• landscape,  mountains,  Smoky Mountains National Park,  sunrises

    Something from the Past

    August 7, 2019

    This is another HDR image from a trip back in 2003 to the Great Smoky Mountains. It is a sunset image taken on the Foothills Parkway. This image is a merging of three images exposed plus and minus 2/3 stop. I took it prior to any knowledge of HDR. My reason for the multiple exposures was to make sure I had a good exposure. It was taken with my first DSLR, a Nikon D100 and the Nikon 80-400mm lens. It wasn’t a day or two later that I dropped that lens and destroyed it. I pretty much bent it in the middle. Lesson learned was to make sure the camera and lens are securely fastened to your tripod before picking up your tripod. I ended up shooting the rest of the trip with one lens, a Sigma 24-85mm f2.8-4.0 lens.

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  • landscape,  mountains,  National Parks,  Rocky Mountain National Park

    Motivation: or lack of desire

    February 12, 2019

    I sure have not had much desire or motivation to be on the internet. Therefore I have not taken many images (although its always with me), I have not posted much on this site,I have not kept up with my favorite blogs (yes yours), I haven’t been out to my nature areas much. I have, however, been working on my cardiac rehab, putting in time on the treadmill, bicycle and rower three days a week, and walking, and spending money at my favorite coffee shops. My walking has been shortened due to the cold weather. We had sub-zero temperatures a couple mornings in a row. Looking forward to Spring and Summer.

    Each February 1st my friend, Kay and I make a day trip to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park in memory of her husband, Wayne. This year marked six years ago he died. Wayne was a good friend of mine as we found we connected with similar spiritual paths and read the same authors. We always finish off the day trip with a late lunch at one of Wayne’s favorite restaurants, Sweet Basilicas.

    The above image was taken at a turnout in Horseshoe Meadows just inside the north entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. Hope all is well with you and I will do my best to get back up to speed at whatever rate my body and mind need.

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  • Arches National Park,  landscape,  musings,  National Parks,  writing/reading

    “From my experience….”

    March 26, 2018

    Arches National Park
    Arches National Park

    All of us have heard people say, “I know…” when they really don’t. And, if we’re honest, we are well  aware of the times we say it, and don’t. There is a saying that “what I think I think I know, ain’t so.” Reality is we do not know what another thinks or feels unless they share that with us and that is filtered through their ability to articulate and how we listen and understand. We do them an injustice when we assume to know. Our assumptions can easily be our imagination or a thought which we quickly make into a false reality. We’ll believe it. I’ve not found this to be a good foundation for a conversation or relationship. So, what if we were to say, “From my experience….” or something similar. Seems the mind wants to know, plan, or control the next moment, as if it’s real, rather than stay in the present and find out what we don’t really know.

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  • 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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