Category Archives: Outdoors

Early Spring Day

So much of what I shoot is “make the best of what you have.” E.g. An elk is in the meadow but the light is poor or the animal is too far away, etc. In this case I saw the rocks across the creek and saw in my head what I wanted. I was able to place myself and my grand-daughter where I wanted.

It’s pretty satisfying to be able to see the vision become reality.

Suprise Elk

I was snowshoeing the Cub Lake trail. It was not a great day because the wind was really strong, blowing stinging snow. I had my head down waiting for the wind to let up, just watching my feet. When I looked up a big elk was grazing just off the trail. I stopped and got a few shots off before the cold killed my battery.

I backed off around the corner of a big rock to get out of the wind to swap batteries and switch to a long lens, Panasonic 100-400. I thought I’d move off the trail into the meadow to get a better angle. When I got back the elk was joined by two others- even better!

It was tough shooting at 400 because the sun was in my eyes and I had to hold the camera one-handed and use the other hand to block the sun. But I had a blast shooting as best I could and watching these magnificent animals.

Colorado Mustangs

I had the opportunity to visit the Great Escape Mustang Sanctuary (https://greatescapesanctuary.org/) and photograph these beautiful animals. While we had snow a week earlier, there was great weather for this sunset photo op.

I highly recommend this place- great staff, very accommodating and we came home not only with great photos but a greater knowledge about the wild mustangs from the Sand Wash Basin of Colorado and their rescue.

That’s How It Goes

I had a free day to go shoot in the park. I had taken a nice long hike but didn’t really find anything that interesting all day. I was about 1/2 mile from my house when I saw this iconic Estes Park shot- elk fighting AND the Twin Owls. Just another example of being ready when the scene presents itself.

Olympus E-M1 II, 57mm

Night Sky Times 2

Beaver Meadows and Monument Rocks, night sky.

Recently I had the opportunity to do night sky photos in 2 amazing yet different places, 2 days apart. Beaver Meadows (left) and Monument Rocks (right). Both nights were clear but the new moon was much brighter at Monument Rocks. The additional light was good for lighting up the rocks but it made the Milky Way much dimmer. At Monument Rocks I used 1 – 2 f-stops less.

Regardless, I enjoyed the amazing nights with a couple of good friends.

(RMNP, Monument Rocks Kansas, OMD-E1 Mk2, 7.5 mm fisheye, Sept 2018)

Mountain House

Mountain House

I wish I could say I found this house off the beaten track, high in the mountains but the truth is it was just at the beginning of a trail head in the front range.

OMD-EM1 Mark II, August 2018