• landscape,  natural areas,  photographers,  Photography,  Pineridge Natural Area,  quotes,  sunrises

    The Right Lighting

    Sunrise at Pineridge Natural Area yesterday

    “The secret to life is to put yourself in the right lighting. For some, it’s a Broadway spotlight; for others, a lamplit desk. Use your natural powers — of persistence, concentration, and insight — to do work you love and work that matters. Solve problems. make art, think deeply.”

    Susan Cain

    For any photographer to return home with an image that we feel is a keeper, we must place ourselves in the right spot, at the right time, to find the right light. Photography as well as a spiritual practice have been the work I needed to help me to live life, solve problems, make art and think deeply. I think Susan is spot on. It’s 23 degrees this morning with clear skies and wind. They are predicting rain and snow this evening in the high country and a slight possibility for the foothills and plains. Hope you use your natural powers!

  • clouds,  horizons,  landscape,  sunsets

    Here we go again…

    Helicopter with bucket heading to the latest fire, the Lewstone Fire

    Yesterday afternoon a new fire began in the Rist Canyon Area. It began as a brush fire and is located about 12 miles from my condo. The above image was taken yesterday evening around 6:40 pm at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area, a favorite hangout for me. Here is what that scene normally looks like at sunset. This is in the same vicinity of the High Park fire back in 2012 that burned over 87,000 acres and killed one woman. Needless to say the air quality is horrible at the present moment. We are now getting smoke from our two fires and but also the smoke from California fires are now moving into the area, even reaching as far east as Nebraska. 

    If you look closely in this image you can see the helicopter carrying a bucket of water to the fire. They have brought in firefighters from the Cameron Peak Fire in an attempt to gain control as quickly as possible. But, we are talking about nature which we have no control over. Last report I saw this morning the fire had grown to 140 acres at 11:00 pm last night with 0% containment. 

    The Cameron Peak fire is now over 19,000 acres and at 0% containment. Weather conditions are not good. Temperatures are expected to be in the 90’s the next five days with no precipitation. I’m inside this morning with my door closed because of the smoke. Not burying my head in the sand but trying not to take in any more smoke and soot than necessary. Probably not going to run a marathon today but I will try to get my walk in.

  • Cityscapes/Urban,  lifestyles,  snow

    Snowing again…. wait it’s stopped

    Early morning snowfall on the way to coffee

    Strange weather we have in Colorado. I took the bus this morning to meet a friend for coffee at 7:20 am. I could watch the snow moving in from the west. It began snowing by the time I stepped on the bus. This image was taken at 7:40 am as I’m heading into the coffee shop. By 11:00 am it was blue skies, sunshine and almost no sign of snow on the ground. And, wind gusts up to 30 mph. Hang on to your hat.

  • Candid Portraits,  Documentary/Street,  lifestyles,  sunrises,  Transportation

    Morning bus ride

    Morning sunrise on the bus

    I took this image on the bus ride the other morning. The sunrise was a pretty red and pink so I shot towards the east and included one of the riders. I like how it came out as it made it an abstract image. We have been cold ever since the Thanksgiving snowstorm that left us with 15 inches of snow. We’ve had a couple of days reach above 50 degrees but most days hoover around 40 degrees. Due to the cold and the amount of snow it is taking time to melt the snow, which is not the norm for Colorado. There are still piles of plowed snow along the campus that are still 6 feet tall. I confess I’m looking forward to warmer weather.

  • Black and White,  Cityscapes/Urban,  lifestyles

    Lunch with Monica

    Monring Shadows
    Morning Shadows

    We are experiencing spring weather but know that nature can and does change rather quickly. They have predicted temperatures in the mid 70’s today and tomorrow, while snow is possible on Friday.

    My schedule today is a quiet one. Now at the Lory Student Center to write and enjoy a mocha. Will have lunch with my youngest daughter today and then meet a friend later this afternoon. Hope you enjoy your day!

  • Black and White,  Cityscapes/Urban,  quotes,  shadows,  trees

    Again, It Was the Shadows

    Early Morning Shadows
    Early Morning Shadows

    They tell me down here that they are liking this beginning of winter and the cooler temperatures. Yes the 65 degree mornings are nice but, man, it quickly gets up to 95. This Colorado lad has to rethink this. Since, I am somewhat intelligent, and please don’t listen to anyone who says otherwise, I try and get my walk in before 10:00 am.  In doing so those shadows I discover are spectacular. So, again it was shadows I was seeing this morning.

    “What is at the core of my work is, in essence, a mediation on being a human being.” – Eli Reed