Fort Ephemera

Morning Meteors of the Perseid Kind

2011-08-10T16:08:00.001-06:00

Morning Meteors of the Perseid Kind, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

I went out both Friday and Saturday night this past weekend for an early preview of the Perseid Meteor Shower. This image highlights many of the meteors I saw Saturday night on a very early morning sky.

This weekend (August 12-14) will be the peak of the shower. NASA has put together a page featuring some of my photos to help plan your Perseid viewing experience. You can see it here: www.nasa.gov/connect/chat/perseids_2011.html

And the BBC has blogged this new 2011 Perseid image here: www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/23degrees/2011/08/even_with_the_full_...

Iridium Flare Over Lake Dillon

2011-06-20T16:21:00.001-06:00

Iridium Flare Over Lake Dillon, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

I managed to catch a bright -3 magnitude (-7 at center) Iridium Flare on Saturday night on a camping trip at Lake Dillon to celebrate Father's Day with my in-laws. The flare occurred at 22:53:37 and can be verified by the Heavens Above website Iridium Flare calculator here.

This is my third Iridium Flare to catch by luck when doing some night photography. For those new to them, Iridium Flares are caused by a constellation of highly reflective communication satellites (Iridium system) that regularly and predictably glint off the sun.

Seeing Forever For Over One Hundred Years

2011-05-31T17:51:00.001-06:00

Seeing Forever For Over One Hundred Years, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

A perfect vanishing point road bathed in the golden last light of the day leads to a century old farm near Carr in northern Colorado. I'm sure in other parts of the world that hundred-year old farms are probably common, but in state settled so late they are a pretty big deal and rare.

Big changes are coming to this area though, recent oil finds in the Niobrara Shale Formation have set off an oil rush, the likes of which we have not seen in NE CO in my lifetime. It's still a bit too early to tell how big this is going to get, but I've seen figures indicating billions of dollars in oil development is likely on the way. For those of you in Colorado, now would be a great time to begin documenting a boom as it happens.

Elegant Trogon Sighting!

2011-04-04T09:10:00.001-06:00

Elegant Trogon Sighting!, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

I've been hoping to see an Elegant Trogon ever since my parents moved near Madera Canyon in SE Arizona, and on our second visit Madera delivered! We even got to hear their awesome odd frog-like song that goes Ko-ah, Ko-ah. What a spectacle of a bird!!!

These tropical birds only make it into SE Arizona (prefering "Madrean sky islands") and a small patch of SW New Mexico-- making them very special and rare in the United States. For nesting they often use old woodpecker cavities (there are plenty of these in Madera). In the U.S. portion of their range they migrate and don't often return until April, so this was a lucky sighting indeed!

Cathedral Park Spires in Autumn

2011-02-03T13:11:00.001-07:00

Cathedral Park Spires in Autumn, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

Cathedral Park in Teller County, CO is well known to the locals for its fantastic rock spires. I was impressed with how the depth of the valley was revealed from this elevated point of view.

A Christmas Meteor Light Show: The 2010 Geminids

2010-12-21T11:01:00.001-07:00

A Christmas Meteor Light Show: The 2010 Geminids, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

The Geminid Meteor Shower may well have been 2010's very best! How many meteors do you see? And notice the meteor radiant around the constellation Gemini?

It took until around 3 am, but the clouds finally parted and we did indeed get to enjoy a beautiful Christmas meteor light show as it were. My preferred dark skies location with a nice foreground got completely clouded out and we ended up near Tie Siding Wyoming. I stayed out taking pictures until the morning twilight was killing off too many stars and we got home around 6 am. What a kick!

Shot Notes: This is a composite image of all the meteors I captured between 2:56 a.m. and 3:34 a.m. Each streak is added by lightness blending mode in CS5 much like star trails stacking is done. The camera was locked down on the tripod the entire time weighted by a bag of rocks to protect against the crazy wind. Each exposure was for 24 seconds at f/3.5, ISO 2500. 13 exposures were used in the composite (this time series was a total of 73 exposures). The camera was aimed at the meteor shower radiant to get the most Geminids possible in order to show off how aligned meteors of the same shower really are.

The Pike's Peak Cog Railway at 14,115 Feet (4300+ m)

2010-11-02T11:23:00.001-06:00

The Pike's Peak Cog Railway at 14,115 Feet (4300+ m), originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

I think I can, I think I can... ;-)))

This historic railway has been in service for over 100 years and holds the title for highest cog railway in the world. At it's top point it offers exceptional views from the summit of Pike's Peak (where this image was taken). It is an Abt rack system cog railway that is now operated year-round much to the delight of railroad fans and tourists alike.

Four Minutes of West Creek Falls

2010-09-17T21:30:00.001-06:00

Four Minutes of West Creek Falls, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

I have always enjoyed the almost ethereal surreal qualities a long exposure can pull out of a scene. A ten-stop B+W neutral density filter allowed me to leave my shutter open for over four minutes here thanks to very overcast conditions.

2010 Perseid Meteor Shower Composite

2010-08-18T15:13:00.001-06:00

2010 Perseid Meteor Shower Composite, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

This composite image features the meteors from the Perseids that I caught in roughly an hour of shooting time last Thursday night near peak viewing. You can clearly see the meteors are all traveling along the same line from the Perseid radiant (located near the "Double Star Cluster" of Perseus), a hallmark of meteor showers.

Shot Notes: I set up in Teller County, CO at the Dome Rock State Wildlife Area parking lot. Light pollution was pretty strong but I still managed to have a fun night out! I shot a total of 207 frames at 3200 ISO, f/3.2, 17 seconds for this series. The composite was constructed from 9 of those shots. Two frames provided a bit of foreground illumination/interest via two passing car's headlights and the rest featured the seven meteors you see here. I caught other meteors but they are not included due to likely not being a Perseid or being obscured by clouds. With luck I will upload a time-lapse video and you all can see the clouds and light pollution I was contending with. ;-)))

Lake Agnes in Evening Sunshine

2010-07-29T11:28:00.001-06:00

Lake Agnes in Evening Sunshine, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

This classic cirque lake is located just below the Continental Divide in Colorado State Forest near Cameron Pass. Rising behind Lake Agnes is Mt. Richthofen, the tallest member of the Never Summer Range at 12,940 feet. Richthofen rises on the NW corner of Rocky Mountain National Park. The south and east faces are in the park. The north and west faces are in the Colorado State Forest. Such a amazing area!

Milky Way Trails Above Purgatoire Canyon

2010-06-19T15:15:00.001-06:00

Milky Way Trails Above Purgatoire Canyon, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

The Caprock Canyonlands area in SE Colorado offers some of the best night sky in the state for viewing the Milky Way. The color of the star streaks relate to the temperature of the star, with blue being the hotter and red the cooler overall.

Image Notes: For this star trails image I used 195 consecutive 30 second (97.5 mins worth) exposures stacked via brightness blending mode in PS. Then an image I light-painted was used for foreground detail, manually blended via luminosity and hand-painted masks. This shot was taken very near the location of my previous posting, only the angle was adjusted to keep the Milky Way in center at the start of the series.

Sundown at Running Deer Natural Area

2010-04-21T22:35:00.001-06:00

Sundown at Running Deer Natural Area, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

Fort Collins is truly blessed with a plethora of natural areas open to the public to explore. It's nice that basically right in the middle of town we still have places like this for inspiration (and photography!).

Flying Nectar Faery

2010-03-04T13:03:00.001-07:00

Flying Nectar Faery, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

A Black-chinned Hummingbird hovers near a nectar feeder at my sister's place in southern Colorado last summer.

Strobist Notes: used 4 flashes positioned around the area I was expecting action in order to get the most detail. Once that was set up it was simply a matter of cracking open a beer and sitting on my sister's porch with a view waiting for things to happen. I sometimes think bird photography is my version of fishing. ;-)))

Looking Towards Lunar Laguna Beach

2010-01-08T22:57:00.001-07:00

Looking Towards Lunar Laguna Beach, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

The Gulf of Mexico in the Florida Panhandle amazed me with its tropical blue waters and white sugar sand beaches. Here's a view from near Camp Helen State Park looking towards Panama City, FL. Ahhh, moonshine. ;-)))

Sunset Season on the Front Range

2009-12-21T22:11:00.001-07:00

Sunset Season on the Front Range, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

Sparks Lake: Ray Atkeson's Muse

2009-11-05T10:15:00.001-07:00

Sparks Lake: Ray Atkeson's Muse, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

Ray Atkeson was an amazing primarily black and white photographer that was Oregon's first and only Photographer Laureate (he was also brilliant in color). He said his favorite photography location in the state was here at Sparks Lake. He passed on in 1990, but you can still view his work here. We all owe a debt of gratitude to Ray not just for his beautiful images, but also for the conservation they helped to inspire.

Heceta Head: The Oregon Coast's Nightlight

2009-10-11T01:26:00.001-06:00

Heceta Head: The Oregon Coast's Nightlight, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

Sunset High and Lonesome

2009-09-05T00:48:00.001-06:00

Sunset High and Lonesome, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

The Elkhead Mountains of Colorado are some of our least traveled. Found north of Craig, mostly only hunters know this area for it's high level of wildlife. It also happens to be one of my favorite areas in Colorado. Truly divine!

2009 Perseid Meteor Shower in the Colorado Rockies

2009-08-17T16:32:00.001-06:00

2009 Perseid Meteor Shower in the Colorado Rockies, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

I trekked up Cameron Pass to enjoy the peak of this annual treat of an astronomical event and got away with some keepers, even with the moon! I can only imagine how bright this nice fireball meteor would have been under a moonless sky. I saw 69 Perseids total between 10 pm - 3:30 am MST.

Worldwide Photowalking Fort Fun Edition

2009-07-27T17:22:00.001-06:00

Worldwide Photowalking Fort Fun Edition, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

The Fort Collins contingent met on a hot Saturday afternoon at Colorado State University for our part in the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk (over 30,000 walkers worldwide!). I sure had fun meeting you all!

This one is of a fountain next to the Engineering Building that honors Elwood Mead (the same guy lake Mead is named for). I've copied the plaque's inscription below for easy reading in case there's interest.

Elwood Mead
1858-1936
As a member of the Colorado Agricultural College faculty between 1883 and 1888, Elwood Mead established the first instruction in irrigation engineering to be offered by an American college or university. This work provided the foundation for Colorado State University's internationally recognized reputation in water-related research, teaching and service.

Blue Me Around A Tree

2009-07-14T13:42:00.001-06:00

Blue Me Around A Tree, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

So I found this amazing celestial blue centering device out in the grasslands.... no actually what you are looking at is a nearly 40 year old man wrapped up in blue LED Christmas lights (tiny AA battery powered ones from the dollar store) running around a tree in the middle of nowhere at 3 am as fast as he can with out falling down. Yeah, I know. ;-)))

Of note for this shot is that Mars and Venus form a triangle on right with the Pleiades Star Cluster/Seven Sisters. And I need to check my camera's clock. I am thinking since it was showing first light this was actually taken at 4 am.

The Electric Rainbow Acid Test

2009-07-01T18:18:00.001-06:00

The Electric Rainbow Acid Test, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

I'd rather be a lightning rod than a seismograph.

--Ken Kesey as quoted by Tom Wolfe in The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test

Image notes: single exposure/no hdr. An extraordinarily lucky 1/3 of a second. This near double rainbow was quite the buzzer breaker, at this point the sun was already most of the way down.

Sparky Shortgrass Prairie

2009-06-19T10:54:00.001-06:00

Sparky Shortgrass Prairie, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

It's gettin' sparky out there! From a couple of nights ago out at Pawnee National Grassland.

A Moonlit Walk into the Stars

2009-06-13T10:59:00.001-06:00

A Moonlit Walk into the Stars, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

The third and final part of the triptych I've been working on for this pier at East Lake, Newberry Crater National Volcanic Monument, OR.

Pawnee Prairie Primrose Paradisio

2009-05-31T22:06:00.001-06:00

Pawnee Prairie Primrose Paradisio, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

If you live anywhere near Pawnee National Grasslands in NE Colorado, come for a visit now while this rare epic display of primrose continues. I've seen them thick on the grasslands before, but this year might be the best of my life. Go!!!!

Moonrise Is Best Shared With A Friend

2009-05-15T15:30:00.001-06:00

Moonrise Is Best Shared With A Friend, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

Not much is more romantic than holding your loved one's hand while you watch the moonrise on Second Beach at Olympic National Park.

I was lucky to spy this photo-op while I was out getting chased by waves trying for the reflection angle in the earlier post. I rushed in and dropped as low as possible to the ground and went for it.

Notes: This is one exposure, no hdr (but some D-lighting in cam).

Ray-Bursting a Gorge-ous Sunset on Steens

2009-05-06T11:48:00.001-06:00

Ray-Bursting a Gorge-ous Sunset on Steens, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

Steens Mountain National Back Country Byway opens up a world of views truly unique to SE Oregon. Besides one of the darkest night skies in the lower 48, Steens also plays host to several plant species that occur nowhere else on Earth (endemics) and serves as an example of one of the largest fault-block mountains in the world (one mountain over 50 mi long!). Yet very few even know this place exists.

Long's Peak and Mount Meeker After the Storm

2009-04-25T10:43:00.001-06:00

Long's Peak and Mount Meeker After the Storm, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

We had quite the spring blizzard up at Rocky Mountain National Park, here's a view as the storm finally cleared this past weekend.

A Steam Devil Cyclone at Yellowstone!

2009-04-19T11:14:00.001-06:00

A Steam Devil Cyclone at Yellowstone!, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

I wanted to post something special for my third flickrversary and became overjoyed when I realized I had captured a real steam devil (on right, like a cyclonic dust devil but with steam) at Grand Prismatic Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park! How I missed this earlier is beyond me, I have five total shots showing it that confirmed it was indeed one spinning away. Thanks all for three amazing years of friendship, growth and fun!

Some anniversary statistics for your viewing pleasure:

First uploaded photo: April 16, 2006 · 3 years ago
962 public photos (almost averaging one posting a day)
All Time Photo View Count: 2,004,001
Photostream View Count: 267,309
Most Viewed Photo: 35,279 views
Most Faved Photo: 767 faves
Most Commented Photo: 311 comments
Number of Photos in Explore per Scout: 333
3,414 call me a contact
Images with 100+ Faves = 99
Images with 50+ Faves = 272

Trailing Above North Cascades National Park in a Meteor Shower

2009-04-10T16:50:00.001-06:00

Trailing Above North Cascades National Park in a Meteor Shower, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

This image was created with 65 consecutive 30 second exposures stacked for the trails and 2 dark frames for noise reduction and 2 frames for the foreground detail. If you look carefully you can see Perseid meteors zooming through the frame as this was taken at the peak of the Perseid Meteor Shower pointing towards the radiant. One my favorite yearly astronomical events!

Images were stacked with Max Lyon's stacker program and then merged in PS. If I had my superwide Tokina 11-16 for this I could have included the N. Star, that would have rocked.

Woo Hoo Hoo!

2009-04-04T11:22:00.001-06:00

Woo Hoo Hoo!, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

A Short-eared Owl takes flight at the Wellington State Wildlife Area located just north of Fort Collins, Colorado yesterday. I am pleased to finally get a flight capture of one of these grassland owls.

Teton Serenity on Jackson Lake

2009-03-26T09:23:00.001-06:00

Teton Serenity on Jackson Lake, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

Strait of Juan de Fuca Chromatic Sunset Gradation

2009-03-16T17:04:00.001-06:00

Strait of Juan de Fuca Chromatic Sunset Gradation, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

The Ever-So-Elegant Great Blue Heron

2009-03-13T08:02:00.001-06:00

The Ever-So-Elegant Great Blue Heron, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

Anti-crepuscular Rays on Colorado Plains

2009-03-03T19:34:00.002-07:00

Anti-crepuscular Rays on Colorado Plains, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

Anti-crepuscular rays form in the opposite direction of a sunset (in the east) converging to an antisolar point. They are caused by beams of sunlight passing though holes in clouds.

One Good Berry Deserves Another

2009-01-30T11:01:00.001-07:00

One Good Berry Deserves Another, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

A Cedar Waxwing in snow gorges on our neighbor's Mountain Ash tree berries. It's been a nonstop drunken party over there for going on solid for a couple weeks (the birds, not my neighbors, hah), these guys know how to have fun! ;-)))

Edit: this image was selected as post of day for both the Karma and Spectacular Animals groups, thanks so much I am honored!

Lunar Flyby

2009-01-14T09:07:00.001-07:00

Lunar Flyby, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

The Solitude of Self Nocturnality

2008-12-29T17:11:00.001-07:00

The Solitude of Self Nocturnality, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

A self-portrait of me "piering out" over East Lake at Newberry Crater National Volcanic Monument in central Oregon (I'm the shadow figure at the end of the pier, easier to see on the large view).

I often spend hours after dark perfecting settings for my night photography, that time gives me plenty of opportunity to experience a pure feeling of solitude. I virtually never see another person (save for my patiently sleeping wife off to the side on our cot) and am left to soak in the sensory elements of sensations from the night.

Christmas With the Snow!

2008-12-08T10:50:00.002-07:00

Christmas With the Snow!, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

We got our first real snow in Fort Collins, yay!!!

From our snow globe home to yours, wishing you a very warm & happy holiday season!

Strobist Notes: handheld bare SB800 with a warming gel. I fired the strobe at full power twice pointed at the falling snow once and once bouncing off a snowy bank. All of our xmas lights are LED. I also double-processed the RAW file.

And if you want to listen to one of my favorite Christmas tunes, check out "Christmas With the Snow" by Marah, great stuff! ;-)))

Here on Earth

2008-11-30T15:15:00.001-07:00

Here on Earth, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

A light pollution glow from the city lights of Pueblo, CO competes for attention with the stars of Orion and others (46 min exposure). Speaking of which, this month's National Geographic has a fantastic light pollution article entitled, Our Vanishing Night. Check it out!

Penetrating Through the Fog

2008-11-18T14:08:00.001-07:00

Penetrating Through the Fog, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

I was so excited when the moon finally broke through the fog helping to create this dreamy ethereal mood. The show was over minutes later with the moon fading back into invisibility once more.

Morning Rounds

2008-11-03T15:02:00.001-07:00

Morning Rounds, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

This impressive bull elk at Rocky Mountain National Park seems to have some grasses caught up in the ole' antlers. He had quite the harem close by.

----------------------------->---

2008-10-18T07:51:00.001-06:00

----------------------------->---, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

I guess we could say that this Bear Lake scene from Rocky Mountain National Park points out it's fall. ;-)))

Tetonic Moonshine

2008-10-09T12:03:00.001-06:00

Tetonic Moonshine, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

And here is my third night take on Jackson Lake at Grand Teton National Park.

Native Flow

2008-09-25T23:59:00.001-06:00

Native Flow, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

I am a native Coloradoan that found my passion for nature at an early age thanks to beautiful spots like this. West Creek Falls are just inside Rocky Mountain National Park and also are within the West Creek State Natural Area. West Creek below the falls serves as habitat for populations of the threatened native greenback cutthroat trout (Onorhychus clarki stomias).

Olympic Pacific Coast Last Light Catchers

2008-09-13T16:21:00.001-06:00

Olympic Pacific Coast Last Light Catchers, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

A 30 second exposure (f/5.6 @ ISO 400) captures a purple fog produced by the lapping waves ephemeral presence along the line of an advancing tide. The longer exposure also allows the last of an already set sun to paint rocks on the beach with a warm glow. Colorado rules, but these here ocean things sure seem pretty nifty....

Reflecting on Grand Prismatic

2008-09-05T09:58:00.001-06:00

Reflecting on Grand Prismatic, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

Clouds reflect in the foreground while Grand Prismatic Spring's rising steam picks up a rainbow of Rasta colors. It was so hard to leave Yellowstone to continue on our trip to the Pacific Northwest when gifted such perfect conditions! ;-)

Those fantastical colors are completely natural. The vivid colors result from pigmented bacteria in microbial mats that line the edge of this third largest hot spring in the world. The blues come in part thanks to how deep and pure the water is here.

Dipping into Cascadian Memories at Newberry

2008-08-26T13:07:00.001-06:00

Dipping into Cascadian Memories at Newberry, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

A moonlit view of Newberry National Volcanic Monument featuring the Big Dipper reflecting into East Lake (Oregon). This is an area somewhat akin to Crater Lake, but Newberry can claim one of the largest collections of cinder cones, domes, lava flows, and fissures in the world. It is a truly fascinating place to visit.

Orbital Motion

2008-08-01T14:28:00.001-06:00

Orbital Motion, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

This was taken out at Pawnee National Grassland in northeastern Colorado. The brightest streak is Jupiter, while the sunset colors are actually light pollution from Fort Collins, CO.

Last Light on the Range

2008-07-23T16:49:00.001-06:00

Last Light on the Range, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

Can't See the Universe for the Trees

2008-07-13T16:32:00.001-06:00

Can't See the Universe for the Trees, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

North Park Meander

2008-06-26T18:01:00.001-06:00

North Park Meander, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

Universal Camping

2008-06-14T11:22:00.001-06:00

Universal Camping, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

Energy Transfer

2008-06-06T00:17:00.001-06:00

Energy Transfer, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

Oxbow Bend Silken Glass

2008-05-21T10:56:00.001-06:00

Oxbow Bend Silken Glass, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

Choose Your Metaphor

2008-04-20T21:02:00.002-06:00

Choose Your Metaphor, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

This transcendent moment of morning perfection was gifted to me by Lake Tahoe last Thursday.

Evening Vespers in the Rockies

2008-04-11T16:10:00.001-06:00

Evening Vespers in the Rockies, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

Pyromania Conflagration

2008-04-08T11:31:00.001-06:00

Pyromania Conflagration, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

I think the wind might have blown up this particular farmer's weed burn east of Fort Collins, CO today. When I saw the pillar of smoke billowing in the sky like a fractal, I knew I had to capture it. ;-)))

A Symphony of Sunset Silhouettes

2008-03-21T23:50:00.001-06:00

A Symphony of Sunset Silhouettes, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

Continuing the Night Theme

2008-03-06T00:36:00.002-07:00

Probing Deep Space Under a (near) Full Moon, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

One from our magic night after the full moon at the VLA astronomical radio observatory in New Mexico.

Orion Watch Over Me

2008-02-28T20:17:00.001-07:00

Orion Watch Over Me, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

From our trip out to the great wide open prairie last weekend. Here, the constellation Orion takes stock of Pawnee National Grassland in northeastern Colorado (note the abundant light pollution below).

Trails in the Laramie Foothills

2008-01-25T16:15:00.001-07:00

Trails in the Laramie Foothills, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

I recently went for a drive north of Fort Collins with a friend to do some night photography. We found below freezing temperatures and 35+ mph winds. Knowing the odds were stacked against me I persisted and came up with this result.

I used an SB-800 strobe handheld and manually popped off a few on full power to illuminate the foreground a bit and hopefully add some definition to combat blur from the wind. I am glad we stayed, it was an invigorating and fun wind! ;-)))

Gazing GBH at Bosque

2008-01-06T12:57:00.001-07:00

Gazing GBH at Bosque, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

A photograph from my new Nikon D300 of a Great Blue Heron at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico. If it's been awhile since I've posted to my blog and you wonder what I've been up to be sure to check my photostream on flickr where I update most often.

Through the Seasons at the Colorado State University Oval

2007-11-05T13:19:00.000-07:00

I've finally finished my year long project to take a photo at the same location once for each season. Here's the result:

On Flickr

Everything is flowing--going somewhere.

Snow flows fast or slow in grand beauty; the air in majestic floods of fragrance.

Rocks flow from volcanoes like water from springs; animals flock together and flow in currents, while the stars go streaming through space.

Everything is flowing--going somewhere.

How lavish is Nature; Nature always building, Nature always pulling down, creating, destroying, chasing every material particle from form to form, ever changing, ever beautiful.

-John Muir

Vanishing Point

2007-10-29T20:16:00.001-06:00

On Flickr

On Flickr

On Flickr

2007-10-16T14:02:00.000-06:00

Another entry for the flickr group The Dictionary of Image.

On Flickr

Something Different

2007-09-13T16:56:00.000-06:00

On flickr there is a really cool new group called The Dictionary of Image. The only rule is your submission should include a definition as part of the finished piece which is appropriate to the image. What a fun concept! Here's my first entry.

On Flickr

Lark Bunting Triangulation

2007-08-30T10:22:00.000-06:00

On Flickr

Today this is being featured on the front page of the New West Network, an excellent source for news of culture, economy, politics, environment and lifestyle in the Rocky Mountain West.

Open Mic Night at the Pawnee

2007-08-21T11:05:00.000-06:00

On Flickr

Advancing On To Peace

2007-08-11T14:53:00.000-06:00

On Flickr

I love you Papa.

This is dedicated to Papa (my grandfather). Papa passed on last Wednesday night after a struggle that has seen him taking multiple ambulance rides to the hospital in the past months. He lived a long, loving and kind life that is an example on how to live I will always treasure. Some of you might remember he is who originally turned me onto photography and who taught me how to use my first 35 mm SLR camera. I am eternally blessed and better for having known Papa.

I wanted to share a few quotes that I've found some meaning in at this time:

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. ~From a headstone in Ireland

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight. ~Kahlil Gibran

Oh heart, if one should say to you that the soul perishes like the body, answer that the flower withers, but the seed remains. ~Kahlil Gibran

Perhaps they are not the stars, but rather openings in Heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy. ~Author Unknown

While we are mourning the loss of our friend, others are rejoicing to meet him behind the veil. ~John Taylor

Let children walk with Nature, let them see the beautiful blendings and communions of death and life, their joyous inseparable unity, as taught in woods and meadows, plains and mountains and streams of our blessed star, and they will learn that death is stingless indeed, and as beautiful as life. ~John Muir

Colorado State University Nightscapes

2007-08-08T17:43:00.001-06:00

After our recent gully-washer of a rain storm I hopped in the car to go do some wet night photography and ended up at the Colorado State University's Oval. Here's some of the results I liked. Very little post-processing was used for either image.

After Dark at the Halls of Justice

On Flickr

The Enchanted Paseo

On Flickr

1936 Chevy Farm Truck & Friends

2007-07-30T10:45:00.001-06:00

Reaching for the Stars

2007-07-23T21:04:00.000-06:00

This ancient juniper tree yearning for the stars is brought to you courtesy of some of the lowest light pollution I've seen in Colorado. The image is completely natural, with no manipulation in photoshop. The tree was illuminated with my white LED headlamp, basically a paint with light experiment. The exposure was 63 seconds.

The Beauty of Age

2007-07-20T10:48:00.000-06:00

Ancient Mesatop Sentinels

Twisted History

Composite

2007-07-07T11:47:00.000-06:00

Night of the Cranes

I decided to have some fun making a composite. The crane silhouettes were created based on my photos of Sandhill Cranes in flight at Bosque National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico (some of which I've shared here). The sunset is from this past week in the mountains above Fort Collins, Colorado. And finally the full moon was borrowed from my Phases of a Total Lunar Eclipse image featured here long ago. It was fun making this, I hope you enjoy.

Forest Ripples

2007-07-04T11:34:00.000-06:00

Red Mountain Falls

2007-06-26T13:03:00.000-06:00

On Flickr

If you enjoy my photography could you please think good thoughts for my grandfather? He is who I can most credit for giving me a passion for photography and who taught me how to use my first 35mm SLR. Today at near 90 years old he is recovering from a really tough fall and high fever in a 24 hr nursing care center. He really wants to return to his independent life. I appreciate all of your good thoughts and prayers for him, thanks a million.

Rural Decay

2007-06-21T13:59:00.000-06:00

Can't Get Clean

On Flickr

The Portal

On Flickr

Skylarking

2007-06-13T00:20:00.000-06:00

Aermotor Cloud Storm

I Spy Sky Eyes

Sundown at Rivendell

2007-06-02T13:42:00.001-06:00

Sundown at Rivendell, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

Try viewing large on black.

This image is a digitally-enhanced composite of a five frame HDR and portions of two of the frames used to make the HDR (mostly sky and some of the reflection). I've also removed a small portion of road on the middle right.

In the past when I posted from this series someone commented that they felt it was almost prehistoric in feel. So tonight I went for broke to reach Jurassic Park, and maybe it's just the coffee and beer, but I feel I've ended up in Middle-Earth. ;-)

Round Trinidad

2007-05-26T12:06:00.000-06:00

A whimsical round house found in Trinidad, Colorado. This image is digitally enhanced.

Sandhill Crane Flight

2007-05-16T09:02:00.000-06:00

Incredibly majestic birds, that are perhaps at their best in the air.

Sandhill Crane Projectile

Crane Flight Diagonal

Coming Right at the Morning

2007-05-08T12:47:00.000-06:00

A first light scene from Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico.

Cormorants are Cool

2007-05-04T13:15:00.000-06:00

Double-crested Cormorant Landing

Double-crested Cormorant Bat Impressions

Yellowstone Colors

2007-04-29T17:18:00.000-06:00

One of the most surreal landscapes I know, Yellowstone National Park is a photographer's dream.

Grand Prismatic Intricacy

A view of the largest hot spring in the United States: Grand Prismatic Spring.

Clepsydra Geyser Permutations

This sunset image is a composite of multiple long-time exposures of an erupting geyser at Yellowstone National Park.

A Moment of Teton Time

2007-04-20T18:56:00.000-06:00

Birds and Bird

2007-04-18T21:33:00.000-06:00

Birds

Bird

A Pair of Cuties

2007-04-13T19:37:00.000-06:00

Spotted Towhee (water added)

House Sparrow

Illustrative Renderings

2007-04-05T19:49:00.000-06:00

Lately I've been experimenting with a hybrid post-processing approach that creates images that are part photograph and part illustration, almost as if one of those old architectural renderings. I find a number of different tools can really help implement the feel I am going for, such as the faked water reflection I used in my previous golden pond post. Here's one that is more on the side of a photograph to preserve the natural color and beauty of a Great Blue Heron-- but layered in is a combination of LucisArt and a variety of Photoshop steps to give the look of a rendering to some extent as well.

The effect really comes into its own when viewed large (click on the image for a larger view).

Great Brr Heron

And here is one more strongly on the illustration/architectural rendering side...

Ammons Hall, Colorado State University

Cottonwood on (fake) Golden Pond

2007-04-02T22:05:00.000-06:00

The water was simulated to add an element of depth to the image, hope you enjoy.

Grand Crescent Moon Sunset

2007-03-27T11:54:00.000-06:00

A view of the setting crescent moon in the sunset taken just east of the Very Large Array (radio telescope) in Socorro County, New Mexico.

Taken with a 300 mm F4 to emphasize how large the moon looked setting. The next night was too late to get this shot as the moon's descent to the horizon was still well above the final fading sunset colors. It reminded me of how Ansel stressed when you see something really special don't wait to go back and get the photo no matter how inconvenient, there's no guarantee you will get a second chance (like his moonrise photo we all know and love).

And here is an image of the crescent moon in the sunset the following evening in a wider more landscape oriented view at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge:

More Pawnee Pontificating

2007-03-24T21:42:00.000-06:00

The same night I took the sunset photo in my last post I had a lot of fun capturing the scene in a myriad of ways for practice at trying different photography techniques. In that spirit of trying to render one scene in a variety of ways I give you another angle at the same pond, and this one is an HDR (3 frames, not pseudo) take:

Hugged by a Sunset

And here is a long-time exposure (about 3.5 minutes) of Venus setting in the early night sky over the pond (not an HDR, very little post-processing):

The Disappearance of Venus

Pawnee Pond Pondering

2007-03-18T12:34:00.000-06:00

The incredible sunset we had in Colorado Friday night seen here from a small pond in Pawnee National Grassland. No filters were used save a neutral density grad, and besides denoise and a slight levels adjustment I used very little post-processing. Shown both right side up and vertically flipped/upside down, can you tell which way is up?

Snow Goose Grace

2007-03-10T11:43:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of views of white morph Snow Geese (Chen caerulescens) taken at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge show off the inherent grace and beauty of this species.

One cool ID factoid to know in order to tell the very similar Snow Geese and Ross's Geese apart is the distinctive black patch on bill edges, the "grinning patch" or "smile" unique to the Snow Geese. The black lipstick-like grin patches are fairly easy to see on these captures. Also Ross's Geese have much smaller/stubbier triangular bills

A Slightly Different Sunset Pillar

2007-03-06T13:04:00.001-07:00

A Slightly Different Sunset Pillar, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

View 'A Slightly Different Sunset Pillar' Large On Black

Clepsydra Geyser serves here as a sunset pillar, helping paint this ethereal scene. What intrigues me the most is the lighter area at the base of the steam pillar, I didn't use flash and was the only one taking photos. I have no idea why it looks illuminated, spooky!

From the National Park Service:

This nearly constant performer splashes from several vents and its steam can be seen throughout the Lower Geyser Basin. Its name is Greek for water clock, and was given because the geyser used to erupt regularly every three minutes. Since the 1959 Hebgen earthquake, however, Clepsydra erupts almost without pause. Sometimes it quits during Fountain's eruption.

Night Heron Braking into Grace

2007-03-03T11:11:00.001-07:00

This has a certain almost Eastern aesthetic to it that I enjoy, hope you do too.

Night Heron Braking into Grace, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

Returning to Fort Ephemera

2007-02-27T10:01:00.000-07:00

One of most beautiful birds of prey in the world: the American Kestrel.

And here is another crowd pleaser: the Cedar Waxwing in a paradise of it's favorite alcoholic berries.

Bosque Goodness

2006-12-06T21:02:00.000-07:00

Bird Rays

Magic Bosque Morn

Yellowstone Beats Bellagio

2006-11-15T18:27:00.000-07:00

Cobalt Blue Sunset Bonus

Elective Sunset

2006-11-10T20:30:00.000-07:00

Some images of the amazing sunset we had on election night in Colorado this week. One can only hope it's a good sign, heh.