• Cactus,  landscape,  Plants,  sunrises

    A Bit of Pink

    August 26, 2012
    Just Before Sunrise

    This mornings sunrise was completely different than the day before. Clouds filled the sky and the stars were not to be seen. I arrived at a new location and was greeted with the same quiet as the previous morning. The quiet is amazing to experience, especially for us city dwellers. But before I knew it the desert awoke with the songs of cactus wrens breaking that silence. I would not see the sun rise over the horizon on this morning. Yet, nature gave me a small bit of pink to enjoy.

    I should be picking up Paul Lester today and taking him up to Mount Evans, 14,000 feet. This way he can look to the east and see all of Nebraska he just drove through. We hope to meet up with John Strong for a bite to eat sometime in the afternoon or evening.

    Read More
  • clouds,  landscape,  mountains

    A Trip to the Mountains

    May 7, 2012
    The Meadow

    I’ve been back in Colorado for 14 months now and I’ve not been up in the mountains. So, this past Tuesday, after my doctors appointment, I headed up to Estes Park along the Big Thompson Canyon. I can’t count the times I had to stop and take it all in again. Oh, the smell of pine and the sound of the river are good for the soul. My trip back down was along Colorado 7, which follows the south St Vrain River, passing through Allenspark and Lyons. I drove 200 miles and loved it. I sure missed those mountains.

    PS: I found this interesting read and wanted to pass it along.

    Read More
  • landscape,  mountains,  National Parks,  Smoky Mountains National Park

    You Had Muir

    December 14, 2011

    The Great Smoky Mountains

    Perhaps the greatest tribute ever given to Muir took place in a private conversion between two great contemporary mountaineers. Galen Rowell once asked Rheinhold Messner why the greatest mountains and valleys of the Alps are so highly developed, why they have hotels, funicular railways, and veritable cities washing up against sites that, in America, are maintained relatively unencumbered by development. Messner explained the difference in three words. He said, “You had Muir.”

    Read More
  • landscape,  mountains,  Plants,  snow,  trees

    Snow Along the Front Range

    April 21, 2011

    Snow Along the Front Range

    We must protect the forests for our children, grandchildren and children yet to be born. We must protect the forests for those who can’t speak for themselves such as the birds, animals, fish and trees.
    — Qwatsinas (Hereditary Chief Edward Moody), Nuxalk Nation

    Read More
  • landscape

    35,000 feet

    February 9, 2011

    35,000 feet

    I apologize for not keeping up on this blogging thing, both posting and responding to them. I blame it on a busy life but we all have some business in our lives. I also apologize for this image, at least the quality of it. I took this one out the back window of our aircraft using my cellphone, as we flew over the snow covered mountains of Idaho or Wyoming, really not sure.

    I am sort of settle in Colorado. I have my car unpacked and am now camped at my sisters, which is awesome! I will probably be there for the month of February and possibly March. It does feel good to me to know I am going back to my condo once the renter has moved out. I’ve missed family, friends and Colorado weather, which includes the snow and cold as well as the sunshiny days. So, this is one of my office views. It changes all the time.

    Read More
  • landscape

    Artist and Technician

    September 10, 2010

    Routt National Forest

    Earl Moore had an interesting post a few of days ago that caused me to stop and think, so I wanted to pass along the link to it for those who may be interested. He talks about how we mix these three ingredients in our photography: technique, vision and emotion. I really like his statement, “You are the artist and technician.” It is so relevent in my photography. When I reflect back over the years, the mixture of those three ingredients in my photography has varied from time to time. I can see those times where I was mixing in large portions of vision but skimping on the craft and emotion. While at other times there were spoonfuls of emotion mixed with poor craftsmanship.

    I think the tools and techniques I choose, my perspective when I pressed the shutter, my emotions when I pressed the shutter and the way I feel about that work, both at the time of capture and in post processing, are truly mine. So when the switch is turned on and I am in the mode of photographer, I can be the artist or the technician.  Thanks, Earl!

    You’re right on, Earl!

    Read More
  • landscape,  Transportation

    Office View

    February 10, 2010

    Rocky Mountains from 28,000 feet

    When working as an engineer I was given a nice fast computer, placed in an 8×8 cube and brought home stress over the projects handed to me. Now that I work as a flight attendant I have a fast aircraft, work in a long tube and don’t take my work home. Oh, and my little cube had no windows while the office views from 28,000 feet will blow your socks off!

    Read More