If you’ve landed on this page, welcome! This website represents a collection of the photographs I’ve gathered since starting a creative journey the Fall of 2016. What you’ll find throughout the website are thematic galleries, representing different styles, subjects, techniques and locations, as well as a blog about my current offerings and thoughts, as well as a page to view images of artwork that is already produced and ready to be displayed in your home or office. There is a menu icon in the upper righthand corner of this page that will take you to all of this different content. At any point you can select “home” and it will bring you back to this starting point.

The Maroon Bells are one of Colorado's most iconic features. So many images of this view exist, and the Bells are deserving of all the attention. I hadn’t made the trip to see this sight until I’d lived in the state for 28 years. I just didn’t get it. I don’t know why. But, finally, in September of 2016 I made a fateful motorcycle ride up into the mountains to explore the changing Aspens. Aspen and the Maroon Bells were an afterthought when hopping on my motorcycle and heading west into the high country.

This scene and this image were the start of an incredible new journey for me, and I hope you’ll continue to return and follow along. Thank you for stopping in and for helping the circle grow a bit bigger.

I've named this image many different names, and reproduced it in color and black and white. Always one of my favorites.

One of the coldest sunsets I've ever experienced, in the midst of tumultuous and long day.

So many things to say about the past year and what photography has given me and what I have learned about it. Hoping this coming year's blessings are as fruitful as this past years. 

I've been working on balancing patience and persistence while my photography unfolds. This shot was about both; being at the right place, at the right time, and having the sense to genuinely appreciate both.

This is an old fence row outside of Steamboat, with the Sleeping Indian off to the North. The low clouds in the afternoon were holding much promise, but when the edge finally appeared late in the day it just seemed obvious that something interesting was going to happen.

Heading out, I was looking for just a colorful sky. I’d found a place to frame the Sleeping Indian, but it had ver little substance, then this appeared to the left. Two, quick compositions were all I could gather, but beautiful it ended up being.

February, 2018

I’d been up to catch a starry night, and see Orion rising in the night sky. This was the morning that greeted me.

The American Basin, in southwest Colorado is synonymous with wildflowers. I’ve only visited the area once, and that was on the motorcycle, and it was before I was motivated by photography. I missed the Basin last summer, but made a promise to myself that this year would be different, and it was.

Aspens on the Last Dollar Road

Shot from the Gold King Basin, the Mt. Wilson Masif, with Mt. Wilson, Wilson Peak, and El Diente glowing in the setting sun.

The Sunflower season was not as prolific this year as last. There were few fields and storms and dry spells that played havoc on all crops. I feel that technically, I have better images than last; images are sharper, better exposed, and composed. But. But. We always strive for more.

My hometown lighthouse. I grew up with this scene, no wonder I’m a little hooked on finding beauty wherever I wander.

Also know as Sharky’s, this must see destination played an important muse for me on my recent trip to Florida. The beach is wide and accessible for many miles north and south of here, and it if pay attention you’ll find fossilized sharks teeth, giving this location its distinguished name.

The Myakka meanders slowing through Cypress and Palm groves, and hosts fish, bird, and animal of all species. Now I know how Maxfield Parrish got his inspirations.

Recently the sunsets have shown off their dynamic nature. Fortunately I placed myself at my favorite mountain overlook just west of the city on this Sunday afternoon and was treated to one of those beautiful shows.

Worth waking up early for…

I missed these a few weeks ago when a storm dumped significant snow around this little grove. There is definitely more snow this year now than last, but not as much it seems as two years ago. Interesting though that this composition came out completely different. A snow squall blew in, creating an ethereal backdrop. No bright light, not harsh shadows, just a tempest of snow, a reminder of the temperamental and unpredictable nature of it all.

I’ve enjoyed both peddled and motored wheels up and down the route, and stared at from the distance during many sunsets. But, until this morning I’d never thought much of as a sunrise destination. I know different now.

Another of Denver’s world famous sites, it is rare to find it with a fresh covering of snow, and absolutely no tracks. It was a good use of a snow day.

I almost missed this scene. After shooting in the mountains for 24 hours, I was heading home when this scene came into view. I headed off the highway towards to Buffalo Bill gravesite, and made my way down the road to the overlook of Golden. These inversions to occur here, but not frequently enough.

Loveland Pass, just before dawn. A stack of 12 images to reduce noice. Cold on an early February night, much more to see than you’d expect.

Some views, some settings, some compositions and some moments move too fast, while leaving an imprint that may never fade. These inversions act like that, too, too impermanent, too, too memorable.

Musings on Marshall Mesa…

I’ve used Juniper Pass a lot the past few years, simply for inspiration, but also for a getaway. It’s close, but it’s far. It’s the Colorado I’ve grown used to; cold, temperamental, windy, and comforting for all of those reasons.

This last few years, with all of the turmoil and change have felt heavy in so many ways. I’ve carried around with a few quotes around with me, each seemed to suite what was stirring inside of me. But not tonight. This is an image of joy. My friends and my son and I are laughing and toasting to the paths taken, and the paths ahead. Not tonight, this is good night.

The beauty of the Almont Triangle, July 4th, 2019

This place can compress time. Not just your minutes, or your hours, but your days and years. It holds you in, so you can forget about that passage of time, and what all those years held. Each instance in the canyon is an instant and a lifetime, all at once.

Thirty-some years ago, my oldest brother passed by here, picked up a postcard, and mailed it to me. It took me more than twenty years to reach this spot. I’ve been visiting here for almost 10 years now, and in that time another brother passed; and on the day I was taking these photos, both were there, reminding me of only the good, and none of the pain.

Sunflowers mean the beginning of another school year, this one is no exception…

Before the foliage really began to turn, Aspen Ridge offered a quiet refuge on this Autumn morning.

Break in the weather…

Hope to have many, many more opportunities with this composition…

The beach is just east of Kailua, and the small marine facility and jetty that serves it are just a ways down the coast. The magenta and orange that emerged from this morning’s skies were so unlike anything I’d ever seen before.

Getting to O’ahu is not an easy task, with hurdles in every area of one’s life. But this was a trip provided so many incredible sights and opportunities, that every challenge was easily worth it.

Tanner turned 26 this year. It was his first birthday away from Denver, and family, but I do believe his has found his home.

When I moved to Colorado, there was only one area code, and that was “303.” But that summer a new one was introduce in the part of Colorado that I was living in. But, that hasn’t stopped 303 from becoming a thing and a day, so every March 3rd people get a bit more excited about the State than the usually are. So, “Happy 303 Day!”

Looking over Golden and on to the Flat Irons and the foggy plains below. Such a clouded view it was hard to fathom what was coming next.

I’d decided to head out to see if I could capture the moon as it was setting in the western skies, so off to one of my favorite local locations to watch capture the moon and stars. I haven’t shot the moon much in the past three years, having held off on a longer focal length lens, something longer than 200mm, because it is really challenging to get the scale of the moon, and I still haven’t gotten skilled at stacking moon images.

I have a few composition of the moon that I need to work on, but I was most happy that I stayed around for the sunrise. The colors were getting interesting in both directions this morning, but they lasted long enough to fully take advantage of each sky. This composition is the result of 9 vertical images shot left to right, at 135mm. Images were edited and then stitched together in Lightroom. The original file is 25MB, making it ideal for a large panorama or triptych.

March, 2020

A cold sunrise from Pennsylvania Mountain - March, 2020

ISO 100 | F11 | 30 secs. - four image vertical panorama - 24mm

Above Shawnee a fire burned some years ago. Low clouds and fog made for a compelling sight returning to Denver from the mountains recently.

Trying to corral the Dark Horse, but it just didn't work out.

Made from 15 light frames by Starry Landscape Stacker 1.8.0. Algorithm: Mean Min Hor Noise

25 Stacked images - 400mm - crop mode, 600mm equivalent

ISO 1000 | F/13 | 1/800 sec.

March, 2020

True story, there’s going to be a wedding here in a couple months!

Juniper Pass - April, 2020 - ISO 100 | F/1.8 | 1/4000 sec. - 135mm

Juniper Pass

April, 2020

ISO 100 | F/1.8 | 1/160 sec. - 135mm

Shooting landscapes at 600mm… I really didn’t expect this kind of light and these elements in the composition. But the clouds on the horizon obscured first light, so moisture clung to the ground longer than normal and as the sun’s rays shown through breaks in the higher clouds, the Eastern Plains just started to glow.

From Lookout Mountain, May, 2020

ISO 200 | F/5.6 | 1/800 sec. - 600mm APS-C mode

It seems impossible to think about walking, or any such conscious movement right now. I have been so fortunate to move so freely at times; skiing, running, cycling, hiking, all activities that seemed more aligned to a goal, and less to just the activity.

And so “wayfaring” seems a strange thought at this moment, though the mental work of it never seems to stop. To retrace the journeys over and over, to illicit one last detail, one last memory, hoping to find that emotion that once filled the moments, that’s when we find the emptiness - that’s where we find the loss.

ISO 200 | F/5.6 | 1/400 secs. - six image vertical panorama - 300mm

Sunrise from Lookout Mountain - Golden, Colorado

ISO | 200 | F/5.6 | 1/250 sec. 300mm

Principled Thoughts - This spot can offer peace of mind; on this day it most definitely did.

ISO 100 • F/2.8 • 1/640 sec.

20mm.

I just really like these big, panoramic scenes, especially with the morning light slipping through and highlighting a detailed areas like this. After shooting the Lupine and the most beautiful rainbow I’ve ever witnessed, I settled in for the night south of town. The heaviest clouds hung around all night, but finally cleared out with the dawn.

This composition is the result of 12 vertical images shot left to right, at 300mm. Images were edited and then stitched together in Lightroom. The original file is 60MB, making it ideal for a large panorama or triptych.

ISO 100 | F/5.6 | 1/320 sec. - Sony FE 100-400 GM @ 300mm

June, 2020

It wouldn’t be summer without wildflowers, and the best wildflowers are usually found in Crested Butte! It is still early in the 2020 summer, but a quick trip to scout out conditions and get away from the city proved far more fruitful than I’d ever imagined!

ISO 100 | F/2.8 | 1/60 sec. - 20mm

It’s not quite the Summer Solstice when I’m typing these thoughts out, and I hope that when you read them in the future we are all in a better, kinder, and healthy world. My son Andrew is getting married this weekend, and so my thoughts are even a bit more crowded. These images, the planning, creating and sharing, give me such a sense of calm and I hope that you truly enjoy them.

ISO 100 | F/5.6 | 1/200 sec. - 200mm

The color goes on for days, the gray in the sky swallows the sound, the cool and damp breeze reminding you of life’s intensity. Everything is drenched from the early morning rains; the sun will not burn through the low hanging clouds for days. This is a primordial place, a place that will quickly cast off the scars that humanity has left, and let the raw beauty erupt.

ISO 100 | F/11 | 1/50 sec. - 16mm

July, 2020

It is sunflower season again in Colorado and as the fields have continued to orbit different locations around DIA, the throngs of people hoping to capture some images move around in great disarray.

This years crop seems to have bloomed a little earlier than the past few and the unusually hot weather may make this a very short season as farmers work to maintain their yields.

But, my favorite compositions still involve the slightly distorted effects that result from an ultra-wide lens. This composition holds a beautiful set of stalks, with the diagonal lines creating the framing, it’s easy to get lost in the last light of the day.

ISO 100 | F/5 | 1/100 sec. - 16mm

August, 2020 - Roadside Attractions - DIA Sunflowers XIX

It is sunflower season again in Colorado and as the fields have continued to orbit different locations around DIA, the throngs of people hoping to capture some images move around in great disarray.

This years crop seems to have bloomed a little earlier than the past few and the unusually hot weather may make this a very short season as farmers work to maintain their yields.

Here is a pretty good example of that idea of leading lines. Even though the edges of the fields are a jumble of stalks, the rows eventually straighten out, creating a simple, uniform pattern. Be placing the focal point in this spot, the viewer can be less distracted by the mess, and enjoy the scenery and color more easily.

This composition is the result of 11 vertical images shot left to right, at 135mm. Images were edited and then stitched together in Lightroom. The original file is 104MB, making it ideal for a large panorama or triptych.

ISO 100 | F/2.8 | 1/160 sec. - 135mm - 11 Image Panorama

August, 2020

As with so many aspects of life, photography presents it challenges and its rewards - this image is truly an example of that reality. Instead of finding a dramatic moonrise on the Eastern Plains, a companion buck decided a portrait session was more appropriate.

If you have followed my images for anytime, you will see this image as a sharp departure for just that reason - this image is first; I don’t seek out wildlife, I shoot wildflowers. I can’t really say why, other than I understand the challenges that exist in wildlife photography and there are so many more brilliant images of all sorts of animals out there, it’s just not a field I’ve pursued.

So yes, an image of a late season buck, under the rising moon; that wasn’t the photo I’d imagined, but it’s the photo that appeared. It’s the photo that I decided to capture, as it’s the photo I never envisioned capturing.

ISO 640 | F/5.6 | 1/320 sec. - 400mm

November, 2020

I’ll write more on this topic later, but for now, Mt. Silverheels, greeting the day.

This composition is the result of 12 vertical images shot left to right, at 135mm. Images were edited and then stitched together in Lightroom. The original file is 145MB, making it ideal for a large panorama or triptych.

ISO 100 | F/1.8 | 1/80 sec. - Sony FE 135 GM

December, 2020

The seasons change at different paces around Colorado. Winter comes early in the high country; with this year being dryer than usual, but the glimpse of winter is unmistakable.

ISO 100 | F/4 | 1/50 sec. @50mm

Mt Princeton - Winter 2020 Gallery - #2 Horizontal

One of those sights that I know a lot of other people look at, but I’m never sure how many actually get to see. A beautiful sunrise at the beginning of a treacherous week in America. Hoping it is only a darkness before a beautiful dawn - time will be the only way to tell.

This composition is the result of 45 images shot left to right, at 135mm. Images were edited and then stitched together in Lightroom. The original file is 75MB, making it ideal for a large panorama or triptych.

ISO 100 | F/1.8 | 1/100 sec. - Sony FE 135 GM

January, 2021

A surreal January morning over Promontory Divide in the Wet Mountain Valley of the Colorado. A location I just started to explore, and find the scale of the mountains impressive and inspiring.

This particular morning there was a low clouds bank creeping in from the south, and the shear face of the ridge created a beach like effect, with the clouds washing back and forth across the scene.

This composition is the result of 35 images shot left to right, at 135mm. Images were edited and then stitched together in Lightroom. The original file is 75MB, making it ideal for a large panorama or triptych.

ISO 100 | F/4 | 1/1600 sec. - Sony FE 24-105G @105mm

January, 2021

The Wet Mountains and the Sangre de Cristo range form a unique alliance in Southern Colorado. One gathers the moisture the other didn’t harvest, yet the valley that sits between them goes nearly dry. The benefit of the high eastern flank is these dramatic views into the valley floor, the foot of which is nestle against the western range.

The Crestone Massif is one of the most dramatic mountains in the state, and is accessible from the South Colony Valley. Sitting in the valley one can feel sheltered, but the forces above will not hesitate to make you regret your lack of vigilance.

ISO 100 | F/5.6 | 1/1600 sec. @ 135mm

January, 2021

A January sunrise over Garden of the Gods. A site I once witnessed daily, but that seems to be a whole different lifetime.

This composition is the result of 17 images shot left to right, at 135mm. Images were edited and then stitched together in Lightroom. The original file is 115MB, making it ideal for a large panorama or triptych.

ISO 100 | F/1.8 | 1/120 sec. - Sony FE 135 GM

January, 2021

A bright and blue afternoon in the Wet Mountain Valley, with winter snow dressing the Sangre de Cristo peaks, afforded the perfect opportunity to slow down, set up the tripod, and capture the multiple images necessary for a grand panorama.

This composition is the result of 25 images shot left to right, at 200mm. Images were edited and then stitched together in Lightroom. The original file is 75MB, making it ideal for a large panorama or triptych.

ISO 100 | F/9 | 1/800 sec. - Sony FE 200-600G @200mm

January, 2021

10 Vertical Image Panorama - North Table Mountain sitting in an early February inversion.

ISO 400 | F/1.8 | 1/60 - Sony a7riv - FE135/F1.8GM

Colorado’s original area code for long distance calling was “303.” In the late 80s, 1988 to be exact, the population had grown large enough that 303 could no longer handle all of the phone numbers. So a new area code was born, and the original 303 was cemented as “the” Denver area code.

March 3rd has been adopted as a tribute day to that original area code, so around the Denver “303-Day” is celebrated in a variety of was.

Not shot on the 303 Day, but earlier in the year, still a good way to showcase the beauty of an urban setting.

Early morning light over the Front Range usually means a brilliant display of colors.  South Table Mountain and Green Mountain begin to glow under a brilliant sky on a February morning.

ISO 100 | F/4 | 1/60 sec. - 18 images shoot with the Sony a7riv & FE 24-105G Edited in Lightroom, rendered in Photoshop.

February, 2021

One of my favorite spots to revisit - the recent snows haven’t been enough make up from a thin winter cover but made the scene pristine and feel new.

The interesting aspect of revisiting a site is seeing the change that takes place, what was once a twin Cottonwood now stands alone, it’s partner having lost its battle with time.

I’m not sure I can completely express how much I missed seeing and photographing this small stretch of the the Elk River in 2020. I think it is easy to say that a lot of sacrifices were made last winter, and last year in general.

For me, this spot in Northern Colorado has a whole different feel compared to many other places around the state. And this scene, a cold, late-February morning feels like deep winter; single-digit temperatures, formidable snow pack, only the thread of a stream percolating under a heavy blanket not ready to be pulled back. It wasn’t the photo that I missed, it was that feeling that was absent.

ISO 100 | F/11 | 1/6 sec. - Sony a7riii - FE 16-35GM

Elk River - Winter Study - February, 2021

The Galactic Core is a breathtaking sight. The four months out the year that we don’t see it there are many other objects, but this is the composition I think about the most.  Hoping this is the first of many nights under the stars in the next few months.

Galactic Host - ISO 6400 | F/1.4 | 10 sec. - Sony a7riii - Sony FE 24GM

35 Images - Stacked in Starry Landscape Stacker, and edited in Lightroom and Photoshop - 35MB image

So much clear light in the cooler air on the second day of April, and that just seemed to draw more people out.

Chicago River Reflection - April, 2021

A slow start to the Milky Way season, but any clear night out under the star is well worth the effort. One of the last compositions of the night, similar to shots from last year, but the night sky held onto some different hues, though just as inspiring as ever.

ISO 6400 | F/1.4 | 8 sec. - Sony a7riii - Sony FE 24GM

25 Images - Stacked in Starry Landscape Stacker, and edited in Lightroom and Photoshop - 35MB image

May, 2021 - Loveland Pass Colorado - Milky Way Road

The second night out for dedicated astrophotography and the location did not disappoint. Blurry stars and weather-worn fences compliment each other to tell a story that we won’t know the ending for.

There’s an element in this post that glows - even without light it emits an amber glow. I need to figure out what it is, the will be the ending that would make sense.

ISO 6400 | F/1.4 | 8 sec. - Sony a7riii - Sony FE 24GM

35 Images - Stacked in Starry Landscape Stacker, and edited in Lightroom and Photoshop - 35MB image

April, 2021 - Cedar Point - Fences IV

Summer is here according to the calendar, if not quite the planets celestial journey. In the high country that means that snow is melting, trails are clearing, and projects that have been ignored for the last 9 months need to be addressed. And, of course photography has its place in all of this.

This spot was one of my first stops last summer and since I was working in Alma for a few days it was just a logical step to head up a little higher to capture the sunset at one of my favorite sites.

The Bristlecone are not as common in Colorado as they are in California, but we have three different groves of this ancient trees, and I intend to photograph all three this summer.

ISO 100 | F/8 | 1/40 sec. - Sony a7riv - Sony FE 50G

June, 2021 - Windy Ridge, Colorado - Summer Titans - 50mm

The more famous image from this vantage point is shoot to the south and not the east. Most of the attention is drawn to Mt. Sneffels, the gently named giant of the San Juans and the other jagged peaks of the Telluride peaks. But this look also offers the view east, towards Court House, Uncompaghre, and Wetterhorn mountains that rise above the town of Ridgway, but are accessible on the far side of the mountains from the town of Lake City and Engineer Pass.

Fires in neighboring Utah through their smoke into the air adding to the few clouds that lazily formed in the late evening heat. Choosing between 50mm and 135mm a quick set of images that was easy to stitch together created this dynamic photograph.

ISO 100 | F/1.8 | 1/200 sec. 135mm - 13 vertical images stitched together, edited in Lightroom and Photoshop

A beautiful panorama made of thirteen vertical images, shot at 135mm each and stitched together to create 85MB of detail. Captured the second weekend of June along the Dallas Divide, after a day of clear blue skies, the smoke from Utah wildfires mixed with a few clouds to light up Lake City peaks.

June, 2021 - Lake City Wall - Owl Pass Panorama

Colorado’s summer weather pattern seems to be influx once again this coming week. June began with rain and cooler temperatures, but this quickly turned extreme heat, with multiple 90 degree and even a few 100 degree days. So far summer has been productive with one major rental property project completed, another one stands waiting to start, a second round of teacher training is finished up in preparation for the 2021-2022 school year, and a quick trip to the San Juans was taken in to find the early season Lupine and get back on track for wildflower photography.

At the lower elevations, along County Road 7/9, the Last Dollar Road, and the Wilson Mesa, the fields and patches of Lupine and Mule Ears were vibrant and alive. I hope the all hang around for a few more weeks.

June, 2021 - San Juan - Lupine

Sony a7riii and Sony FE 14Gm

Colorado’s summer weather pattern seems to be influx once again this coming week. June began with rain and cooler temperatures, but this quickly turned extreme heat, with multiple 90 degree and even a few 100 degree days. So far summer has been productive with one major rental property project completed, another one stands waiting to start, a second round of teacher training is finished up in preparation for the 2021-2022 school year, and a quick trip to the San Juans was taken in to find the early season Lupine and get back on track for wildflower photography.

This is by far the earliest that I have been in to see this grove of Aspens. While the phenomena of their bent trunks isn’t unique, the small bunch is distinct in its resiliency. The belief is that the combination of loose soil and avalanche flows are responsible for the shape. Just a few winters ago a large chute broke free, and wiped out trees just a few feet away. I was relieved to see the Brother’s standing again, evidence that they’d made it through another winter.

June, 2021 - San Juans - Brother’s Grimm #7

Sony a7riii and Sony FE 14GM

Getting to travel freely over Loveland Pass to access either Summit or Park County is a much easier proposition from June through August. The last season snow clinging to the rock adds to the Alpine Glow, but soon enough the wildflowers will make themselves visible.

ISO 100 | F/2.5 | 1/160 - Sony a7riv - Sony FE 50G

15 Vertical Image Panorama - Loveland Pass, sitting in an early June glow.

The good thing about adventuring at this point is it has been so long since I’ve seen most of these sites that in essence they are brand new again. Our childhood was spent crossing the bridge for both school and family events, and the wonder of its construction was never lost on me.

Returning to the state to visit family with my own sons, and developing a photography practice has only reignited that sense of wonder, and now with so many great inspirations, the desire to capture the bridge in its different states and through the different seasons is only stronger.

Good nights like this are a genuine treat, and even when making mistakes with camera settings, or missing a better composition, there’s a genuine sense of joy in both the process and outcome. Earlier in the shoot I’d switched a setting, and when I though I was shooting at 105mm I was really shooting at 155mm - very simple, non-destructive mistake from my perspective, but next time I’ll know that 200mm is a good focal length for the center of the bridge.

ISO 100 | F/16 | 20 sec. - Sony a7riv w/ Sony FE24-105G

Straits of Mackinac Sunset- June, 2021

A small patch of Asters growing in a precipitous location. This side of the mountain was wiped nearly clean by avalanches in 2019. The vegetation is nearly as prominent now, but it is coming back. The afternoon glow made the trek worth the effort.

ISO 100 | F/8 | 1/640 sec. - Sony a7riv w/ Sony FE14/F1.8

Crested Butte - Yule Pass Sunset - July, 2021

The allure of returning to a setting or location over and over is that the conditions will most certainly be different and you’ll be offered a unique set of circumstances to create something new and beautiful. The drawback is of course that you can get trapped in a cycle of trying to get “THE SHOT,” your “once-in-a-lifetime” shot, you can lose appreciation for the place, and worse yet, you may end of sacrificing the peace of mind that these opportunities offer in the moment, for illusive, impossible “someday.”

I wasn’t sure that I would make it to Crested Butte this year - obligations that needed fulfilling cropped up over the course of the summer, and I’m doing a better job letting adventure unfold instead of constantly trying to find a specific course. For the rest of 2021, I hope to continue this.

ISO 100 | F/8 | 1/50 sec. - Sony a7riii w/ Sony FE20/F1.8

Mt. Crested Butte - Washington Gulch Sunrise - July, 2021

I’ve only had the opportunity to travel to and photograph this location for the third time in four years, I have to say that it wildly exceeded my expectations.

My first trip was later in July than this trip, and while it was evident that the basin had had a beautiful bloom, I’d missed the true peak. I missed the 2019 season as snow was still in the basin and much of the pass was inaccessible when I’d planned to make the trip, so I didn’t actually get into this location. Last year’s drought knocked out many flowers, and admittedly I was my most patient, and struggled with finding images I was happy with. This year everything seemed to align, and except for one incident with a slippery rock, wet feet and the scare of a damaged lens, I couldn’t be happier with the results of the effort.

I will get to posting more of these images in the “Wildflower Gallery” but for now I’ll include a link of a web gallery that features images from the American Basin, and well as a few captured just below and above it along the Cinnamon Pass road. Close to 1,000 photos were shot just in the basin, so it is a bit of a task, and in all honesty a bit overwhelming. I either need to cut down on my compositions, or just move to these places to focus on them solely and the move on.

For now - follow the American Basin Web Gallery link to see some of the other photographs that stand out from this collection.

ISO 100 | f/8.0 | 1/6 sec. Sony a7riii w/ Sony FE14/F1.8

A Walnut stand at the end of my parents farm, taking in the last light of an August day.

The sunflower fields are hitting their peak, and another August bloom will be rife with yellow, orange and a myriad of sunset backdrops.

ISO 100 | F/5.6 | 1/30 sec. - 85mm - Sony a7iii & Sony FE 85GM - 15 vertical images stitched together to create this sunset panorama over the infamous Denver Sunflower Fields.

Safety in Numbers - DIA Sunflowers

The sunflower fields are hitting their peak, and another August bloom will be rife with yellow, orange and a myriad of sunset backdrops.

ISO 100 | F/8.0| 1/60 sec. - 70mm - Sony a7riv & Sony FE 24-105G

Safety in Numbers - Remains of a Day

The Sand Wash Basin in Northwest Colorado is a 160,000 acre Horse Management Area which is home to 800 plus horses. Established in the early 1970’s the heard started as a handful and has grown to its current size. The Buearu of Land Management has set up an emergency roundup with the goal of drastically reducing the herds total size. This is not a well explained effort and emotions have been sparked, and the landscape will be a very different place when the horses are gone.

A light, pale sunset over Livermore, Colorado, early September, 2021

ISO 100 | F/8.0 | 1/320 sec. - 135mm - Sony a7riv & Sony FE 135GM - 22 vertical images stitched together to create this sunset panorama over Livermore, looking into Cherokee Park, Colorado.

Livermore Sunset - Panorama

Back at it - the school year is on and a holiday weekend provided the chance to get a little further away, and a favorite destination is the Medicine Bow Mountains of southern Wyoming.

ISO 6400 | F/1.4 | 8 sec. - 20 images edited in Lightroom and Photoshop, stacked in Starry Nightscape Stacker

Sony a7riii w/ Sony FE 24/1.4

Lake Marie - September, 2021

Panorama over the Gore Range

September, 2021

Single exposure of Mt. Evans

September, 2021

Panorama over the Grand Mesa

October, 2021

November has been impressive with its sunrises and sunsets, as if they are competing with each other for a more radiant exhibition.

It has been good to take advantage a few days off over the break to enjoy the mornings at one of my favorite designations. Its also good to get back to more panoramas and time lapse compositions, forcing my to slow down while appreciating the changing light and shifting sky.

12 images photographed left to right, into an epic Colorado sunrise, edited and stitched together in Lightroom and Photoshop.

EXIF ISO 100 | F/1.4 | 1.3 sec. - Sony a7riv with Sony FE35GM

November has been impressive with its sunrises and sunsets, as if they are competing with each other for a more radiant exhibition.

It has been good to take advantage of this display, made only better by the view up high along the Continental Divide. Brainard Lake is beautiful destination in any season and in any weather. After windy, snowy hike out and around the lake the end of the day decided to show a bold retreat.

4 images photographed bottom to top, into an epic Colorado sunset, edited and stitched together in Lightroom and Photoshop.

EXIF ISO 320 | F/4.5 | 1/80 sec. - Sony a7iii with Sony FE100-400GM

November has been impressive with its sunrises and sunsets, as if they are competing with each other for a more radiant exhibition.

It has been good to take advantage a few days off over the break to enjoy the mornings at one of my favorite designations. Its also good to get back to more panoramas and time lapse compositions, forcing my to slow down while appreciating the changing light and shifting sky.

12 images photographed left to right, into an epic Colorado sunrise, edited and stitched together in Lightroom and Photoshop.

EXIF ISO 100 | F/11 | .5 sec. - Sony a7riv with Sony FE35GM

The Geminid Meteor Shower shows off every December, and like other meteor showers you can see its activity well ahead of and after the peak intersection between Earth and the meteor path. The only downside this year, was the fact that the weather was less than ideal for shooting a night sky, the peak of the meteor shower happened to fall early on a Tuesday morning, meaning logistics just didn’t allow for a long overnight trip to the state’s darkest skies.

This overlook on the north side of Mt. Evans would have to do, and setting up on two different mornings gave me the best chance to take in all the brilliance. While I have put together a time lapse for each night, I wanted to practice my editing skills to create a composite to show off as many of the meteors that fell as possible.

With Winter Break finally here, I made time to put this editing to use by stacking and masking the various layers in Photoshop in order to reveal the different meteors that fell over the entire night ~ absolutely worth the effort.

ISO 6400 | F/1.8 | 10 sec. - 14mm ~ 25 images

Cashing it all in - It looked as though the clouds were going to wipe out the moon set, but in the final 15 minutes the moon broke through the layer and set neatly over downtown - the Cash Register and the Cold Moon.

EXIF ISO 100 | F/11 | 1/320 sec. - Sony a7riii with Sony FE200-600G

I missed out on trips to Colorado Springs this summer, and maybe that’s alright. This is such a photogenic location, and my predilection for winter images has to be related to when I moved to Colorado, and my first experiences exploring this park and the state as a whole.

This is the center portion of a larger panorama - that will end up as a blog post instead.

EXIF ISO 100 | F/8 | 1/30 sec. - Sony a7riii with Sony FE135GM

Sometimes to quest to capture the image is secondary to the event in front you. Chasing the rising and setting moon and capturing it as a timelapse is always high on my list of priorities, and while my career has many benefits, one of the drawbacks is that it demands punctuality - I just cannot have my students wait it out while I arrive whenever the scene is over. This particular morning I had a little more leeway as we’d experienced a good enough amount of snow to delay the start of school by a few hours, and that’s all I needed.

EXIF ISO 100 | F/8 | 1/250 sec. - Sony a7riii with Sony FE100-400GM

Having spent much of the previous pre-dawn hours planted over on that ridge shooting astrophotography, it was good to be up moving around hiking the east ridge to gain a vantage point of the streaming traffic below.

A composite of two exposures, the light-trails lasted 121 seconds, while the sky last 8 seconds. The two images were edited in Lightroom, then masked and combined in Photoshop. I’ve been wanting an image like this for a while, and I’m really happy with the results.

EXIF - ISO 100 | F/13 | 8 sec. ~ 24mm - Sony a7riii & Sony FE24GM

The March full moon is known as the Worm Moon. On most mornings this location is an easy drive up a familiar, winding road. This trip was on a morning after a spring storm which filled the Foothills with two and three feet of snow. I’ve never been on this road when it felt more out in the wilderness, in any of the remotest places on the planet - that was an absolutely exhilarating experience.

EXIF - ISO 160 | F/5 | 1/125 sec. - Sony a7siii with Sony FE100-400GM

Spring 2022 in the Mosquito Range, winter has lingered with random storms and random property maintenance, along with exploring some favorite haunts and flying the drone.

In the high country the telephoto lens can isolate scenes and draw details that the standard and wide angle lenses just can’t. I’ve relied heavily on the FE100-400GM most of these outings, and have been very happy with the results.

Sony A7siii w/ Sony FE100-400GM

ISO 320 | F/5.6 | 1/200 sec. ~ 200mm

Waiting for just that right moment when the light finds the place that illuminates the world just right.

ISO 100 | F/5.6 | 1/1000 sec. ~ 300mm

April, 2022

Waiting for just that right moment when the light finds the place that illuminates the world just right.

ISO 100 | F/5.6 | 1/1000 sec. ~ 100mm

April, 2022

The May full moon is known as the Flower Moon, and this year was extra special because of the Lunar Eclipse.

Sony a7siii & Sony FE100-400GM

EXIF: ISO 1600 | F/6.3 | .8 sec ~ 100mm

Wildflowers and Crested Butte signify the arrival of summer in the Central Rockies. This year’s crop is a bit more sporadic, but concentrated in dense little clumps around some of my favorite places.

The deep green of the their stalks and leaves perfectly complimented the vibrant sky and and yellow petals of the Arrowroot along the Almont Triangle.

Sony a7siii & Sony FE100-400GM

EXIF: ISO 320 | F/2.8 | 1/30 sec ~ 14mm

June, 2022

My hometown lighthouse. I grew up with this scene, no wonder I’m a little hooked on finding beauty wherever I wander.

An early July sunset from Charlevoix provided the perfect end to a Northern Michigan day.

Sony a7riii & Sony FE100-400GM

EXIF: ISO 100 | F/8 | 1/30 sec ~ 100mm

July, 2022

With over 150 different lighthouses, it’s easy to find inspiration - this sunrise stood out.

An early July sunrise from Grand Haven provided the beginning of the end of a Michigan adventure.

Sony a7siii & Sony FE24-105G

EXIF: ISO 100 | F/8 | 1/30 sec ~ 105mm

July, 2022

A really happy surprise driving along I-70 in central Kansas - with the extra time and miles especially waiting around for there sunset.

Sony a7riv & Sony FE14GM

EXIF: ISO 160 | F/4 | 1/50 sec ~ 14mm

July, 2022

The sunflower fields are hitting their peak, and another August bloom will be rife with yellow, orange and a myriad of sunset backdrops.

Sony a7siii & Sony FE 100-400GM

ISO 160 | F/5.6 | 1/160 sec. ~ 400mm

Remains of a Day - 2022

Fall 2022 and it was time to get out to some of my favorite place and seek out some new settings.

High country sunrises just don’t disappoint, whether for brilliant colors or simply, peaceful beauty. This sunrise from Ute Pass held both elements perfectly.

Sony A7riv w/ Sony FE50GM

ISO 320 | F/2.8 | 1/30 sec. ~ 50mm

Fall 2022 and it was time to get out to some of my favorite place and seek out some new settings.

High country sunrises just don’t disappoint, whether for brilliant colors or simply, peaceful beauty. This sunrise from Capital Creek Trail held that simple, peaceful beauty of new sight just uncovered, and was a reminder of why I love being outdoors so much.

Sony A7riii w/ Sony FE100-400GM

ISO 160 | F/8 | 1/3 sec. ~ 100mm - 10 image panorama

Fall 2022 and it was time to get out to some of my favorite place and seek out some new settings.

High country sunrises just don’t disappoint, whether for brilliant colors or simply, peaceful beauty. This sunrise of East Beckwith Mountain from Kebler Pass was a reminder to make the extra effort, to follow that different path.

Sony A7riii w/ Sony FE100-400GM

ISO 640 | F/4.5 | 1/30 sec. ~ 100mm - 13 image panorama

January, 2023 - a view of Silver Heels from Pennsylvania Mountain.

Winter sunrises rarely disappoint, with the moments of brutal cold often producing the most surreal scenes. This sunrise of Silver Heels this January offered one of those exquisite moments. Heavy and persistent gusts of wind blew the snow around into an ethereal scene, creating the perfect opportunity to see the mountain veiled and in a mysterious mood just like it’s namesake.

Sony A7iv w/ Sony FE70-200GM

ISO 100 | F/2.8 | 1/2,500 sec. ~ 135mm

Snow and a desolate ranch underneath the shadow of the South Colony Basin - February 2023

Sony A7iv w/ Sony FE70-200GM

ISO 100 | F/8 | 1/640 sec. ~ 200mm - 20 image panorama

Elk River opening up during a winter thaw, February 2023

Cold winter morning over South Park and Pikes Peak.

Finding the space for consistency with a scene that doesn’t change.

It’s quite incredible that even here in Colorado we can get a glimpse of the Northern Lights below the 40 degree north latitude. We are a in a period of Solar Maximum which will be providing a much more dynamic night sky all over the world in the coming three years.

We’ve already had one incredible night in March, 2023, and this second one in April was not to be missed. I’m hoping I will be able to take advantage of more of these nights as they present themselves.

SONY - ILCE-7M4 w/ FE 35 F1.4 GM

EXIF: ISO 6,400 | f/1.4 | 5 sec. ~ 35mm

Bristlecone Pines - grounding at the end of the year.

The night sky provides the most beautiful views and this one didn’t disappoint. June, 2023

Watching the longest day of the year come to an end with the subtle Alpenglow.

Just a brilliant, autumn sunrise over the Collegiate Peaks - September, 2023.

After a night of chasing meteors, the sunrise proved worth the wait and the lack of sleep.