Denver 2017 - Trees Near Hoop Creek

Although this shot has a little snow dabbled here and there, plus a greater presence of foliage, this picture made me think of another published earlier from a hike in Switzerland.

Denver 2017 - Snowy Trees

In the car on the way out to this part of the state, as we crossed over that 11,500-foot hump, all of the tall, narrow conifers on either side of the highway were still spottily-laden with snow from the latest big fall.  Because I was driving there was no way I could concentrate on capturing anything from the highway (though Allison did a passable job with my phone camera), and was on the lookout for another opportunity.

And here it was!  When we climbed back over the snow hill to our parking area we noticed a bunch of trees donned with the same finery.  I went crazy with the shutter, and managed to get a few keepers such as this one.

It's no wonder that folks living in Colorado report a healthier lifestyle and are outdoors so much.  Forget the cold  - that's not even a factor in the thin, dry air...all you have to do is dress for and respect it.  I would relish the opportunity to explore or hike in the great outdoors, especially in the winter months.  For one thing, there's not as much wildlife to worry about.  For another, the deciduous trees provide great chances to take pictures of something through something.

Don't think it's obvious in this shot, but about now it started to snow pretty steadily and we concluded that the transition was made from flurries to an actual snowfall.  Very exciting.

Denver 2016 - Hoop Creek with Snow Banks

This is Hoop Creek, about a hundred feet down from the falls, and it's all there:  It is in the mountains, there is real snow, a babbling brook is involved, and it was captured through the still-leafless branches of an early spring.

Life is a beautiful thing...

Denver 2017 - Berthoud Falls #2 / The Nickel

This is what the falls look like on the other side of the evergreen, with an expanded crop below of the same frame, in which a portion of the falls can be seen through the branches of a small deciduous tree.  Like I said, worth a precarious climb up a snow hill, then trodding a hundred feet down a slippery path with city shoes on.
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I've never liked the beach, and don't care much about life on the coast; this is where it's at for me.  Always said, and still maintain, that I'd be perfectly happy up in a mountain cabin somewhere, in a hermitage if possible.  We all dream like that, don't we?  The romance of being out in the world alone, conquering the elements and fighting to survive, has a powerful allure.

One time when I was probably seven or eight years old, my dad had one of his friends over for a visit.  This fellow was a gregarious one, and chummy with children.  He'd break the ice with us by pulling a nickel out of his pocket and asking, "What do you want to be when you grow up?"  Of course he expected lofty ambitions and civic-minded answers such as policeman, fireman, or -even better - lawyer, president or business tycoon.  Well, when that question came my way I answered with honest sincerity, "I want to be a hobo!".  After a moment stammering and really not knowing what to say, that nickel popped right back into the man's pocket and I never received his blessing for describing the life of my dreams...

Denver 2017 - Hoop Creek Falls #1

The best place we visited was the hardest to get to.  It came up on the internet as Berthoud Falls, but the description also warned that there is no real parking lot...just a space used as a staging point for snow removal equipment during the winter months.  We concluded that this was what it looked like once we got there, as well as serving as an area to pile up the snow to get it safely out of the way, as can be seen in the shot below, captured while Allison was climbing the hill to get to the other side of the wall.

It was precarious going beyond the wall because the snow was slushy and we certainly weren't dressed or prepared to take a hike in such conditions.  But once on the other side we saw a well-worn path that had been recently trod, at least since the most recent storm.  About 100 feet in, this was the sight that greeted us, of Hoop Creek, which made it worth all the effort.  For Allison and I both this was the highlight of the drive.

If anyone is interested in going there, the spaced where we were parked off of the highway is located at 39.78416° north, -105.783688° west.

Denver 2017 - Sapphire Point Near Dillon

The kind folks from Austin strongly suggested Sapphire Point, which was about a ten-minute drive away.  After our short walk on the Tenderfoot, we were eager to see what it was like.  Our decision was a good one, but not because of any fantastic shots that were captured - it was a bust in that respect.  Rather it was because there were chipmunks all over the place that were accustomed to humans to the point where they would crawl onto your hand to feed.  Quite the thrill for Allison and the other handful of people there at the time.

This was also the portion of the trip in which I got a speeding ticket.  I was unfamiliar with the roads, of course, and hadn't paid enough attention to signage, and in our haste to get there was going 52 in a 35-mph zone.  Quite fair, and the officer from the Summit County SO out of  Breckenridge was courteous and professional.

Denver 2017 - Tenderfoot Trail Lookout Near Dillon

This scene was also captured on the Tenderfoot Trail - below is a more cropped-in shot, saturated to accentuate the trees in the foreground:

Denver 2017 - Tenderfoot Trail in Dillon

We looked online with our phones and scoped out some other short hikes.  One on the other side of Dillon looked easy and promising, called the Tenderfoot Trail, so there we went.

As stated in an earlier post, a snow storm blanketed the area a day or so before we got to Denver and the temperatures were now above freezing, so everything was sloppy and wet.  In the parking area we saw a couple with a small child getting back into their car and they warned us about the conditions but we charged ahead anyway - time was running short, and there were some other things we wanted to do.  Interestingly, the couple was from Austin and both had graduated high school in the Cy-Fair district here in Houston before they got married!  Small world...

The 4-shot panorama above was captured a few hundred feet from the beginning of the trail.  The tree in the middle-right foreground didn't align properly so had to fix it...a comparison is below and I think the objective was accomplished:

Denver 2017 - Aspen Stand

At that same location there was an aspen stand, which had just begun to bud while it was still cold enough to have snow at its base, as can be seen below:

One of my favorite photos of all time, which has been made into an untold number of prints seen in doctors' offices, etc., is of an aspen stand with the sun peeking out from behind one of the trees.  Whoever captured the picture used a star filter, and even though he or she was counterintuitively pointing the camera in the direction of the sun, the lighting, dynamic range, color and exposure were done perfectly.

Denver 2017 - Dillon Panorama

As stated a few posts ago, my wife Chenjean, Allison our daughter, and I went to Colorado, specifically Denver and environs, in May of this year.  Chenjean had a meeting there, and we traditionally piggy-back on those to enjoy budget vacations, as the company pays for at least the hotel.  So we were excited to make this trip, and were glad that Allison was able to join.

While there we took a drive out into the mountains, went to the zoo, went on walks downtown, and visited several museums.  These all of course are superb opportunities to grow and practice the art of snapping photos.  So what's the best place to start?  We're from Houston and we're in Colorado, so of course it's the mountains!

The first day, while Chenjean was attending meetings on how to be a better accountant, Allison and I slipped over to the Dillon area.  This ended up being the highlight of the trip, as I've always loved being in the mountains and Allison had never seen any real snow.  Thus the anticipation for this drive grew by the hour, as from downtown Denver you can easily see the mountains to the west.

It was my objective to get as close to the snowy parts as possible and didn't know how successful we'd be, so it was a surprise when, hardly an hour out of town, we had climbed to an altitude of 11,500 on I-70 and experienced the first snow flurries.  It was still early enough in the year to see the snow from a recent storm piled high on the trees and rooftops.  Allison used both her camera and mine (after hers ran out of juice) to snap away through the windshield and her passenger side window.  But the best was yet to come.

We decided on Dillon because it was a reasonable distance and would allow us to do some things before having to head back to Denver in time for Chenjean's meeting to end.  The 6-shot panorama you see above (best seen by clicking to enlarge) is from our first stop, next to the reservoir adjacent to town.  It was the middle of a weekday and kids were still in school, so we pulled into a park and had the place to ourselves.  This was the first time we could be outside to experience intermittent snow showers coming in from the higher elevations.  We had fun thinking that, since we were out there by ourselves, there was a good change we'd see some wildlife...not eliminating the possibility of a lion or bear!  Probably not in much danger, though, as we were just a couple of miles from Dillon and there was some road construction going on just a few hundred yards down the road.

Seattle 2016 - Maple Leaf

As I continued to wander around outside, chanced upon this leaf laying in the parking lot.  Really did well in post-capture and, above all of the fall colors, museum shots, panoramas and even airplanes, this is probably my favorite of everything shot during the trip.

There was another picture taken during the trip which really stands out, however, and it was one that I did not capture.  My brother's brother-in-law, Glen, arrived in the Seattle area a few days early with his family to make an extended vacation of it.  Somewhere along the way they were on a hike, and Glen captured one of the most beautiful photos I've ever seen...of a few mushrooms they'd encountered on the trail that were struck just so by the sun streaming through the surrounding vegetation.  And I was shocked and amazed that it came from his phone!  Now that I've learned a little more about how to take pictures with my own iPhone 7, can see that these devices have come a long way as potentially serious cameras.  In fact, in the next series, which will feature our recent trip to Colorado, I might even publish one or two from the phone, which would be a first for this blog.

Seattle 2016 - Old Glory

I quickly get bored when required to mingle and socialize at such events, so didn't take long to wander outside in search of possibilities before it got too dark.  This pic of Old Glory was one of the first ones captured.

It's sort of a shame, but seems that the American flag does not get the reverence and respect that it once did, if you were to look at the news and world events.  Through all of its tattered history, however, it still stands tall and flies with dignity...

Seattle 2016 - Dancing Spots

As stated at the beginning of this series, the purpose of our trip to Seattle was to attend a wedding.  It was all very nice, and the family (by marriage on my brother's side) is fantastic, but of course the opportunity to get some beautiful photos in such an iconic spot was foremost in my mind.  And if you've followed this blog at all through the years, it's evident that my posts are almost totally devoid of people.  That's because I'm not very good at shooting them, except for candids captured under circumstances where I can remain in the background and unnoticed.  For this reason I don't do weddings as an official photographer, but am happy to snap some perhaps-better-than-average shots of the venue-at-large, decorations, or candids as just mentioned.

Thusly, the shots above and below were captured when the guests at the reception had drifted away from the spotlights, which danced and strobed through a variety of presentations and colors.

Seatlle 2016 - Hotel Branches

I guess you know you've got it in your blood as a photographer if you can't sit for long without turning your head and finding something that you want to capture.  This is a sometimes a source of irritation to my companions if I have a camera handy...particularly if I have to jump a fence or assume an awkward position to get a shot.

Though neither was required for this one, I'd been eyeing these branches in the lobby of our hotel for some time, discreetly scoping out various angles virtually every time we walked by.  Finally, on the last day of our stay, I settled on this one and squatted down to capture it as we were checking out for departure...

Seattle 2016 - White-Tipped Evergreen

Being from Texas, it's sometimes difficult to fathom the variety and extraordinary beauty of plants that are native to the North.

Seattle 2016 - Evergreen Pattern

Nothing more beautiful than the patterns found in nature, and nothing like the Find Edges effect in Photoshop to bring them out.  This was of a very familiar evergreen at the edge of the parking lot of the hotel, the original of which is featured below for comparison:

Seattle 2016 - Blue Flowers / Thank You James Herriott

Was glad to be able to fill the frame up with these guys...
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The other day we were flying home from an awesome trip to Colorado, as mentioned a few posts ago and the pictures from which will be featured in the next series, Lord willing.

I've always been a huge James Herriot fan, and am now into my third reading of the core books - All Creatures Great and Small, All Things Bright and Beautiful, All Things Wise and Wonderful, and The Lord Hath Made Them All.  I saw the first three of those bundled for sale in iBooks, so bought the lot and now have them handy on the iPad.  As stated, this is my third reading; the first time was during my college years in the early '80's, next was in the early 90's when Andrew was small, and now in the late 2010's.  Though I remember the essence of most of the stories, each time it's been like a fresh reading complete with tears in some places and gut-splitting laughter in others.

In fact, it was on this flight from Colorado that I got my family quite concerned that the gut-splitting laughter might lead to real harm.  We were on the descent into Houston while I was into the first Grier story, when the young James Herriot was forced by a neighboring vet to don a wet suit solely for the purpose of handing his boss-for-the-day a pessary during the post-op phase of treatment for a cow in distress.  When the predictable wave of laughter first began to washed over me it was merely a nuisance to Chenjean and Allison, as we were surrounded by other passengers, from which it was impossible to hide the mirth.  Unfortunately for them I was only halfway through the story at that point, so the intensity and depth of my laughter was bound only to increase before it was all over.

Well, the family didn't want to wait that long.  In another minute or so I was doubled over, pounding my leg, trying hard to avoid slapping the seat in front of me instead.  The girls began to plead with urgency, "Please don't read any more!"  In the midst of this uncontrollable surge, and to my amazement, Chenjean even reached for my glasses, threatening to yank them from my head knowing that I can't read without them.  I managed to fend the effort off and finished the story, barely, before we cruised in for a landing.  Exhausted, I leaned back, wiped the tears once more from my eyes, and said a prayer to one long gone, "Thank you, Alf Wight, for making me laugh again!"

Seattle 2016 - Compound Leaf

Kept this one a little darker to preserve the fine detail in the lighter portions of the leaves.  As I was working in post-capture was reminded of this similar shot taken in Trinity County down here in Texas.

There was a time I could have identified this species, as well as several hundred others, as a forestry major at SFA in Nacogdoches.  But no longer...

Seattle 2016 - Maple Contrast

Still roaming around the hotel property, I found this to be close to the kind of contrast that a photographer looks for now and then during the fall.

Seattle 2016 - Foliage Abstract

I was out with a friend on a photo journey one time, to Big Bend State Park here in Texas.  It was late March, but as happens sometimes a freak storm brought winter temperatures and strong winds, an unexpected development.  During our attempts to set up for some good landscapes the wind was so strong that even tripods were useless, as they would topple if a strong grip wasn't maintained.

My friend was ready to throw in the towel and get sad about the whole thing, while I was eager to keep shooting.  Why?  Because the wind whipping around created movement that introduced the potential for some great abstracts!  He was surprised at my enthusiasm, and we kept at it for a while.

Though I didn't get any abstract keepers on that day, pics such as the one above are what I'm after on a windy day.

Some blogworthy shots from that trip were captured and posted in March and April of 2012.

Seattle 2016 - Back to Hotel Foliage

Early in this Seattle series (June 4th, 5th and 6th) some pics were posted of the foliage surrounding our hotel, a Hampton north of the city.  Though it was a tad windy, on our last full day there I found some time and wandered the property solely for the purpose of snapping some shots of its beauty.  And as before, used Photoshop to change the leaf color for effect:

Seattle 2016 - Space Needle Crown Through Trees

Here is same, taken from a few steps to the right so as to take a picture of something through something.

What got me started on this business of capturing a subject through trees (one reason that winter is my favorite time of year to photograph) or other objects is this post, taken early on in the life of this blog.  A colleague kept on and on about how awesome it was, so I latched on to the concept...

Seattle 2016 - Framed Space Needle

How do you uniquely capture something so world-famous, of which millions of snapshots have been taken already?  The answer is that you don't really try - just be yourself and do what "feels right", allowing your inner voice to settle on what looks good to you.  Many times I've spoken to photographers, more serious than I in what they've done with the hobby, who say that they just "know" immediately after capture whether the pic is a keeper.

Used the trees here to frame this American icon.  Similar post can be found here, from La Republique in Paris.  Extended view below:

Seattle 2016 - Space Needle, Tall Tower / Human Prey

This was captured just outside the Chihuly Glass Museum and Gardens.
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The wife, daughter and I just returned from a trip to Denver; Chenjean had a meeting there, and Allison and I tagged along to see the sights.  After this series on Seattle is published I'll make the pics from this trip the next priority.

Can't go to Colorado, however, without remembering one of the spookiest things I've seen in a zoo.  In fact, it gave me chills.

It was a few years ago in Colorado Springs (which, by the way, has one of the best zoos on the planet).  We were approaching the lion exhibit and heard a big THUNK.  There was some excitement amongst the folks looking through a plexiglass window, surrounded by large fake boulders, built for viewing the lions inside.  We didn't think much of the excitement that had been generated because that often happens at zoos when animals get frisky or show a little personality.

We were still walking, getting closer to the exhibit, when we heard another big THUNK.  The first time it wasn't too loud, but this time the noise startled us a bit.  By now we were almost there, and upon looking through the glass we noticed huge paw prints that had made contact with the inside of the glass, then scratched their way down.  At that moment there was a lioness that was making her way to the back of the enclosure, which rose up to a height of maybe ten feet.  After making it to the top of the berm she turned around, crouched, and ran as fast as she could, striking with all of her force, leaving scratch marks and mud trailing as her paws lowered to the bottom of the viewing pane.  The impact was so hard that it made the plexiglass wobble with the force of her weight.  This was the third THUNK, and by this time the giggles and excitement of the group there turned to concern - not least because the lioness lingered at the window, maintaining a steady gaze on a little girl in the group, probably about nine years old, who was wearing an orange dress.  After drilling her with its hungry eyes it began to make its way back for another full-on attack.

As the uneasiness increased the adults of the group thought it might be best that they move on, because by now the little girl was visibly shaken upon realizing that she might be the target of this behavior.  As they moved around the corner of the exhibit and down the sidewalk, the lioness leapt to the window and positioned herself to follow the little girl with her eyes, craning her neck as she moved out of sight.  This was what gave me the chills - that the lioness wasn't looking at anyone else except that one girl and was very interested in following her every move.  The thunks against the glass were actual attempts to break through in a full-blown assault on this small human, obviously looked upon as prey.  Chenjean and I couldn't tell for sure, but guessed that it could have been her small size along with the color of her dress.  So that is how a simple visit to the zoo turned into an uneasy episode for anyone who was there to witness the ferocity and focus exhibited by this lion that tried so hard to kill one of its visitors.

Seattle 2016 - Space Needle with Tree

Now outside for, hopefully, a few non-cliché pics of the iconic tower...the kind not seen in mags and other publications.  With the rain it was great to capture pictures such as this with a more even light.

Seattle 2016 - Chihuly Glass, Giant Flowers

These guys appeared in the background in a recent post...

Seattle 2016 - Chihuly Glass, Resting Log

As we were walking around my son, Andrew, came up and showed us a picture he'd taken with his Android phone.  The photo was stunning, and I daresay that I was even envious and had to go get one of my own!  Here it is, captured with the Big Cahoona...though I'm not sure it looks as good as it did on his screen.

Seattle 2016 - Chihuly Glass, Garden Tree

Desaturated everything except the reds, yellows and oranges in this guy...original below:

Seattle 2016 - Chihuly Glass, Dancing Bulbs

Seattle 2017 - Chihuly Glass, Garden Spot

Stepping outside, we were greeted by this surreal scene.  Interesting that this guy (Chihuly) was an unknown to us and not even on the travel radar...