This is from 2003 and a trip made to Yellowstone National Park. Lamar Valley, one of my favorite places in the park.
Bison
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Bison in Fog - architecture, clouds, Documentary/Street, landscape, mountains, National Parks, Rocky Mountain National Park
Estes Park and RMNP
This is a small park area along the river. I decided to make a drive up to Estes Park yesterday. My intent was to grab a coffee and sit along the river to read and write. The thought crossed my mind to maybe have lunch before coming back. I ended up driving up to Trail Ridge Road. What a glorious day to make that drive. Last Fall Estes Park had a flood come through the town and wiped out most of it. Here are a few images. The city is built along the banks for the Big Thompson River and has been a tourist attraction for years. I am amazed at how well it looked. Lunch was probably the best turkey/bacon wrap with a pesto sauce to die for.
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Common Paintbrush
Common Paintbrush At one of the stops along the road in Arches National Park I noticed the Common Paintbrush were blooming, and usually do from March to June. They are also called Slickrock Paintbrush or Early Paintbrush. The desert is a harsh land so plants find ways to survive in this arid land. This plant is hemiparasitic (partiallyhalf-parasite). It is a water parasite that survives drought by attaching to the roots of other plants using them as a source of water.
Strange as it may seem I was drawn more to the plants such as these Paintbrush and the twisted junipers. The rock formations were amazing but looking within inches of you was just this incredibly amazing world.
Common Paintbrush and Yucca - Canyon De Chilly, clouds, Fujifilm X-E1, landscape, National Monuments, National Parks, snow, sunrises
Made It To Phoenix
Snow covered car and not my tent Well, I arrived in to Phoenix yesterday evening about 6:30 pm, an hour later than I expected. Even though I left Cortez early I found myself stopping way too often. When I awoke I could hear the wet pavement from passing cars. But I was in for a surprise when I stepped outside my hotel room and found 2-3 inches of snow on my car. Glad I did not pitch the tent. 🙂 Below is an image taken just west of Cortez before sunrise. What a beautiful serene morning.
Snow covered trees west of Cortez 
Fresh snow inside Canyon De Chilly I arrived in  Canyon De Chilly about 9:00 in the morning and spent more time there than I expected, which was not enough time. The scenery was breath taking but not as much as the sacredness I felt there. There were very few visitors because of the cold and snow from the night before and it is still early in the season. Loved the quiet of walking to vistas and looking out over the canyon. I had no desire to leave and will  go back.
Morning sun to melt the fresh snow I took the above image along Highway 191 in northeast Arizona. You can see the storm system that moved through yesterday on the eastern horizon. You can also see the dirt on my lens. 🙂
Puffs of clouds to keep my company on my drive If you enjoy scattered clouds against a blue sky then yesterday was the day for it.
Painted Desert I also made a quick drive through the Petrified Forest National Park. It was more than I expected, the colors and art work of nature at it’s best can be found in Painted Desert area of the park. It is called the ‘badlands’ for a good reason but what beauty in such a desolate and harsh land. Now to relax and spend time with my parents and eat!
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On the Road
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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Nature: The Simple Artist
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.” –Â 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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Listening to Suggestions
