I pulled these from my archives because there are so many great things about them: The vivid green of the ducks’ heads, the reflectivity of the water, the warm hue of the tones and the gorgeous sunshine that glinted off the water and their feathers.
And really, how can you not have a better Friday after seeing double duck tails?! 🙂
A nice contrast in colors and textures at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens in Richmond, VA. This was one of my most favorite places to get away to when I lived here. I loved to walk quietly and let my senses open up to the scents, colors and little surprises that were often hidden here and there.
Often times the best subjects are those serendipities that you find away from the main displays, but put on their own show.
Sometimes I find myself turning my camera to record something that may not have the components of the perfect picture, but is an effort to keep something to remember about a moment.
In this instance, I’d pulled off on a random exit between Wyoming and Colorado, driving unknown dirt roads, following the sunset with my vehicle just hoping for a good photo. Unfortunately, no matter where I went, power lines remained in frame. Resigned that this just wasn’t the night for an epic sunset shot, I leaned back against my Highlander and took in the beauty of the moment as the light faded.
But I forgot about the power lines when instead I studied off to the side, the soft hues the approaching rain took on while it seemingly floated below the clouds. The shades of the sunset against the mountains varied from smokey blue to shimmering gold. The fields and farms took on warm, earthy tones and somehow the green of the crops and trees melded seamlessly into it all. It was a modern-day shire: Quiet, comforting and glorious all rolled into a brief, 5 minute moment. I could have stayed in that moment all night.
It was almost as if the universe said, “Sorry about not getting your photo, here’s a perfect moment of tranquility and earthly beauty you’ll remember for years to come instead.” And I did not feel one bit slighted.
One of my most favorite photos. This one was during a stroll in the Coker Arboretum at UNC Chapel Hill (North Carolina) in 2010. Over the years, this picture still makes me smile. It was a perfect summer day, and the arboretum featured this fantastic creek of little rocks and waterways that the birds were just enamored with. Playing this way and that, splashing and bathing not caring how close I was with my camera.
But this little one was having a far better time with much more enthusiasm than all the others. I delighted in sitting there for a solid fifteen minutes just watching it wriggle, shake, roll, duck it’s head under and become thoroughly drenched. The little water droplets hanging in mid-air here were nothing compared to the waterworks display in other photos. But I love this shot best because this little ball of feathers just had all sorts of fun-loving bird attitude: Tail up, feathers askew and having a good ‘ole time.
“Tower, this is Ghost Rider, requesting a flyby.”
“Negative, Ghost Rider, the pattern is full.”
This mockingbird all but has the movie “Top Gun” down with how badly he just needed to both chase off this Northern Flicker and land at that bird bath. And it didn’t matter one bit that the flicker outsized him two-fold. These feisty birds will chase off even a hawk on occasion.
Departing the hotel in Snowmass, we took an indirect path back so that we could hit a few sights along the way. One of these was to drive Independence Pass, which ultimately tops out at over 12,000ft. Fair warning – the speed limit nearly the entire way is between 25-35mph for good reason. This drive is not for the faint of heart.
The views are breathtaking. This is truly God’s Country here; totally protected and preserved and just amazing. The contrasting peaks, summer snow, warm sunshine and shallow creeks and rivers seemed right out of a magazine. The roads are very narrow and you will be turning your wheel to take hairpin after hairpin but with a little backbone, it’s absolutely worth it. Pull over as many times as you like to take photos and thank the universe someone had the good sense years ago to set this land aside to be what it is today.
Once we exited Independence Pass, we briefly stopped by a place called Twin Lakes as we started back east. Due to time constraints and needing to get home, we couldn’t explore here but it was a great view here from the side of the road at least.
While this is another similar lake view, this is actually Dillon Reservoir by Frisco also in Colorado. Another location I’d noticed on the map but had never seen in person before. It was just a few miles off the main highway to get to this spot. This wasn’t the spot I wanted to shoot from though. An impromptu wedding had taken over the overlook where we hiked to. It was an elderly couple tying the knot with maybe 10 family members present and was just about the sweetest moment I’ve seen and worth pausing a respectable distance away to witness their vows and silently wish them well before I left.
Somehow that moment seemed the perfect way to end our trip as we motored on back towards Denver then Fort Collins.
Early morning (4 a.m. wake-up call) had wheels on the road by 4:30 a.m. driving towards the Maroon Bells 45 minutes away from where we were staying in Snowmass Village. This was the very first look of the Bells entering into the gatehouse area to the park (there is a fee to drive in and park). This is just after 5 a.m., stopped in the middle of the road with my headlights on without a soul around.
The shot of the morning sun bathing the Bells and the lakeside valley below is “the” essential picture to get. And one can usually find a good handful of serious photographer always setting up and getting this shot any given morning.
Being the animal lover that I am, I was fascinated by the photo of geese floating about in the reflection of the peaks as we waited for the sun. Needless to say, the geese have it good in this particular lake.
Seeing the moon still hanging over one side of the lake, high above, was an interesting contrast with the sun rising quickly behind me.
I’m still learning the finer art of light control and struggled a bit to keep focus on the peaks but still avoid washing out the Bells themselves with the bright sun and snow reflection. This shot ironically was the best one of the bunch for this vantage point and it was taken with my iPhone.
I was enthralled by the lake itself. It was perfectly clear and the reflection of the trees on the mountains beside it was serene. My next trip back here (hopefully in the fall or winter) would definitely include more focus on these views.
On leaving the park, I turned around to take one last look, and even though it’s not the usual composition, it’s my favorite shot of the Bells.
After a hearty breakfast in Aspen and a nearly 3 hour rest while the hottest part of the day passed, the next stop was back to Glenwood Springs.
A quick trip to Linwood Cemetery include a chance to see the final resting places of Doc Holliday and Kid Curry.
The end of the evening held a 45 minute trip through the Kings Row Caverns at the Glenwood Adventure Park. A 10 minute gondola ride took us up to the park which sites on the top of a hill.
The caverns (there were 2 tours that can be chosen from or taken one after another) were really interesting. Just long enough to make it worth your tickets but not so long that you get anxious for being underground.
The varying shades of rock and sediment were endless. I was torn between simply listening to the tour guide and looking with my own eyes and remembering to take pictures. Truly fascinating and was so much more than just these three photos convey.
It was a very, very long day with other stops and driving between locations, but worth it. I snagged this shot when we pulled to the side of the road to photograph a particular mountain in the other direction, but I found the valley so peaceful and with so much detail, I couldn’t help but focus in that direction.
This month included the opportunity to take off a few days of work for a 3 day getaway into the Snowmass/Aspen, Colorado areas. En route there, a hiking trip happened near Glenwood Springs to see Hanging Lake.
The mouth of Glenwood Canyon heading towards Hanging Lake. There’s a well-kept rest area with restrooms there. Word of advice: Bring water.
Surprisingly, vibrant pink rose bushes line the sidewalk towards the hiking trail. Despite the lovely flowers here, the consistent small waterfalls and creeks that spill over rocks the entire way up, you are going to hike hard and sweat a lot. So bring that water. And there were Marmots! I had never seen one before. Like little nerf footballs, with fur…and legs!
Parts of the trail up to and down from Hanging Lake were never flat and sometimes quite rocky.
The views become more canyon-like the higher you climb as you near the top and the lake. Most hikers will encourage you on as they descend, assuring you it’s worth it.
And then you arrive. After the strenuous hike, you’re not sure if you’ve just been transported to a tropical island somewhere. Truly, how can this be at the top of a mountain in the middle of Colorado?
Carbonate minerals dissolved in the water give the lake it’s coloration. I had to look that up as I’ve heard a lot of people say it’s the limestone or other factors, but I didn’t know what exactly produced that gorgeous water.
Small trout swim in the shallows against the current coming from the waterfalls and are hypnotic to watch when you’re catching your breath on one of the many wood benches that line the lakeside.
That first photo is a humorous reminder as to how I often feel towards trying to maintain focus on Fridays. This little guy is a male hairy woodpecker in Richmond, VA that I ran across in my image archives. He was a constant visitor to the yard, attending to the suet feeders hanging from the trees. This day he took a keen interest in understanding just how my rose bush bamboo stake was for insect hunting.
A final transfer of prior travel photos from one location on the blog to here. I visited the coast of Maine in 2011 for a gray and overcast weekend. There was truly so much more to see but the visit was more to visit friends at the time. Hopefully someday I’ll be able to return and see more.
Life by Lens and Laptop 