overall things look pretty good so far in Rocky. Things are greening up, the waterfalls are still running well and wildflowers are starting to bloom. With our lack of winter moisture I would expect things to be muted and brown, especially as we get into the middle of summer. Some of our late season storms appear to be helping to keep the landscape flowing and green. We’ve got some warm and clear days this week and I believe the wildflowers east of Rocky in northwestern Nebraska are causing some smoke and haze but all and all Rocky is looking good and the call to explore and hit the trails this summer as as strong as always.