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  • Mesa Arch Peekaboo - Moab, Utah

    Mesa Arch Peekaboo - Moab, Utah

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  • Tracy's Invitation

    Tracy's Invitation

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  • Brilliant Sky - Van Horn, Texas

    Brilliant Sky - Van Horn, Texas

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  • Disappearing Train - Somewhere near Valentine, Texas

    Disappearing Train - Somewhere near Valentine, Texas

    On my way to visit the Marfa Light Viewing Area just outside of Marfa, this train passed me while I was parked on the side of the road. I had just finished taking photos of the infamous desert Prada shoestore in the middle-of-somewhere Texas. Watching the flashing colors of the train cars I couldn't help but get giddy about all the different colors of the railroad cars. I couldn't get over what a clear day it was and how you could see many miles in any direction. The road straight as an arrow and you could see the entire train without moving your head. I got back into my truck with the anticipation of capturing the train and getting ahead of is so that I could photograph the story of this desolate area. Passing up the train I found a great pull-out spout where I could quick change my camera lens from my nifty-fifty to my wide-angle. The scenery I had drawn up in my mind definitely needed the wide-angle to pull it off. Frantically messing with my camera and lenses I finally snap the wide-angle on and decide that I want to get up high for this shot. Realizing I don't have much time to climb on-top of my huge SUV...instead I just step up on the inside of the cabin floor and realize the top of the SUV door makes for a fine tripod. Not that I need a tripod for this shot given the bright light handy door tripod. I snapped a few photos looking down the length of the train from front to back, but realized that I needed some of that straight and narrow highway in the shot. I snap a few more photos swinging from left to right and then I lock onto the fact that the road direction from my position is the perfect leading line for a disappearing train. I also liked this composition for the fact that you get to see just out desolate it is beyond the train and into the foothills miles away. I still got to capture the varying colors of the train cars and then I captured even more colors in the landscape. I just love the gold tone of the dry grasses and the pink-orange-red-yellow colors in the road and then the blues of the hills and sky. I was being left all alone in the desert by this train. It was mostly quiet except for the squeak & squeall of the train cars on the tracks in the far distance. As the warmth of the sun falls upon my face a smile forms as I am pleased with the moment I just experienced and the fact that I had captured the story in camera. Minutes later I am again passing the locamotives in the front of the train and I roll my window down and give a frantic wave to the conductors of the train. Normally when I do this to truckers I also give the old honk your horn request, but didn't this time...but they blew their horn for me anyways. A huge grin came across my face and I felt just like I did when I was a little kid sitting in the back of the car on a long road-trip when a trucker would honk his or her horn to appease my honking gesture. I love when something as simple as this can bring you back to your childhood. I hope you enjoy my interpretation of this simple moment outside of Valentine, Texas. Enjoy!

  • Grand Lake Headwaters - East Inlet Trail, Grand Lake, Colorado

    Grand Lake Headwaters - East Inlet Trail, Grand Lake, Colorado

    This day I grabbed my hiking & camera gear, threw it into the back of my adventure-warn and very dirty Jeep Wrangler, and without much direction from me, my Jeep drove me up and into the mountains away from the buzz of the city. Escaping to the mountains is what I do best in Colorado and my Jeep and I have done this drive many times. I've spent 20 years of my life traversing Colorado's beauty and this day I was setting out to visit an old friend, the East Inlet Trail near Grand Lake, Colorado. Driving the 102 miles to Grand Lake I pass through many little mining towns, climb over the continental divide via Berthoud Pass (Elevation 11,306 ft.), drive by the famous Winter Park Ski Resort, and am greeted by natural beauty at every turn. The town of Grand Lake is a quaint little one street, saloon type town. The town is full of nice shops and eateries and has a library and museum right in town. The town of Grand Lake skirts the famous Grand Lake...Colorado's largest and deepest natural lake. It's a glacier lake that is approximately 12,000 years young. Grand Lake is fed by two Rocky Mountain streams called the north and east inlets. On this day I am heading to the east side of Grand Lake to the parking lot of the trailhead for the East Inlet Trail. Before I start my hike I always have to take a look at the grand-ness of Grand Lake. It's a beautiful, clear lake full of trout and surrounded by neat lake homes with boat garages. In the summer you can always spot the famous Chris-Craft wooden style boats out for a stroll. The trail begins at a steep grade as I meander around tall, scrubby pine trees and unforgiving bolders. The air is fresh and it pleasantly fills my lungs as I breath deeper and deeper. My eyes are open wide as I know that moose are spotted in these parts. I certainly don't want to spook a moose, they don't take kindly to being spooked. In the distance the sound of rushing water are getting louder and louder. It's the raging waters of Adams Falls about a quarter mile up the trail. As I walk around the different viewing platforms I am revived by the chilled air the falls are creating as they plunge to their deaths into the river below. After I catch my breath I hop back on the trail. After I walk for a while I realize that I am mostly alone on the trail aside from the one or two passersby. The trail is covered by huge trees now and it's darker and colder in the shade. My neck hairs are standing up as I am reminded that I am in the wild and knowingly surrounded by bears, moose, and mountain lions. I'm both afraid and excited at the same time. The trail has leveled out a bit as I follow the river as it bends and straightens along its path. I'm awarded every so often with a window view of the upcoming valley. I don't stay long as I'm eager to see the "Grand" unveiling. Like I was shot out of a tunnel at lighting speed I was gifted this spectacular scenery that I captured for you in this photo. An image framed in brilliant blue skies full of puffy white clouds and surrounded by warm, gold grass, and dark, still water like glass. The air is filled with the sweet smell of the surrounding sugar pines, dirt from the base of the stream, and moss covering the half-covered rocks at the river's edge. My eyes quickly scan the valley for any sign of movement from a moose, bear, or even a human. I'm seemingly all alone at this moment. I'm lost in the beauty of my surroundings. As I set up for my photograph I am mesmerized by the clouds rolling by and the gentle sounds of the moving stream. As I carefully calculate my camera settings my mind mind is painting on its canvas what it hopes to capture with this photograph. Pleased with my settings and composition I roll my finger gently over the shutter button just as a group of clouds stroll across my viewfinder. Click. The moment was captured. Sitting upon a rock I tried to hold on to the grand moment for as long as I possibly could. Enjoy!

  • The Sun is Coming - Alesund Norway

    The Sun is Coming - Alesund Norway

    Ålesund, Norway Harbor. After a lengthy airplane ride and some fun times at the car rental place we excitedly hopped into our cars to head to our hotel @scandicbyparken in the beautiful Ålesund, Norway. We had an exciting drive through the rugged terrain of the beautiful Nordic fjords. The tunnels were long, colorful, and their road grades through the tunnels made the car ride feel like a thrilling roller coaster. After searching for a place to park on the steep streets that would make San Francisco streets seem flat, we quickly put our gear into the rooms so we could start our adventure! It was cold and wet when we arrived and as we hurried down to the Ålesund harbor, just a steep block from our hotel, we were presented with this beautiful sunset over the harbor town. What an exceptional trip to Norway...I would highly recommend it to anyone. Enjoy!

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