I apologize for the quality of this image but I want to post it anyway. It is my attempt at showing the size of this fire. I am probably 20-25 miles from the High Park Fire that has been burning since last Saturday morning. It is located just west of Fort Collins along the foothills. Here is a bit of information about the fire. The fire is burning and has burned all the area from about an inch on either side of this image. Here is a link to some better images.
The fire has now burned 52,000 acres. They are using nine helicopters and fixed-winged aircraft and over 1,300 fire fighters along with the help of the National Guard. Over 100 structures have burned – 48 of those being hones. In the above image you can see rain clouds on the left. However, this thunder cell created downdrafts, not rain, which stirred up embers that jumped the Poudre River at Stevens Gulch and is heading towards the Glacier View Meadows Neighborhood. Not good. We so need the rain!
The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this “emotion” is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder, or stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead. His eyes are closed.
Albert Einstein
An early morning sunrise taken back in 2006 at the Arapaho Bend Natural Area Natural just east of Fort Collins.
I found these young children enjoying their first ice cream of the season in Old Town in Fort Collins. Temperatures were in the low 50’s yesterday so lots of people were in shorts, shirt sleeves, riding bicycles, and eating ice cream.
Prospect Ponds as a series of ponds encircled with trails and located along East Prospect Road. The City of Fort Collins maintains the ponds and trails. It is used by fishermen as the ponds have plenty of small bass, crappie and perch. The natural area is a haven for waterfowl, birds, mice, foxes and raccoons to see in the early mornings and late evenings. As I walked along the edge of one of these ponds on a cool fall morning I had my attention captured by these reeds and the early morning light. After setting up and taking a few images I was given something extra by nature as a fish rose to the surface to make this pleasant splash and ripples, adding more sparkles to the image. Yes, a morning splash with nature.
…to bring something important on a photo shoot? I have and here’s my story. When the alarm clock broke me from my sleep I reach for the snooze button. Man, is it dark. Wonder if that’s because the suns not up yet? Once the annoying sound has been silenced, I rub my eyes hoping it will help them adjust to the darkness. I start to see the dim light coming through my bedroom window from the street light. My mind asks if I really want to crawl out of this warm bed on a cold October morning in hopes of a beautiful sunrise. But, the voice of passion within a photographer coaxes the body to get out of the bed at this early hour!
I dress and pack my gear in the car. Brrr, it is cold. Let’s get that car heater going. There is very little traffic as everyone else with any sort of sanity is still in bed. Since I’m not driving very far and this is one of my favorite places, the Arapaho Bend Natural Area, I arrive in plenty of time. I find my parking spot in the small turnout along the dirt road, turn off the engine and step back out into the cold. I know I will have to walk down to the waters edge for the view I want and hopefully not get too wet from the tall grasses. I do love the quiet of these morning hours. Strangely, I’m not feeling the cold as much. Once I’m at the waters edge I set up my tripod and get ready to shoot. Wait a minute! No way! Yes, I did! I frantically look in this pocket of my bag and then in that pocket but it’s not there. Yep, I forgot to put my L-bracket on my camera and now I cannot place my camera on my tripod. S#@*!!!!
Frustrated and angry at myself, I sit down on the wet ground and stare at the horizon as the sun begins to rise. Look at the colors in those clouds! Their reflection in the water! This is awesome! My senses are waking up as I can hear the geese on the far side of the pond. I’m breathing slower and gently. The light breeze is gently lapping the water along the shoreline. I am realizing the calming beauty of nature is embracing my spirit. I’m enjoying all of this, the sights, the smells, the sounds and I’m not cold anymore. Once again,the voice inside of us that wants us to photograph speaks to me. It begs me to go ahead and shoot. “Why not? You’re here. Go ahead and hand hold that camera. Forget the tripod. Now is the time. So, pull up those knees, prop your elbows on top of the knees, take a breath and press the shutter. Lets’ see what you get.” So, I did.
Another lesson in learning to listen to the voice inside. And, that’s my story.
I have been known to leave my warm bed and stand in the cold to take a photograph of the sunrise. Each time I stand there with my camera a feeling of expectation rises within me. I love to see the colors of the sky turning red, blue and orange as the sun begins to peek over the horizon. When scattered clouds appear I know they will only add to the image as the sun loves to paint them. Each new sunrise is different and no two are ever the same. The sun always rises.
In the past I have stayed away from voicing my opinion on politics. Politics has never interested me. I falsely stated that politicians were corrupt or soon would be and put and end to that conversation. Probably the biggest reason was my lack of knowledge on the issues and candidates nor did I want to be wrong in what I thought or said, basically fear. In this past election I reacted the same way, staying distant to the campaign, but there is a difference this time. After discovering Obama had been elected as our new president, a feeling of hope rose within me. The American people want something new and something new is about to unfold before us and I want to see what it is. It feels different. Let’s look with anticipation and hope! The sun always rises.
