• Glacier National Park,  lake,  landscape,  National Parks

    We Are Nature

    January 18, 2016
    This image was taken in 2004 just afater the massive fires in Glacieer National Park. The haze of smoke is evident in the mountains and you could smell it.
    This image was taken in 2004 just after the massive fires in Glacier National Park.

    Back in 2004 I made a road trip on my motorcycle to the west coast. During the 3 week trip I road 4200 miles. I drove down the northwest coast of Washington into Oregon, ate seafood in Seattle and tried to cover as many National Parks as I could fit into the schedule. I camped along the road except for 4 four nights, setting up camp primarily in National Parks.

    I only scheduled one afternoon and night in Glacier National Park which is not near enough time to really see the park. I setup camp in one of the campgrounds near Lake McDonald but for the life of me can’t remember which one. The previous year was one of the worst seasons of fire in Glacier National Park. A 136,00 acres were burned that year. One of the largest fires was the Roberts Fire, which burned 57,570 acres, that is near the lake. I could see the barren and naked landscape across the lake. There was a fire burning nearby, causing a haze to settle into the lower valleys of the park.

    It’s cold outside this evening so I’m going through my archives and found this image that caused me to remember  the trip. I wrote about this trip before and have a color image or the lake, if you care to check it out. I converted this image to black and white with Silver Efex Pro using one of the presets then making a few simple adjustments in Lightroom 4.

    A final thought : I have in the past wished we had more respect for nature but I think I would rather we understood that “we are nature.”

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  • Art,  Art/Design

    I’m Out of Here

    November 25, 2014
    Voted Best of Show
    Voted Best of Show
    photocrati gallery

    Can’t take the cold anymore. So, my sister and I are boarding a airplane this morning and heading to Phoenix to spend Thanksgiving with our parents, our sister and our favorite brother-in-law. Checking the forecast we see temperatures to be near the 80 degree mark. I can live with that! My sister and I met Sunday morning for coffee and plan our attack. After settling on our plans we headed out to a woodcarvers show. My dad has been carving for the past 20 years and now Sheree has been bitten by the bug. She’s joined a local club who is sponsoring the show. I have seen some nice carving through photographs in my dads magazines but seeing these carvings up close will take your breath away. Here a few images from the show. I’m not taking a laptop nor expecting to be connected to the internet for the next week. Stay warm!

     

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  • landscape,  Travel

    The Wind Farm

    July 9, 2014
    Wind Turbins
    Lamar Wind Farm

    On my drive back from Texas I traveled along Highway 287. This is a pretty desolate stretch of road with seemingly endless miles of brown, dry prairie grass brought on by the severe drought. I was struck by the wind turbines against the blue skies and the open land so I had to stop. And, yes the wind was blowing. We are seeing more of these farms along the eastern plains of Colorado. This one is called the Lamar Wind Farm and is the largest in Colorado. It utilizes 108 GE 1.5 MW wind turbines. It resides on an 11,000 acre cattle ranch and only uses 2% of the land. So, each turbine takes up about one cow.  I did not count them but will go with what the website says.

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  • clouds,  landscape,  snow

    Cold and Wet

    April 3, 2014
    Snowplow on Wolf Creek Pass
    Snowplow on Wolf Creek Pass

    Well, I chose plan B and got a hotel in Cortez, Colorado. About mid morning the clouds rolled in and by the time I got to Pagosa Springs it was a mix of rain and snow. So far I’ve driven through rain, sleet, hail and snow. Plan A was to camp and plan B was a hotel, thus the decision for plan B. Snow plows were out on Wolf Creek Pass while only light snow and rain on Konosha Pass, Red Hill Pass and Trout Creek Pass. Been and up and down day! It has been a beautiful and scenic drive. I’m expecting the same tomorrow as I head to Phoenix.

    I found this small one room house in the South Park area. Sure has a big yard!

    For Sale: Large Yard
    For Sale: Large Yard
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  • architecture,  Black and White,  Travel

    Waiting

    January 27, 2014
    Sky Harbor Airport
    Waiting

    I’ve heard of a prayer that goes something like this, “God give me patience and give it to me now.” Waiting can be difficult for many of us. Several come to mind. Standing in a checkout line. Sitting in doctors office. Waiting on a delayed flight at the airport. Meeting someone who is late for coffee. Waiting for the arrival of a new grandchild. Waiting for our tax return. 🙂 Waiting for a freezer of homemade ice cream to finish. Waiting for the pizza to be delivered. Yet, as I grow older I’ve learned to appreciate waiting. I really do enjoy those times of sitting or kneeling in wet grass waiting for the sun to touch the horizon as it rises or sets. Walking the streets waiting for a photo opportunity to present itself. Waiting silently in prayer or mediation. Waiting is a teacher if we let it. Waiting can be a discipline if we let it. Waiting can have special rewards if we let it. As Elizabeth Taylor says, “It is very strange that the years teach us patience – that the shorter our time, the greater our capacity for waiting.”  Are we learning to wait patiently or wanting it now?

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  • clouds,  quotes

    Traveling

    October 25, 2013

    Passing Storm
    Passing Storm

    “Life is about turning up. The more you get yourself out there, whether you wake up at 5:00 a.m. to pouring rain or not, the more you’re likely to experience the wonderful happenings that are going on all around you. Sometimes the most interesting visual phenomena occur when you least expect it. Other times, you think you’re getting something amazing and the photographs turn out to be boring and predictable. So I think that’s why, a long time ago, I consciously tried to let go of artist’s angst, and instead just hope for the best and enjoy it. I love the journey as much as the destination. If I wasn’t a photographer, I’d still be a traveler.” – Michael Kenna

    I took this along US 285 while traveling on my 11-day trip back in September (just before they shut down the parks). Later on that afternoon I camped at the Great Sand Dunes National Park. The sun was intermittent then more clouds rolled in and a heavy rain fell through most of the night. My rainfly was soaked but my tent, sleeping bag and shoes were dry. Traveling.

    Start another trip this morning then heading down to Phoenix and celebrate mom’s 81st birthday. Taco Bell here we come.

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  • landscape,  ocean,  sunsets

    Dreaming

    September 5, 2012
    Oregon Coast Sunset

    Looking back over the archives is an interesting way to see where I’ve grown as a person as well as a photographer, or not, and remember the places I’ve visited. But as I wander back in memory I’m sure I would not experience this coastal sunset the same way as I did in 2003. At this time in my life I would spend more time listening to the waves, smelling the salty air and maybe never need to take a shot. However it now has me dreaming about a trip to the coast.

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  • Canon Powershot G12,  Documentary/Street

    Cancelled Flights

    March 9, 2012

    Waiting

    I am always witnessing people waiting at the airport. Some are planned waits such as connecting flights and some are not. When this image was taken we were waiting on our plane which did not arrive until early the next morning therefore canceling the flight.  It’s times like this we have opportunities to learn about waiting that Earls talking about here. For me waiting while I watch the sun to rise or set is easier than waiting for a late plane. Sigh!

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