Backward Dreams

One of the tips I stress with photographers who are out with me on photo tours or are soliciting advice on photographing Rocky Mountain National Park is to be prepared to change your plans and look for alternative images. We all like to capture the iconic images when visiting Rocky Mountain National Park but its important to remember that some of your best images may come for changing up your game plans. This was the case for me last week when I opted to look the otherway and photograph Dream Lake from its inlet instead of the iconic image from the more traditional outlet of Dream Lake. Clouds are often present just to the east of RMNP and may not be hovering over the peaks. Maximize your chances of making dramatic imagery by keeping the option of shooting away from the icons to capture some beautiful lighting. Technical Details: Nikon D810, Nikkor 16-35mm F4 AF-S VR lens
One of the tips I stress with photographers who are out with me on photo tours or are soliciting advice on photographing Rocky Mountain National Park is to be prepared to change your plans and look for alternative images. We all like to capture the iconic images when visiting Rocky Mountain National Park but its important to remember that some of your best images may come for changing up your game plans. This was the case for me last week when I opted to look the otherway and photograph Dream Lake from its inlet instead of the iconic image from the more traditional outlet of Dream Lake. Clouds are often present just to the east of RMNP and may not be hovering over the peaks. Maximize your chances of making dramatic imagery by keeping the option of shooting away from the icons to capture some beautiful lighting. Technical Details: Nikon D810, Nikkor 16-35mm F4 AF-S VR lens
I just wrapped up a busy week of photography and photo tour/guiding. Summer season is in full swing both weather and visitation wise. Lots of people in Rocky Mountain National Park again enjoying all she has to offer and lots of opportunities in Rocky for photographers.

In between 3 really good sunrises last week I was reminded of something I preach to clients and those seeking advice on photographing Rocky Mountain National Park. Make sure you remember to look behind you. All to often we head out into Rocky dead set on capturing the perfect iconic Colorado view of a jagged mountain peak reflecting perfectly in the still waters of a tarn or lake.

When the conditions are right and you have the opportunity to photograph peaks reflecting in still mountain lakes you should cherish and take advantage of the situation. While I have many of these images in my Rocky Mountain National Park portfolio, many have taken years and years and dozens of visits to these locations to capture. Wind, clouds, lack of clouds and poor lighting can all work against you in Rocky’s alpine environment. Whats important is to keep and open mind and be prepared to look for alternative images to what you planned on photographing.

Last Sunday I had just this type of scenario unfold before me. As I always am, I was up long before dawn checking out conditions. Cloud cover was ample and there were nice breaks to the east of Rocky Mountain National Park. I had a short amount of time but decided that I would head up to some mountain lake and see how sunrise unfolded. As I approached the Bear Lake parking lot it became apparent that the cloud cover was mostly east of the mountains and not directly over them.

This is a common setup for clouds in Rocky. Winds aloft will often cause the skies directly over the peaks to be clear of cloud cover while the skies just to the east of the mountains will have cloud cover or lenticular clouds that will explode with color as the sun rises. When conditions are like this you should look to play the hand your dealt and find a shot that is going to maximize the drama and conditions unfolding before you.

While Dream Lake may be one of the top five most iconic images in all of Colorado, the traditional image from the outlet of Dream Lake on the it’s east side was not going yield an average image with clear blue skies and some nice color on the peaks. I opted to head to the inlet of Dream Lake and photograph looking east. The cloud layer east of Dream Lake would explode with color and better yet, the west side of Dream Lake was mostly sheltered from the winds that were raking the surface on the east side of the lake, hence ruining ones chance for a reflection.

All in all It worked out to be one of the more dramatic mornings I’ve spent at Dream Lake. If I had stayed with my original plan I would have captured Dream Lake with a choppy lake surface and little color. As I always like to say, have a good game plan for your morning shoot, but be prepared to find an alternative image or location if conditions don’t materialize like you intended them to do. Doing this will open up many more opportunities for photography in Rocky Mountain National Park as well as add new imagery to your portfolio.

Rocky Mountain National Park Trifecta

The view from Bierstadt Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park is one of my favorites. When you get lucky enough to have beautiful clouds, a windless morning and a break in the cloud cover to the east at sunrise, Bierstadt Lake can be an amazing location to photograph. As the condtions moderate in RMNP, scenes like this one at Bierstadt open up with each passing week. Technical Details: Nikon D810, Nikkor 24-70mm F2.8 ED AF-S
The view from Bierstadt Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park is one of my favorites. When you get lucky enough to have beautiful clouds, a windless morning and a break in the cloud cover to the east at sunrise, Bierstadt Lake can be an amazing location to photograph. As the condtions moderate in RMNP, scenes like this one at Bierstadt open up with each passing week. Technical Details: Nikon D810, Nikkor 24-70mm F2.8 ED AF-S

The last few weeks in Rocky Mountain National Park have been a teeter totter of conditions when it comes to the weather and transition between winter and spring like conditions. Sunny warm days have been followed by blizzards, snow and ice. All in all typical spring weather for Rocky Mountain National Park. But throughout all the crazy weather that constitutes spring in Rocky Mountain National Park there are definite signs that conditions are quickly moving towards late spring and early summer.

While I love winter in Colorado, this is a welcome change for me. The transition is now palatable in the air. The snow has melted from all the meadows and parks at the lower elevations of RMNP, and the mid level locations are quickly following suit and the melting off rapidly. The rivers are starting to flow at a healthy clip and lakes like Sprague Lake, Bierstadt Lake and Dream Lake are ice free or nearly ice free. The continental divide is still covered with a healthy snowpack but photographing Rocky’s high peaks reflecting in lakes below is now possible again in many locations.

I took the opportunity this morning to get out and hike up to Bierstadt Lake this morning to take advantage of it’s recently thawed lake surface. It didn’t hurt that much of the Bierstadt Lake trailhead is now snow free with only the upper half of the trail around the lake still covered in snow. Bierstadt Lake in my opinion has one of the best viewpoints of the continental divide in all of Rocky Mountain National Park. While Taylor, Otis, Hallett, Flattop and Notchtop are still covered with a healthy snow pack early in the season it makes for a tremendous location to photograph at sunrise.

Another sure sign that summer is on it's way to Rocky Mountain National Park is the appearance of Pasque flowers. They are currently growing in abundance in the lower elevations like these I found in Upper Beaver Meadows. Technical Details: Nikon D810, Nikkor 105mm F2.8 Micro AF
Another sure sign that summer is on it’s way to Rocky Mountain National Park is the appearance of Pasque flowers. They are currently growing in abundance in the lower elevations like these I found in Upper Beaver Meadows. Technical Details: Nikon D810, Nikkor 105mm F2.8 Micro AF

I was fortunate enough to hit what I call the Rocky trifecta this morning when I hiked up to Bierstadt Lake. The Rocky trifecta being of course beautiful clouds over the peaks, a windless and still morning allowing for a reflection, and a cloud free horizon to the east allowing for stunning and vibrant first light on the peaks of the divide. In Rocky Mountain National Park it can be a challenge to get two out of three of the ideal conditions to work in ones favor. Anytime you nail all three you likely are going to be walking away with an image to add to your portfolio.

From hear on out, conditions should only improve. I fully expect it to snow in Rocky Mountain National Park a few more times this season, but momentum has now shifted and any snow will be mostly short lived. When Trail Ridge Road reopens for the season in a few weeks it will be officially summer season in Rocky and I for one cant wait.

Just as a reminder to those reading this. I will again be offering photo tours in Rocky Mountain National Park for the 2016 season. Feel free to visit the link at the top of the web page or email me for more information regarding photography tours and open dates in Rocky Mountain National Park.

The Week That Was

As photographers we often have preconceived notions of how and what we want to photograph. Often the weather conditions will not cooperate with our plans. When photographing in Rocky Mountain National Park its important to be willing to throw convention out the window and be willing to look both figuratively and literally in the opposing direction. There was an inversion over the eastern plains of Colorado this morning. Only a few clouds hung over the sky to the east of Rocky. While I did not plan on photographing from Rainbow Curve along Trail Ridge Road, weather conditions dictated that this would be where the best lighting at sunrise would be. Technical Details: Nikon D810, Nikkor 70-200mm F4 ED VR AF
As photographers we often have preconceived notions of how and what we want to photograph. Often the weather conditions will not cooperate with our plans. When photographing in Rocky Mountain National Park its important to be willing to throw convention out the window and be willing to look both figuratively and literally in the opposing direction. There was an inversion over the eastern plains of Colorado this morning. Only a few clouds hung over the sky to the east of Rocky. While I did not plan on photographing from Rainbow Curve along Trail Ridge Road, weather conditions dictated that this would be where the best lighting at sunrise would be. Technical Details: Nikon D810, Nikkor 70-200mm F4 ED VR AF

There are expectations and then there is reality. In photography this is especially true when I look back at the end of the week and review how I did and what kind of images I was able to create. It’s always fun at the start of a new week to browse the weather forecasts and try to guess if its going to be a productive and dynamic week for photography. Sometimes the weather cooperates and you can get three, four or even five days of beautiful sunrises, clouds in the sky or other elements like rain and snow to help with your image making. Other times you may go four or five days with nary a cloud in the sky to help out. Usually I find that you end up somewhere in the middle. Never as many dynamic mornings as you would like, and often you can get at least one or two better than expected sunrises.

Last week in Rocky Mountain National Park fell more or less on the tame side of dynamic weather and conditions. For the most part last week mornings were clear and cloudless in Rocky Mountain National Park. These are beautiful conditions for visitors and hikers, but not exactly the kind of conditions photographers hope for in Rocky. It’s hard to get motivated to get out there in the field if it looks as if there is not a cloud within 800 miles of Rocky Mountain National Park. Even with conditions less than ‘photographer perfect’ one should still be able to capture some dynamic images. With a bit of planning, some luck and a few clouds floating in the right location things may break your way.

While last week was more difficult and less productive than I would like, I was still able to come away with images I was pleased with two of the three mornings I managed to get out in the field. On those two productive mornings clouds were present in the sky but not over the high peaks and continental divide. This is a fairly typical setup for Rocky Mountain National Park. In fact, if I had to venture a guess I would say well over 60% of the time one is more likely to have clouds to the east of Rocky then over the high peaks and continental divide. This is an important fact to keep in my when photographing Rocky Mountain National Park.

Sunrise on the morning of Labor Day was spectacular from the shores of Bierstadt Lake. That is if you photographed looking towards the east as clouds had not yet moved over the high peaks and continental divide and blue skies would have prevailed. Technical Details: Nikon D810, Nikkor 16-35mm ED VR AF
Sunrise on the morning of Labor Day was spectacular from the shores of Bierstadt Lake. That is if you photographed looking towards the east as clouds had not yet moved over the high peaks and continental divide and blue skies would have prevailed. Technical Details: Nikon D810, Nikkor 16-35mm ED VR AF

I stress this in my blog often and also do so when out with other photographers or students on photo tours in the park. While its true that many of the iconic images in Rocky Mountain National Park are of locations where clouds over the peaks benefit the image, more often than not mother nature and the weather will hand you lemons of which you will need to make lemonade. In this case you need to make lemonade by losing preconceived notions of what you want to photograph and do the following. Look at whats going on behind you or the east of your preferred morning location. If you are going to successfully photograph in Rocky Mountain National Park you are going to need to incorporate images that may not include some of the well known iconic peaks such as Longs and Hallett Peak. Remember, more than likely your going to have clouds and dynamic lighting east of your location.

By all means head out to Rocky with the intention of photographing clouds over the iconic peaks and mountains. This is Colorado after all and we all aspire for images of brilliant clouds floating over jagged peaks while reflecting in mirror like lakes below. The reality of photographing Rocky Mountain National Park is that these conditions are difficult to achieve often but with a backup plan and willingness to throw convention out with the trash, photographers can make stunning imagery with an open mind and a willingness to point the camera opposite of the icons. On what otherwise would have been an unproductive week of photography, this strategy worked well for me last week as it would have for others.

Summer’s Back Nine

The summer photography season in Rocky Mountain National Park is currently in full swing. To borrow a golf phrase we are entering summer's back nine in Rocky. Wildflowers still look great in the park and now is the time to get out and hike to your favorite backcountry destination. I photographed this beautiful sunset last week on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park. The beautiful colors of sunset reflect in the placid waters of the Colorado River as seen from the Kawuneeche Valley. Technical Details: Nikon D810, 16-35mm F4 ED VR
The summer photography season in Rocky Mountain National Park is currently in full swing. To borrow a golf phrase we are entering summer’s back nine in Rocky. Wildflowers still look great in the park and now is the time to get out and hike to your favorite backcountry destination. I photographed this beautiful sunset last week on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park. The beautiful colors of sunset reflect in the placid waters of the Colorado River as seen from the Kawuneeche Valley. Technical Details: Nikon D810, 16-35mm F4 ED VR

I apologize for the recent lack of postings to my blog in recent weeks. It’s full on summer seasons here in Rocky Mountain National Park and it’s been keeping me quite busy. Between guiding clients on photography tours, or getting very early morning starts to head up and out to some of the lakes far in the backcountry it’s been difficult finding sometime to sit down and write up a blog post.

In a nutshell Rocky Mountain National Park is absolutely spectacular right now. Rocky is still very green from all the moisture we had this spring and early summer and the wildflowers in the higher elevations are still looking very good. Wildflowers such as Columbines and Paintbrush look spectacular in the higher elevations and I highly recommend getting out and searching for them while you still can. It may be hard to believe but I’ve already seen frost on the grasses in the higher elevations above treeline and on the alpine tundra already. This means it’s only a matter of time before the wildflowers bid adieu for another season.

Sooner than later autumn color will start to settle into the park and the Elk rut will be underway. Any day now somebody is going to post an image of an aspen tree turning yellow early and make a proclamation that fall season is underway early this year. As is the case every year there is always one or two trees that will begin to show their autumn colors early in Rocky Mountain National Park. So before the autumn season settles in and we begin to lament just how quickly summer comes and goes I highly recommend that you get out into Rocky Mountain National Park and enjoy the back nine of the summer season.

Navigating Springtime In Rocky

Springtime is a loosely defined term in Rocky Mountain National Park. Spring in Rocky Mountain National Park can mean warm weather and thawing lakes it streams. It can also mean snow, rain or a likely combination of both. This image of Bierstadt Lake from last week is a good example of spring in Rocky Mountain National Park. Snow had fallen the previous two days on Bierstadt Lake but the lake remained open and free of ice. Just a small sliver of the sun at sunrise pierced the horizing making the snow caked pines glow red in the beautiful but brief light show at dawn. Technical Details: Nikon D810, Nikkor 16-35mm F4 ED VR
Springtime is a loosely defined term in Rocky Mountain National Park. Spring in Rocky Mountain National Park can mean warm weather and thawing lakes it streams. It can also mean snow, rain or a likely combination of both. This image of Bierstadt Lake from last week is a good example of spring in Rocky Mountain National Park. Snow had fallen the previous two days on Bierstadt Lake but the lake remained open and free of ice. Just a small sliver of the sun at sunrise pierced the horizing making the snow caked pines glow red in the beautiful but brief light show at dawn. Technical Details: Nikon D810, Nikkor 16-35mm F4 ED VR

After what seemed liked a mostly mild winter followed by an above average month of precipitation in April, spring and the coming approach of summer are becoming readily apparent in Rocky Mountain National Park. This time of year in Rocky is not only transitional, but dynamic and greatly varied.

Stretches of mild and warm days in Rocky can be quickly followed by weather systems that bring cold and snow back to the park. Conditions also vary greatly based on elevation right now. The lower elevations of the park such as Moraine Park, Horseshoe Park and Beaver Meadows are all but free of snow. The Big Thompson as well as Fall River are starting to run swiftly with the spring snow runoff. Grasses are greening in the lower elevations and some wildflowers are just starting to bloom.

Move on up in elevation to places like Dream Lake and spring is not quite as apparent in the higher elevations of Rocky Mountain National Park. Currently about half of Dream Lake is covered under a sheet of ice. The remaining layer of ice should start to melt of quickly moving forward but unsettled weather all week is likely to slow progress. The east inlet of Dream Lake is open though much of the shoreline is still covered in snow. Nymph and Bear Lakes are still mostly covered with ice while lakes such as Sprague Lake, Bierstadt Lake and Cub Lake are now open and free of ice.

More signs of spring with Cub Lake thawed and green grasses growing along the edge of Cub lake. Soon the Pond Lillies that adorn Cub Lake during the warmer months will begin to grow and bloom.  Technical Details: Nikon D810, Nikkor 16-35mm F4 ED VR
More signs of spring with Cub Lake thawed and green grasses growing along the edge of Cub lake. Soon the Pond Lillies that adorn Cub Lake during the warmer months will begin to grow and bloom.Technical Details: Nikon D810, Nikkor 16-35mm F4 ED VR

National Park Service crews are busy working on Trail Ridge Road clearing all the snow from the winter. With a little luck from the weather, Trail Ridge should be open again by May 22nd if there are not any major setbacks from late spring snowstorms. Having Trail Ridge Road back open not only signals the start of the summer season, but it opens up a lot of new opportunities for photography.

So as of right now, many seasonal changes are taking place in Rocky Mountain National Park. Lakes are thawing, grasses are greening and wildflowers are beginning to bloom in some of the lower areas of the park. Keep in mind that conditions can and do change quickly this time of year. After a few temperate days, winter may descend right back on the park coating the landscape in white, freezing over the lakes and making the trials difficult to navigate.

So when it comes to photography my advice is to stay flexible and try to keep a handle on the changing and variable conditions. Look for dramatic sunrises unfolding over some of the now unfrozen lakes. If it’s rainy or gray be prepared to use the diffused light to your advantage and photograph moving water and waterfalls. Keep and eye out for newly budded aspen tree’s who’s beautiful and glowing translucent green spring leaves do not get nearly the amount of love they do when they turn golden in the fall. In a nutshell be prepared for just about any and all types of photography and embrace Rocky’s topsy turvy season known as spring.

Announcing Photography Tours Of Rocky Mountain National Park

I'm pleased to announce that I will now be offering photography tours of Rocky Mountain National Park. I've completed all the necessary requirements and have been issued a Special Use Guide Pass by the National Park Service to operate photography tours in Rocky Mountain National Park. Please feel free to contact me to find out about availble times and dates so that we can get out in the field and photograph some of Rocky's most beautiful locations. Technical Details:  Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 16-35mm F4 IS L
I’m pleased to announce that I will now be offering photography tours of Rocky Mountain National Park. I’ve completed all the necessary requirements and have been issued a Special Use Guide Pass by the National Park Service to operate photography tours in Rocky Mountain National Park. Please feel free to contact me to find out about availble times and dates so that we can get out in the field and photograph some of Rocky’s most beautiful locations. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 16-35mm F4 IS L

One of the questions I get asked most frequently is if I give tours or workshops within Rocky Mountain National Park. In the past I had hesitated to offer photography tour or workshop services in the park mainly because of the time commitment required to offer tour services. As many of you know I greatly value my time in the field being able to create and find new opportunities for my photography.

As of late, the drum beat to offer photo tour services in Rocky Mountain National Park had only been growing louder. With there only being one other photographer who offers these services working out of Rocky Mountain National Park at this time, and a few fellow Estes Park photographers whom I greatly respect suggesting strongly that it was time for me to offer photography tours, I’m pleased to announce that I am now offering photography tour services in Rocky Mountain National Park. I’ve met all the requirements of the National Park Service and have been issued a Special Use Guide Pass to conduct photography tours in Rocky Mountain National Park.

I’m excited to be offering photo tour service in RMNP now and I’m looking forward to getting out in the field with my clients and helping them capture the magnificent beauty of Rocky Mountain National Park. Rocky is my absolute favorite place to spend time. While Rocky Mountain National Park is close to the Denver metro area, it offers pristine wilderness and some of Colorado’s most iconic locations to photograph. Rocky is an amazing location and I look forward to helping clients of all skill levels capture the beauty of the park.

I’ve spent the last sixteen years photographing Rocky Mountain National Park in all seasons, all kinds of weather and all kinds of lighting. It will be a rewarding experience for me to take fellow photographers out and share my knowledge of a location I’ve spent years getting to know.

For those of you who may be interested in booking a photography tour in Rocky with me, please feel free to contact me for available dates, times and suggestions on what would be a good itinerary to fit your skill levels and expectations. My goal is for you to have fun, learn a few things and come away with some great images.

For more information on photography tours in Rocky Mountain National Park you can click on this link Rocky Mountain National Park Photo Tours. Also feel free to follow my blog to see the latest conditions in Rocky Mountain National Park as well as my Twitter and  Facebook  accounts. I post near daily images on both Twitter and Facebook, often with current conditions in Rocky Mountain National Park.