• landscape,  National Parks

    The Falls

    August 23, 2010
    Niagara Falls

    Last week we had a long overnight in Buffalo, New York. We arrived just before midnight but did not have to show until 5:00 PM, which gave us plenty of time to enjoy the area. Since none of the four of us had been to Niagara Falls, we did some investigating and discovered a $4.00 bus ride from the airport was available. What a wonderful natural wonder the falls are! Such power and beauty in once place. We walked all over the place and checked out all the different views we could on the American side. If I ever get back up there I will look into the Canadian side. This image was taken near Prospect Point. We avoided all the souvenir shops but did eat lunch at the Top of the Falls restaurant overlooking the falls. Buffalo wings! It made for a nice day trip.

    Read More
  • landscape,  National Parks,  sunrises

    First Light

    July 8, 2010

    Foothills Parkway

    Earl’s been posting images of the Smoky Mountains and stirring up  some fond memories of a trip I took back in October of 2003 with fellow photographer Jeff Svoboda.  Jeff and I spent a week shooting early mornings and late afternoons. My first experience in the park, loved it and hope it was not my last one. What a great place to experience. As I’ve been cleaning things up on my hard drive I’ve also been finding images I’ve forgotten about. Here’s a morning sunrise from Foothills Parkway: First light.

    Read More
  • lifestyles,  National Parks,  People/Portraits

    Colorado Snow and Hot Chocolate

    December 3, 2009

    Jon at Cameron Pass

    The Rocky Mountain snowfalls provide some wonderful times for those who enjoy the winter season. There wonderful opportunities to cross country sky, down hill ski, sledding, snow shoeing, snowmobiling and for the hardy souls, camping. I’m not one of those! The day after a snowfall can have sunshine and warm temperatures allowing people to get out and about. The skiing, both down hill and cross country, is not my forte but the slow methodical snow shoeing brings a smile to my face and plenty of exercise. It also works better for me as a photographer. A fresh snowfall can present some wonderful light to work with. When you add a skier, such as Jon, magic happens. This image was taken a couple of years ago on top of Cameron Pass in north central Colorado, about  an hour from my condo in Fort Collins. I ventured out on New Years day with Tracy and Jon. They did some cross country skiing while I snowshoed and sweated up a storm with a happy trigger finger. 🙂 After an exhilarating day out in the cold a hot chocolate sure tastes good.

    Read More
  • National Parks,  spirituality

    Solitude is in the Present

    May 6, 2009
    Empty Bench in Shennandoha National Park
    Empty Bench in Shenandoah National Park

    “Solitude is not something you must hope for in the future. Rather, it is a deepening of the present, and unless you look for it in the present you will never find it.” Thomas Merton

    As time has move on and my age has increased I joyfully welcome my times of solitude. We can create a place in our homes to sit in quiet solitude to start and end our days. With our busy and noisy world I also seek to find places outside the community of cities and towns. I can find these places in our parks, both local and national. To some this bench may seem lonely while shrouded by fog but it is offering rest to anyone who wishes to sit. 

    Read More
  • landscape,  National Parks

    Moraine Park

    April 16, 2009

     

    Rocky Mountain National Park
    Rocky Mountain National Park

    I miss Colorado and the beauty it presented to us. One of my favorite places to spend a quiet morning was somewhere in Rocky Mountain National Park. I know that each place has it’s own beauty whether that is the desert, coast line, swamp, or rainforest. I guess after spending most of my life in Colorado it sort of became a part of me. This was taken a few years ago and found as I sort through old images.

    Read More