• John O'Donohue,  landscape,  quotes,  snow,  winter scenes

    Snowy Easter Morning

    April 12, 2020
    A light dusting of snow and cold temperatures on Easter morning

    “No one else has access to the world you carry around within yourself; you are its custodian and entrance. No one else can see the world the way you see it. No one else can feel your life the way you feel it. Thus it is impossible to ever compare two people because each stands on such different ground. When you compare yourself to others, you are inviting envy into your consciousness; it can be a dangerous and destructive guest.” 

    John O’Donohue

    Awoke to a dusting of light snow and cold. It is now 27 degrees, snow is falling again and expecting it throughout the day. I shortened my morning walk not because of the cold but the light breeze out of the north penetrates my clothes. I thought maybe a cup of hot coffee in my wicker rocker, watching it snow from my bedroom window, would be more comfortable, and it is. Happy Easter!

    Journal, fountain pen and coffee
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  • Candid Portraits,  coffee shops,  lifestyles,  People/Portraits,  snow,  winter scenes

    I was glad to see them…

    March 20, 2020
    This mornings baristas
    Doesn’t look like the first day of spring

    I took the bus to campus so I could sit near the gas fireplace in the Legacy Lounge and use their internet. At the bottom of the stairs is a small coffee shop that lickily is still open. I had to laugh at myself and share with them how my mind was wondering if they would be open when I came around the corner. Their business is slow so they they seemed glad to see me. But not as I glad as I was to see them. 

    This was what the bus stop looked like this morning. Sure doesn’t look like spring. Everything is so quiet. The Lory Student Center has been so quiet the past three days I’ve come here. There is no piped music and no students. Not sure how long I will be able to come here as things progress with more reported cases, restrictions and fear.

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  • frost,  snow,  winter scenes

    Winter Wonderland

    February 21, 2020
    Frosty morning and a brisk 10 degrees

    Had a dusting of snow late yesterday then fog and a heavy frost early this morning. Things were white and sparkling in the sun when all covered with frost and snow.  The air was sparkling with ice crystals. These frost crystals about a have inch long.The beauty of a Winter Wonderland.

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  • Albert Einstein,  clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  quotes,  snow,  trees,  winter scenes

    Frozen

    February 19, 2020
    Cold February day at Riverbend Ponds, one of the cities natural areas

    ““The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science.” 

    Albert Einstein

    Made a short walk at Riverbend Ponds just to find some images to bring home. These ponds are a popular place for fishing, primarily for bass. Needless to say not many anglers out there today. 

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  • Cityscapes/Urban,  lifestyles,  quotes,  trees,  winter scenes

    I call that progress

    February 18, 2020
    Walking across the CSU Oval after a night of light snowfall

    “The man who fears to be alone will never be anything but lonely, no matter how much he may surround himself with people. But the man who learns, in solitude and recollection, to be at peace with his own loneliness, and to prefer its reality to the illusion of merely natural companionship, comes to know the invisible companionship of God. Such a one is alone with God in all places, and he alone truly enjoys the companionship of other men, because he loves them in God in Whom their presence is not tiresome, and because of Whom his own love for them can never know satiety.”

    Thomas Merton

    We had a dusting of snow yesterday evening and temperature is at 17 degrees this morning. Good morning for coffee. They had freshly made chocolate eclairs in the display but I kept my wallet in my pocket and calories off my waist. I’m calling that progress. 

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  • landscape,  shadows,  snow,  trees,  winter scenes

    Listening to the Voices

    February 9, 2020
    Soft subtle shadows on undisturbed snow

    “One way God connects us to nature is through giving us the capacity to appreciate and be fascinated by its beauty. We find nature marked by such patterns as simplicity, harmony, balance, and a mysterious quality of vibrancy.” 

    Tilden Edwards

    I stopped in awe and took in the wonder of this tranquil scene yesterday morning after Friday’s snowfall. It was the shadows and the undisturbed snow that called to me. I like to think of it as an inaudible voice heard deep within me. I was a bit surprised to find this large of an area of undisturbed snow with no tracks and painted with soft long early morning shadows. As you may well know I am drawn to these scenes. I find a beauty and serenity that touches somewhere within me, especially when I find it in a busy city, or in this case a college campus. I’m not sure I set out searching for them as much as it seems they are presented, or gifted to me. However, I must be aware of the world around me, listening to the voice within and have my camera with me.

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  • landscape,  natural areas,  quotes,  snow,  trees,  winter scenes

    Finding the quiet

    February 8, 2020
    A nice light fresh snowfall along the Poudre River and cold
    A small group of trees along the Foothills

    “Don’t think the garden loses its ecstasy in winter.
    It’s quiet, but the roots are down there riotous.”

    Rumi

    Maybe 2 inches of snow fell yesterday. I made a drive north of town on Larimer County Road 19 and stopped at the North Shields Natural Ponds where I took this image of the Poudre River. I continued north and one more of the trees. It is snowing in the mountains and the reason you cannot see them in either image. It was clear blue skies a couple miles north of this image. As I returned to town so did the cloudy skies and snow. One reason I headed north was to find the quiet. And I did.

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  • bicycles,  Candid Portraits,  coffee shops,  Documentary/Street,  lifestyles,  Transportation,  winter scenes

    It’s cold this morning here….

    February 5, 2020

    … but the good news is we’re suppose to reach a high of 23 degrees to day. After seeing this on my phone app, I bundled up and headed for the bus. There was no desire to scrape ice and snow off the windshield of my car and deal with traffic or parking. This storm brought us 4 inches of snow, making everything have that beautiful winter scene. But, dang the cold! Anyway….

    Tis a bit cold this morning
    Bicyclist on campus this morning when it was -3 degrees.
    A must to any morning, no matter the temperature

    I find it interesting how people handle our weather in different ways. Now the “younger” fellow in the above image must be able to handle the cold better than me. I actually counted four bicyclists, all younger, on my walk over here. A quick thought/question ran through my mind, did one of their parents drop them on their heads when they were “younger?”

    I realize these bicyclists ride a bicycle to work or class for health reasons, to save fossil fuel, avoid traffic and parking and maybe because of the image, while I google homes for sale in Phoenix from the warmth of a favorite coffee shop. And, with cold hands download images, try and type this post, eat a chocolate croissant and sip on my mocha latte. Yep, we handle the cold differently! Have an awesome day!

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  • clouds,  landscape,  Plants,  trees,  winter scenes,  writing/reading

    An ethics statement

    January 23, 2020
    Winter afternoon clouds east of town

    Fellow photographer, Mark Graf, posted a very interesting and well written post that has been preoccupying my mind lately. He addresses the effects humans are making on nature and in my opinion does a great job. He has definitely done his homework. I suggest you check it out and even reread it. After all he has spent some time writing it, and re-writing it.

    As for myself and as a photographer, I have posted images where I needed to drive out of town with intentions of getting my head straightened out, distance myself from the noise of the city in order to listen to the wind and meadowlarks song. In doing this I burn fossil fuel and make my own impact on the environment. When I get home and snack on a few cashews, one of my weaknesses, I am also making an impact on the environment. When I sit in a favorite coffee shop drinking my mocha latte, I am also making an impact. Mark says it well in his final paragraph, stating “We are going to leave footprints no matter what we do.”

    I have personally been altering my lifestyle and its impact to the environment for several years. I also know that some of our society is making changes to decrease our impact. But, the real question is what impact do I make and how do I change that? Maybe it’s about writing my own ethics statement as a photographer and a resident on this plant.

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  • clouds,  Essays,  landscape,  Photography,  rants,  sunsets,  Vision,  winter scenes

    None of those excuses are true…

    January 11, 2020
    Winter evening sunset in eastern Colorado

    I am fully aware I do not get out for many nature and landscape images as I have in years past. Maybe, just a season in my life? I can’t point to one specific reason but here are few excuses I’ve used; sloth, age, lack of desire, need a better camera or lens, I’m not good enough, too far to drive or a few other excuses I can conjure up in my mind. Now that I’ve written that it’s obvious I need to have a talk with myself because none of those excuses are true. Gratefully, I’m not beating on myself about this and still taking images focused more on street and documentary.

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