• architecture,  Black and White,  Cactus,  Candid Portraits,  Canyon De Chilly,  Cityscapes/Urban,  clouds,  coffee shops,  desert,  Documentary/Street,  flowers,  fog,  fountain pens,  Great Sand Dunes National Park,  HDR,  journal,  landscape,  lifestyles,  mountains,  National Monuments,  natural areas,  Plants,  sunrises,  sunsets

    Happy New Year!

    January 1, 2017

    I do not normally post favorites of the past year as it just did not interest me. However, it is a good exercise to reflect back over the past year because we can assume nothing much happened. Reflection is wonderful so here are a couple things that happened this past year.

    I had a chronic medical problem reach a critical stage in late May and needed to have surgery. The surgery was a success and the quality of my life improved greatly.

    I did take in a couple of trips. One trip took me the Phoenix area for about 6 weeks. I did some camping on my drive down; one night in The Great Sand Dunes and one night at Canyon De Chelly National Monument. I was able to spend quality time with my parents which is always good. Then my sister and I flew down to Phoenix for Thanksgiving with family. Awesome time and way to much food consumed.

    I’m enamored again with fountain pens. Had several given to me and purchased six of my own. Now have 14 to choose from each morning when I pick up my journal. Let’s see, what color of pen and ink to want to use today is the biggest decision to start the day. 🙂

    Most of my photography seemed to be focused on the street scenes, candid portraits and fewer landscapes. I also did a few portraits. I worked more with black and white images for the year. Anyway, below are a few images I like from this past year.

    It is my hope everyone has a wonderful 2017 filled abundantly with joy, love, peace, serenity, adventure, family, friends, new beginnings and dark chocolate.

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  • Great Sand Dunes National Park,  landscape,  sunsets

    38 Degrees

    September 10, 2016
    Sunset at the Great Sand Dunes National Monument
    Sunset at the Great Sand Dunes National Monument

    I had a beautiful day for traveling yesterday, arriving at the Great Sand Dunes National Monument. The campgrounds at the Monument were full but the ranger at the gate told me to check with the camp host as there may be a possibility of a single tent available. He was correct as they opened up a group site and put only single tents in there.

    I did some wandering around the monument and walked a short distance out on the dunes and came back for dinner. Later on I headed to a parking lot just outside the campgrounds where I thought I could get a photo of the sunset on the dunes. That’s where I took the first image.

    Sand blowing across the dunes
    Sand blowing across the dunes as I walked to the envisioned sunset

    While walking to this parking lot for the first image, the wind started to pickup as you can see in the second image. And, it blew into the early morning. And, when you camp near the sand dunes you can expect a bit of sand when the wind blows. I broke camp about 6:30 am so I could get on the road early and everything in my tent was covered with a fine layer of sand this morning, including me. It was a cool morning. When I started my car at 7:00 am the temperature gauge said is was 38 degrees. I’m now in Alamosa at the Milagros Coffee House before my drive to Canyon de Chelly.

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  • Great Sand Dunes National Park,  landscape,  National Parks

    On the Road

    April 2, 2014
    Great Sand Dunes National Park
    Great Sand Dunes National Park

    About the time you read this I will be on the road heading south, in Phoenix area, to visit my parents and get in some photography time. I’d planned to camp at the Great Sand Dunes National Park this evening then camp at Canyon De Chelly tomorrow night. It looks like I may go to plan B and get a hotel in Durango since they are predicting 40-50% chance of rain and snow for the next two days. Plan B sounds the best as my dad says they are down in the 70’s in Phoenix. Much better than camping in the snow and rain. I would also get there Thursday evening instead of Friday. I may just revert to plan A on the way back as I’ve never been to Canyon De Chelly so visiting there is my first priority.

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  • Great Sand Dunes National Park,  landscape,  Plants

    Nature: The Simple Artist

    October 7, 2013

    Ripples of a Sand Ocean
    Alone in an Ocean of Sand

    “What we can easily see is only a small percentage of what is possible. Imagination is having the vision to see what is just below the surface; to picture that which is essential, but invisible to the eye.” – Anonymous

    Over time I’ve discovered how to eliminate unneeded elements in my photographs and create a powerful image. A solo tree on the horizon. The fallen maple leaf among the stones. When we first see The Great Sand Dunes we are impressed by their beauty and size as they rise over 750 feet above the valley floor. We grab out cameras,wide angle lens and tripods to capture the grandeur of those dunes. Yet, when we change our view and look closer we can find elements that are essential to making powerful images. Nature is the artist. As a photographer it is our task to find simple images provided by the artist.

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  • Grand Canyon National Park,  Great Sand Dunes National Park,  landscape,  Mesa Verde National Park,  National Parks

    Follow up

    September 24, 2013

    Great Sand Dunes National Park
    Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado

    This road trip has been good for me. I’m now in Phoenix visiting my parents for a couple days and sleeping in a real bed for a change. I’ll head back out tomorrow morning and drift back towards home. I find it inexpensive to camp in the National Parks with my senior pass while entrance fees are free. I’ve never been to any of these parks before. This is not a photographic expedition but a vacation. I’m acting like a tourist and shooting from the same locations the tourists are shooting from. I just take more time as I shoot.

    My first night was in the Great Sand Dunes National Park. Since it’s late in the season I’m not fighting large crowds. I’m able to select just about any campsite I desire. So far this park has been my most impressive and will stay on my bucket list. Clouds moved in early in the evening then rained hard for a couple hours during the night. I stayed dry but the rain cover on my tent was soaked the next morning. In the above image you can just make out a few people who have climbed to the top of the dunes.

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