Finishing Strong

It's that time of year again. 2014 is quickly closing out. Even so, there are a few weeks left in 2014 to create images and follow adventures. Having family and freinds around this holiday season has allowed me time to get out and photograph some areas around Colorado I dont get to as often as I would like such as Garden of The Gods. Technical Details: Nikon D810, Nikkor 24-120mm F4 VR lens
It’s that time of year again. 2014 is quickly closing out. Even so, there are a few weeks left in 2014 to create images and follow adventures. Having family and freinds around this holiday season has allowed me time to get out and photograph some areas around Colorado I dont get to as often as I would like such as Garden of The Gods. Technical Details: Nikon D810, Nikkor 24-120mm F4 VR lens

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and are keeping busy spending time with family and friends this holiday season leading up to Christmas and the New Year. I’ve been busy with both my photography as well as chaperoning family members whom have been in town the last few weeks around the beautiful state of Colorado. It’s a great time of year to wind down, enjoy the festivities, spend time with family and take time to reflect on the accomplishments of this last year.

We’ve been having a mild start to our winter season here along the northern Front Range. There has been only a few small storms that briefly coat the mountains in white and at this juncture in the season, strong winds have been more plentiful than snow. Of course as photographers we want the seasons to be as dynamic and unsettled as possible because as is typically the case, bad weather leads to great photographs. Long term weather models continue to show more of the same as far as the weather is concerned but I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this just means the weather will do a one hundred and eighty degree turn sometime around the new year and become more unsettled.

Even with the relatively uneventful early winter season, there has been plenty to photograph during the shoulder season both in Rocky Mountain National Park as well as along the lower elevations in and around Boulder. While snow has been sparse, we have had our fair share of beautiful sunrises and sunsets. In fact I would have to say that in the sixteen years that I have been living in and photographing Colorado, 2014 has been a banner year for beautiful sunrises and sunsets along the Front Range.

So while many of us our looking back over our accomplishments and images from 2014 as well as looking forward to new adventures and opportunities in 2015, I’m hoping to finish out 2014 with a few more beautiful mornings in the field spent photographing these spectacular sunrises we’ve been having this year. Who knows, maybe we will even get some of the white stuff to help out before the year closes out.

The Folly Of Perfection

Sunrise lights the Flatirons  from Chautauqua Park. Clouds on the eastern plains of Colorado obscured first light and prevented the clouds from turning to shades of pink. Furthermore the wind was blowing just enough to cause a few of the wildflowers in the foreground to blur. Not having things break exactly as I wanted distracted me from enjoying the moment as much as I wanted. Looking back although the conditions were not perfect, it's an image I'm very pleased with. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 17mm TS-E F4 L
Sunrise lights the Flatirons from Chautauqua Park. Clouds on the eastern plains of Colorado obscured first light and prevented the clouds from turning to shades of pink. Furthermore the wind was blowing just enough to cause a few of the wildflowers in the foreground to blur. Not having things break exactly as I wanted distracted me from enjoying the moment as much as I wanted. Looking back although the conditions were not perfect, it’s an image I’m very pleased with. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 17mm TS-E F4 L
landscape photographers I know strive to create images that are beautiful, dramatic and as close to technically flawless as possible. With the amount of talented landscape photographers exponentially increasing and the endless ways of showcasing and sharing images both on online and in print, viewing beautiful landscape photography is a click or page away. The quantity and quality of images has never been greater. Being bombarded with this constant flow of spectacular images can make it feel as if attaining images of similar caliber is like trying to catch lighting in a bottle.

This overload of imagery leads many photographers down a path thats simply not attainable, nor healthy for their artistic pursuits, that of the search for perfection. The search for the perfect image, perfect conditions, perfect sunrise detracts from being in the moment, from appreciating fully the time at hand. It’s a difficult concept for some but let me spell it out. There is no such thing as a perfect image, perfect camera, perfect lens or perfect location. We may be able to achieve near perfect images that are compelling, pleasing or even near technically perfect, but they will never in actuality be perfect. The inherent flaws of the artist and the medium are what make the image unique and compelling. Over the last 20 years I have seen many talented photographers burn themselves out and put their cameras away for good all because they were searching for the unattainable goal of perfection.

Wind was raking the surface of Bear Lake. Ideally I would have liked to include more of Longs Peak in the photo. Only the western portion of the lake was smooth enough to capture a reflection so I had to compromise on my location. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III,24-70mm F4 IS L
Wind was raking the surface of Bear Lake. Ideally I would have liked to include more of Longs Peak in the photo. Only the western portion of the lake was smooth enough to capture a reflection so I had to compromise on my location. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III,24-70mm F4 IS L

Why the rant on perfection?. Mostly because I found myself falling into the trap a little more than I was comfortable with last week. Success in landscape photography seems to come in ebbs and flows. Some weeks it seems you cant miss. Every sunrise is dramatic, beautiful clouds hover over the peaks and the wind is calm. Inevitably, the tide will turn and things wont go exactly as you want them to. Clouds may obscure the sunrise that looked so promising, or the wind may be blowing as a gale when you arrive at that alpine lake after a 6 mile predawn hike. I find it’s as easy to fall into the trap when things are breaking your way just as much as when there not. Either way I’ve gotten better over time in recognizing when the search for perfection starts affecting my enjoyment in the field and being present in the moment regardless how successful an outing is.

It was a combination of sunrise at Chautauqua Park and a morning in Rocky Mountain National Park in conditions that I thought were less than ideal that had me pressing a little more than I was comfortable with. Funny enough, both morning yielded images that I’m very pleased with. Stepping back, sticking with it and more importantly being present in the moment helped wrestle the perfection bug back to the ground and off my back.

Topsy Turvy Spring

A topsy turvy spring its been. One minute were buried under a foot of snow, the next the grass is greening and the streams are flowing. A beautiful spring morning unfolds over Moraine Park and the now thawed Big Thomspon River in Rocky Mountain National Park. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 24mm TS-E F3.5 L II
A topsy turvy spring its been. One minute were buried under a foot of snow, the next the grass is greening and the streams are flowing. A beautiful spring morning unfolds over Moraine Park and the now thawed Big Thomspon River in Rocky Mountain National Park. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 24mm TS-E F3.5 L II
been another good week for photography. Our spate of interesting and unsettled weather has kept me on my toes adjusting to the conditions and working on some new compositions. With the Memorial Day holiday right around the corner, Trail Ridge Road should be opened no later than May 23rd according to the park service. Currently Trail Ridge Road is open to Rainbow Curve so even know some new opportunities are opening. It’s going to feel great to a ride over Trail Ridge as the September flooding and park closures last year made it difficult to access before the winter weather finally closed the road for the season.

The cool wet spring in Rocky Mountain National Park looks as if its been delaying some of the harbingers of spring. While water is flowing and many of the lakes now have open water, many of the trails in the higher elevations are still covered in considerable snow cover. Grasses in Moraine and Horseshoe park are starting to turn green while many aspen trees have just started to bud out. I’m expecting that the combination of rain last fall, good snowpack over the winter and a wet spring will allow for a precipitous wildflower bloom in Rocky this year. Other than Pasque flowers and some cactus plants, there is yet to be any signs of wildflowers blooming at the lower elevations in the park as of yet.

Golden Banner is blooming in many of the open space properties in and around Boulder. These wildflowers may have survived the snowstorm last week, but the weight of the snow has pushed them down close to the ground and prickly pear cactus. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 24-70mm F4 IS L
Golden Banner is blooming in many of the open space properties in and around Boulder. These wildflowers may have survived the snowstorm last week, but the weight of the snow has pushed them down close to the ground and prickly pear cactus. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 24-70mm F4 IS L

Down in Boulder things are a little more green and the wildflower bloom has started in ernest throughout the open space properties in town. Golden Banner is currently blooming over many of the Open Space and Mountain Park’s properties with Chautauqua Park being the best location to photograph dense clumps that mostly survived last weeks snowstorm. I also spied a few clumps of early blooming Silver Lupine in Chautauqua meadow below the Flatirons. It’s a bit early for lupine but I would expect them to start peaking within a few weeks.

So while Rocky Mountain National Park still has a little ways to go before wildflowers begin to bloom in the lower lying areas and snow still needs to melt at the higher elevations, the open space properties around Boulder are well on their way to summer like conditions with good patches of wildflowers to be found with more on the way.

The Cats Meow

Sunrise from the summit of Flagstaff mountain was something to behold. Snow had fallen on Boulder and the Flatirons coating them in white. Low clouds from an inversion hung over the eastern plains of Colorado covering Boulder and Denver and allowing for this view of the Flatirons at sunrise. Technical Details: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III, 24-70mm F4 IS L
Sunrise from the summit of Flagstaff mountain was something to behold. Snow had fallen on Boulder and the Flatirons coating them in white. Low clouds from an inversion hung over the eastern plains of Colorado covering Boulder and Denver and allowing for this view of the Flatirons at sunrise. Technical Details: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III, 24-70mm F4 IS L
Light snow had fallen all through the day and into the evening over Boulder. The foothills were coated with fresh snow and the pines had a frosty glow to them. The clouds hadn’t cleared by the time I awoke in early in the morning though the forecast called for clear and sunny skies after sunrise. The fresh snow and lingering cloud cover were promising signs that sunrise could indeed be a good one for photography this morning.

The conditions looked favorable for another inversion. Though the entire area around Boulder was covered in low lying clouds experience was telling me it was likely to be a low cloud deck with clear or clearing skies once one got above the layer of clouds. I figured I’d do what I do most mornings when conditions are similar and take a drive up Flagstaff Mountain to see how high I needed to go to get above the clouds.

The clouds from the inversion rested just below the summit of Flagstaff mountain. Hiking to the summit allowed just enough altitude to get above the cloud line and photograph sunrise. Technical Details: Canon EOS 1Ds III, 24-70mm F4 IS L
The clouds from the inversion rested just below the summit of Flagstaff mountain. Hiking to the summit allowed just enough altitude to get above the cloud line and photograph sunrise. Technical Details: Canon EOS 1Ds III, 24-70mm F4 IS L

Two and a half miles up Flagstaff Mountain the clouds broke and I was able to get above the low lying layer of clouds over Boulder. The Moon shone brightly in the sky and illuminated the frost covered pines along the flanks of Flagstaff and Green mountains. Simply put the conditions were breathtaking.

I’ve been having great luck photographing some beautiful landscapes around Boulder this winter due to frequent conditions favorable for inversions. Taking the break in the cloud layer into consideration, a hike to the summit of Flagstaff mountain seemed like as good as anyplace to photograph sunrise this morning. So I parked my truck half way up the mountain and started hiking towards the summit of Flagstaff in the fog.

Hiking through the snow and fog in the pre-dawn hours with a partial moon lighting my was magical. Soon I was above the cloud line and nearing the summit of Flagstaff. The Ponderosa Pines where covered with snow and hoar frost and the fresh untracked crystalline snow shimmered and sparkled. As I hiked continued my hike towards the summit, a section of trail appeared different than any other I had just hiked.

Here's the muddied location where it all went down. The mountain lion took the deer down right at this location, then dragged the deer up the hillside. the drag marks can be seen on the left side of the photo. Blood and the outline of the deer's head can also be seen just above below the drag marks.
Here’s the muddied location where it all went down. The mountain lion took the deer down right at this location, then dragged the deer up the hillside. the drag marks can be seen on the left side of the photo. Blood and the outline of the deer’s head can also be seen just above below the drag marks.

The fresh snow had covered the trail completely. No other footprints could be seen and it was apparent I was the first person who had hiked up through this section of since the snow had stopped falling late the previous night. Something was odd about this section of trail below the summit. The trail was muddied and soft in this section. There was mud splatter all over the otherwise pristine snow. I did not give it much thought other than to think somebody had decided to ride their mountain bike through this section of trail which is typically closed to bikes.

A few paces up from the muddied section of trail an interesting track in the snow caught my eye. Upon inspection there were quite a few of these large animal prints in the fresh snow. This was not a coyote, deer or bear print but that of a mountain lion. I followed the tracks as they meandered through a meadow and towards the summit of the mountain. With sunrise quickly approaching I broke off following the tracks to go find a locations to photograph from. I figured after sunrise I could take my time and study the tracks in more detail when the sun was out.

Sunrise was brilliant and beautiful from the summit of Flagstaff. The low layer of clouds caused by the inversion made for great conditions to photograph both the Flatirons as well as sunrise over the eastern plains of Colorado. Wrapping up, I packed up my camera and headed back down the mountain to explore and investigate the fresh mountain lion tracks I had picked up on my up the mountain.

I picked up the tracks just behind the nature center on the summit of Flagstaff. Following them down through the trees and into the meadow just below the summit until I was back on the trail. The sun was shining brightly now and the fog had burned off so it was much easier to inspect my surroundings. The tracks appeared to stop at the portion of the trail that was muddy, the same area I had thought someone had ridden a bike through on my way up to the summit earlier in the morning.

I stopped and surveyed my surroundings some more in the daylight. Just off to the side of the muddied portion of the trail I could see a large patch of blood on the fresh snow. Looking more closely, my senses peaked I surveyed the hillside along the side of the trail. Inspecting the hillside I could see that something was dragged through the snow. It looked much like a hillside does after someone makes a first pass on a snow sled. The drag marks, peppered with streaks of blood here and there led into a group of Ponderosa Pines.

Just up the hill 15-20 yards from the trail the Mountain lion ate the mule deer then cached the remaining portion under pine needles and cones.
Just up the hill 15-20 yards from the trail the Mountain lion ate the mule deer then cached the remaining portion under pine needles and cones.

My heart beating a little faster, my senses more attuned to the sounds and sights around me it became clear what had happened on this muddy portion of the trail. I was standing more or less on top of a fresh mountain lion kill that had occurred only a short time before I had hiked on through on my way to photograph sunrise from the summit of the mountain.

With freshly fallen snow coating the ground it was easy to see exactly what had unfolded at this location only a short while prior to my arrival. The mountain lion waited for its prey on the hillside along the trail. The unsuspecting mule deer likely never realized there was a cat lying in wait until it was too late. The deadly efficiency of the lion was evident.

While the trail itself was muddied where the mountain lion took the deer down, there appeared to be little sign of a chase, struggle or resistance once the mountain lion had gripped onto the deer’s neck with its powerful bite. After dispatching the deer, the cougar dragged the deer up the side of the hill, 20 yards or less from the trail, ate a portion of it’s meal and then buried and cached the rest of the deer under pine needles, cones and duff for safe keeping.

Finding the mountain lions cache pile on the hillside with the mule deer’s two hind legs protruding from the pile was unnerving. Here I was standing over a mountain lions fresh kill having walked right through the area in the dark and fog only a short time after this had all taken place.

As is always the case when in the presence of a large predator, my senses were now heightened and alert. My eyes scanned every shadow and rock and tree on the hillside to see if the cat was watching me from the brush. The photographer in me wanted to stick around and see if I could photograph the mountain lion or at least catch a glimpse of this elusive animal. I decided it was best if I moved on back down the mountain and my dog Jackson seemed more than happy to move on from the area as well. I had a great morning photographing sunrise from the summit of Flagstaff mountain and there was no need to push my luck or more importantly disturb or stress the lion. I had my share of adventure and excitement for the morning and one I will remember for a long time.

One of the many Mountain lion tracks I found near the trail and kill site. I followed the Mountain lion tracks which after leaving the deer headed over the summit, and back over to the westside of Flagstaff mountain. At that point I figured there was no reason to follow them any longer and headed back down the mountain.
One of the many Mountain lion tracks I found near the trail and kill site. I followed the Mountain lion tracks which after leaving the deer headed over the summit, and back over to the westside of Flagstaff mountain. At that point I figured there was no reason to follow them any longer and headed back down the mountain.

Rinse And Repeat

Unsettled weather continued this week over Rocky Mountain National Park and the Front Range of Colorado. Even with our unsettled and snowy weather, signs of spring are slowly starting to show. Mill Creek has thawed enough to flow through these frozen and snow covered willows near Hollowell Park. Technical Details: Canon EOS 1Ds III, 70-300mm F4-5.6 L
Unsettled weather continued this week over Rocky Mountain National Park and the Front Range of Colorado. Even with our unsettled and snowy weather, signs of spring are slowly starting to show. Mill Creek has thawed enough to flow through these frozen and snow covered willows near Hollowell Park. Technical Details: Canon EOS 1Ds III, 70-300mm F4-5.6 L
Another winter storm, another weekend of interesting conditions here on the northern Front Range of Colorado. With our current weather pattern and the timing of storms hitting the state, winter is taking on a groundhog day like feel to it. Rinse and repeat is the order of the day with the current weather pattern. No complaints from me as the current setup is working out quite nicely when it comes to photography along the Front Range.

Snowy weather continued over Rocky Mountain National Park Friday night into Saturday night. It’s seems all it has been doing in Rocky for the last month or so is either snowing, or the wind is howling, or a combination of both has been occurring. Even so, it still sets of good opportunities for photography if you can find a window between the snow and heavy winds.

Cold air inversions have been commonplace the last month or so over Boulder. After a storm moves out, clouds and cold air remains over the plains and valley's. An expedition up Flagstaff Mountain gets one above the clouds for sunrise views like these. Technical Details: Canon EOS 1Ds III, 17mm TS-E F4
Cold air inversions have been commonplace the last month or so over Boulder. After a storm moves out, clouds and cold air remains over the plains and valley’s. An expedition up Flagstaff Mountain gets one above the clouds for sunrise views like these. Technical Details: Canon EOS 1Ds III, 17mm TS-E F4

As harsh as the conditions have been in Rocky Mountain National Park the last month or so, spring is definitely creeping into the air. Streams are starting to thaw in pockets, the birds are getting a little nosier each morning and every now again one can catch a whiff of that organic, earthen smell that tells you things are starting to thaw. Even the snow takes on a different quality as the temperatures increase slightly and the flakes grow larger with moisture.

As has been the pattern the last month or so. These storms that move over Colorado with moisture from the Pacific, pull down cold arctic air as they move through the state. As the storms have moved out, the cold air remains settled in the valley’s and low spots of the Front Range. This pattern has been perfect for allowing for cold air inversions over the lower valley’s and plains after the snow has moved out.

That being the case, an expedition up Flagstaff Mountain just west of Boulder has been the perfect spot for taking advantages of the inversion by getting up above the cold layer of air entrenched below. Having an inversion setup over the foothills west of Boulder allows for many images that one normally could not photograph. The cloud cover caused by the inversion covers the city like a blanket covering all the man made objects below and beneath the cloud cover.

So I’ll take the rinse and repeat aspect of the last few weeks. Sure I cant wait for summer to settle in, but the repetitive conditions have really made for some fun expeditions and allowed me to create images that ordinarily may not be possible. As for this weekends forecast?, stay tuned as it’s again looking snowy and unsettled.

No Aversion To The Inversion

Weather plays of huge role in the success of your landscape photography. Unique conditions such as an inversion can take locations that normally my not be optimal for landscape photography, and instead transform the landscape into something magical. From near the top of Flagstaff Mountain, and low hanging inversion caused c cloud layer to form, thus filling Boulder Canyon and the area over Lost Gulch with clouds at sunrise. Technical Details: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III, 24-70mm F4 IS L
Weather plays of huge role in the success of your landscape photography. Unique conditions such as an inversion can take locations that normally my not be optimal for landscape photography, and instead transform the landscape into something magical. From near the top of Flagstaff Mountain, and low hanging inversion caused c cloud layer to form, thus filling Boulder Canyon and the area over Lost Gulch with clouds at sunrise. Technical Details: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III, 24-70mm F4 IS L
One of my favorite weather events occurred over Boulder again this week. A cold air inversion settled over town on Saturday night after some light snow making for some great photography opportunities over Boulder at sunrise on Sunday morning.

For me, if I even think there is a remote chance that conditions might be right for an inversion I’m going to be up in the foothills trying to get above the cloud deck before sunrise. The factor in all of this of course is how high up does one need to go before they break on through the cloud deck.

Depending on the conditions, the cloud deck may only be 1000 or so feet above the ground. The cloud deck might also be 10,000 ft above the ground making it impossible to get above.

Typically I’ll be on the look out for the potential for an inversion when the following type of weather is occurring in the area. Rain or snow is forecast through the night. Weather reports indicate that the precipitation is supposed to cease and clear out before sunrise. Usually, I’ll just look at the predicted hourly conditions on one of the weather sites. If those hourly conditions show the precipitation ending and clearing conditions taking hold soon after the precipitation stops, I’ll make sure I’m ready to go in the morning.

Conditions that indicate clearing is going to occur quickly do not guarantee that low hanging clouds or an inversion will still be hanging around early in the morning however. Here in Colorado, I would say eighty percent of the time one is going to wake to find the skies indeed devoid of any cloud cover at all.

What I’ll do when I even think the conditions may cause the inversion to linger through the night and be around in the morning when the sun rises is to get up at least two hours before sunrise. I’ll walk the dog and while doing that scan the sky to assess the atmospheric conditions. It’s important to note that conditions can and do change rapidly. Numerous times I’ve walked the dog in completely clouded over conditions that had me pumped up and ready to go only to have crystal clear skies thirty minutes later when I get back to my house.

Looking east towards Realization Point, a lone tree stands above the cloudline peering into the abyss as sunrise paints the clouds in warm pastels. Technical Detail: Canon EOS 1Ds III, 70-300mm F4-5.6 IS L
Looking east towards Realization Point, a lone tree stands above the cloudline peering into the abyss as sunrise paints the clouds in warm pastels. Technical Detail: Canon EOS 1Ds III, 70-300mm F4-5.6 IS L

But when I go through my morning routine, if the clouds are still present and the conditions in the sky don’t appear to be clearing, then I know I have a decent shot of having some interesting conditions when the sun does crest the horizon.

So on Sunday morning things were looking pretty good when I headed out the door. Photographing an inversion has you crossing your fingers the entire time while you scan the sky every few minutes. On one hand you don’t want the clouds to dissipate before sunrise, and the other your hoping the clouds stick around but that you can get high enough up to get above them.

One of the best places to go when their is an inversion in town is to head up Flagstaff Road. Climbing the 2000 ft above town up Flagstaff Mountain gives you the best chance of getting above the clouds while out the same time being right smack dab in the middle of some of the most beautiful natural areas around Boulder. As I climbed past the three mile marker on Flagstaff, things were looking a little bleak. I did not have much more road to go and I was still not yet above the cloud cover. Finally, just above Realization Point, I spied the moon in the sky to the south of me and I was above the clouds and the inversion.

I hustled through the woods over to an area that overlooked Boulder Canyon and the Lost Gulch area. The clouds were only a hundred feet or so below me but I could see Sugarloaf Mountain and the ridge along Four Mile to the north. All at once high clouds above the low hanging fog started to turn pink and it was game on.

Luckily for me, the elements all came together and stayed together long enough for me to capture a beautiful sunrise over Lost Gulch. Images that would not have nearly same impact if not for the weather conditions present on Sunday morning.

Boulder Hoarfrost

It does not get anymore exciting than this for me. I love photographing when the weather is overcast, foggy or snowing. Hoarfrost is one of my favorite conditions to photograph the landscape in, but it is also very rare. I was lucky enough to be able to capitalize on just such conditions over Boulder this week. These two trees were covered with hoarfrost when I photographed them in the marshy wetlands just east of the Bobolink trailhead. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 70-200 F4 IS L
It does not get anymore exciting than this for me. I love photographing when the weather is overcast, foggy or snowing. Hoarfrost is one of my favorite conditions to photograph the landscape in, but it is also very rare. I was lucky enough to be able to capitalize on just such conditions over Boulder this week. These two trees were covered with hoarfrost when I photographed them in the marshy wetlands just east of the Bobolink trailhead. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 70-200 F4 IS L

The streak of interesting and turbulent weather in and around Boulder continued this week. While I’m counting the days down until summer, the weather conditions on the Front Range are certainly making for very enticing opportunities for winter photography. The combination of lots of snow and cold temperatures are certainly keeping everybody on their toes.

The transitioning weather brought with it another one of my favorite conditions to photograph in, hoarfrost. It’s a fairly rare occurrence for hoarfrost to form on the tree’s and grasses here in Boulder, but when it does occur it quickly transforms the landscape into something straight out of a dream.

Another of my favorite go to locations in and around Boulder is Flagstaff Mountain. This grove of Ponderosa Pines perched on top of Flagstaff Mountain are a favorite subject of mine, especially when frosted over. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 24-105mm F4 IS L
Another of my favorite go to locations in and around Boulder is Flagstaff Mountain. This grove of Ponderosa Pines perched on top of Flagstaff Mountain are a favorite subject of mine, especially when frosted over. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 24-105mm F4 IS L

Hoarfrost occurs when the relative humidity of the air is greater than 100%. Combine this heavily saturated air with cold temperatures and objects such as trees and grasses below freezing and hoarfrost will form on branches, leaves and blades of grasses coating everything a pristine covering of white ice.

Hoarfrost can make even mundane, overlooked locations shine. The fog encompassing the landscape makes the white tree’s and grasses stand out like ghosts. The fog also helps to conceal and cover over signs of man that may have normally acted as a distraction to the image.

The tree’s in the marshy wetlands just east of the Bobolink trailhead cried out to be photographed while covered in the white frosting as did the Ponderosa Pines on Flagstaff Mountain. Hoarfrost is both rare and fleeting. It only takes a short period of sun or warming temperatures and it’s gone. So when the landscape is covered with hoarfrost, enjoy the beauty but have your camera at the ready.

Bad Weather = Great Photographs

Weather is the most important factor in landscape photography. Dramatic conditions improve ones chances for dramatic imagery. A cold air inversion over Boulder setup a dramatic sunrise over the Flatiron formations. Clouds hide the eastern plains of Colorado while the trees and mountains glow in the pre-dawn light. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 24-70mm F4 IS L
Weather is the most important factor in landscape photography. Dramatic conditions improve ones chances for dramatic imagery. A cold air inversion over Boulder setup a dramatic sunrise over the Flatiron formations. Clouds hide the eastern plains of Colorado while the trees and mountains glow in the pre-dawn light. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 24-70mm F4 IS L

The weather around here started changing in a big way last Monday. While January ended up being the third snowiest month on record for the Boulder area, we had a good stretch of warm days and cloudless skies. Great weather for just about everything except landscape photography. But as January transitioned into February, the conditions along the Front Range became more unsettled. In other words, unsettled weather is just what I had been hoping for.

I spent the better part of last week splitting my time between Rocky Mountain National Park and the Boulder area. Both locations are favorite of mine and because I photograph in these areas so often I have a pretty good sense of where to be to optimize my chances of capturing dramatic imagery in conditions favorable for landscape photography.

Prior to the change in the weather last week we either had cloudy morning with no breaks in the sun, or clear bluebird skies with no clouds. That whipsawed pretty quickly last week with cold temperatures and a couple of weather fronts moving through the state.

On Saturday, the snow and inversion waffled around 7500 ft or so moving above and below the town of Estes Park. Here the Twin Sisters peak their head above the clouds as the early morning sky lights up over Rocky Mountain National Park. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 70-300mm F4-5.6 IS L
On Saturday, the snow and inversion waffled around 7500 ft or so moving above and below the town of Estes Park. Here the Twin Sisters peak their head above the clouds as the early morning sky lights up over Rocky Mountain National Park. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 70-300mm F4-5.6 IS L

The cool temperatures and upsloping winds managed to form a nice inversion on both Saturday and Sunday morning. Saturday the inversion and cloud line sat at about 7500 ft above sea level which meant the eastern slopes of Rocky Mountain National Park were in prime position to potentially yield dramatic conditions of fog and clouds at sunrise. By Sunday morning, the inversion had moved down to around 6000 ft or so meaning the area around Boulder was now the most promising area to photograph.

There was no way I was going to miss sunrise on Saturday and Sunday with some of my favorite weather conditions prevailing over Rocky Mountain National Park and the Boulder area. As is always the case when photographing in these conditions, one has to be ready to move quickly and be prepared to find differing locations to accommodate the conditions and the lighting. There is also a pretty good chance you will just end up getting skunked by the conditions. Staying at home of course will guarantee you of that outcome.

So after a few weeks of less than stellar sunrises and mild and clear weather the conditions greatly improved for creating images. As the saying goes amongst photographers, bad weather equals great photographs.

Snow Day

On snowy days in the middle of winter it's likely that you will find me trouncing around Flagstaff Mountain just west of downtown Boulder. It's a favorite location of mine when I need to break the monotony of winter and find inspiration close to home. Wind swept Ponderosa Pines cling to the rock flanks of Flagstaff Mountain which makes for interesting photography, especially in snow. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 70-200mm F4 IS L
On snowy days in the middle of winter it’s likely that you will find me trouncing around Flagstaff Mountain just west of downtown Boulder. It’s a favorite location of mine when I need to break the monotony of winter and find inspiration close to home. Wind swept Ponderosa Pines cling to the rock flanks of Flagstaff Mountain which makes for interesting photography, especially in snow. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 70-200mm F4 IS L
Sometimes all you can do between photography stints is sit and wait. Sit and wait for the weather to break or change or do something that will allow for differing conditions other than pure blue skies. I know complaining about a stretch of clear blue skies and warm days is not going to garner any sympathy from the peanut gallery, but somebody has to be contrarian.

The weather changed and snow finally filtered down from the skies on Monday over Boulder and the Front Range. The Flatirons and foothills surrounding town were covered in a beautiful coat of white fluffy snow. I could finally get out and play in the snow so to speak.

On my way up Flagstaff Mountain I made a stop at Chautauqua Park. In the fog and heavy snow the Flatirons looked pristine. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 70-200mm F4 IS L
On my way up Flagstaff Mountain I made a stop at Chautauqua Park. In the fog and heavy snow the Flatirons looked pristine. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 70-200mm F4 IS L

One of my favorite locations in town on snowy days like this is Flagstaff Mountain. You’ve got Chautauqua Park and the Flatirons right below, an on Flagstaff Mountain itself you have lots of interesting subjects that work well on snowy days.

Flagstaff Mountain has its share of wind swept and contorted tree’s along with red rocks and boulders so popular with the areas mountain climbing community. I find the area around Flagstaff Mountain to be a great place to photograph when I need a little motivation and inspiration close to home. Snow days on Flagstaff certainly don’t disappoint, and during the longer winter months it’s a location I cant get enough of.

2013, It’s A Wrap

Here is my last image taken in 2013. As you may recall, my first image of 2013 was also of the Flatirons freshly coated with new snow. While the clouds disappeared right before first light lit up the Flatirons over Boulder, the pre-dawn light while subdued, helped convey the quiet and calm of this winter morning from Eldorado Springs. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 17mm TS-E F4 L
Here is my last image taken in 2013. As you may recall, my first image of 2013 was also of the Flatirons freshly coated with new snow. While the clouds disappeared right before first light lit up the Flatirons over Boulder, the pre-dawn light while subdued, helped convey the quiet and calm of this winter morning from Eldorado Springs. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 17mm TS-E F4L
2013 is nearly wrapped up. It’s been a very productive year for me and while I mostly concentrated on adding new material to my Rocky Mountain National Park galleries, I was able to add images I’m pleased with to my other galleries as well including visits to Grand Teton National Park, as well as New York both in the summer and fall.

This time of year I enjoy looking at other photographers blogs. It’s become commonplace to post a ‘best of 2013’ review for your year end blog. We all love countdowns and top 10 lists because they are able to condense lots of information into a tiny, easily digestible package.

However, I wont be posting a ‘best of 2013’ this year. While each year I contemplate doing it, I end up talking myself out of it. During the course of the year, I try to post my best images to my blog as often as I can. I try to accompany them with information relative to the locations and experiences and work that went into making the image. I figure for most I’d only be duplicating work found in the archives from this past year.

So in wishing everybody a happy New Year, I just like to thank all my frequent visitors as well as clients who helped make 2013 a success. I’ll end 2013 much the way I started it, with an image of the Boulder Flatirons coated in fresh snow, my last portfolio image of 2013. Here’s to 2014!.