Colorado Shots

Big Elk Redux

2009-09-25T08:00:00.000-06:00

Here's one more of the big elk and some of his herd from this past weekend.

Another Elk Picture from Rocky Mtn National Park

2009-09-24T08:45:00.001-06:00

The big guy with part of his "harem." He was very effective and keeping them in line; he obviously is a male chauvinist, but not a pig.

As a deer that panteth. . .

2009-09-23T17:01:00.000-06:00

I shot this guy on a photo workshop last weekend up in Rocky Mountain National Park. He was one of the bigger elk bulls I've seen and he seemed king of the 'hood. There was another bull who emerged from a tree line about a mile away from this guy. He bugled once or twice which drew my subject's attention so he turned from here and mosyed over. The second, younger bull soon took off for the other side of a road that was behind me. He wanted nothing to do with a fight.

More Visitors to the 'hood

2009-08-10T12:01:00.003-06:00

These two showed up late yesterday morning and spent almost all afternoon firmly ensconsed in the same location. It seems unusual to me to see bucks in the neighborhood before mating season begins around late November. It may be these are young guys looking for some fun. Notice the doe in the background.

I'll have to say, these visitors drive my wife crazy. They are really quite destructive of the lawn, not to mention all the vegetation they eat, because something in their hide seems to kill the grass. Anyway, I managed to get a couple of shots with my Blackberry.

The Big Picture

2009-07-28T16:49:00.002-06:00

This is the scenic view.

This is the final shot.

A Mountain Stream

2009-07-23T07:49:00.002-06:00

Here's a couple of shots of a small waterfall up near Kebler Pass.

More on the Mountain

2009-07-21T12:29:00.002-06:00

The first shot is interesting because of the way all the trees lean up slope. I didn't notice that when I took the shot. The second shot would be pretty good except for the tree right in the middle of the mountain. I should have gone and cut it down, :) That mountain is, I think, either Ruby Peak or Mount Owen, most likely Ruby Peak.

Wildflowers in The Lake Irwin Area

2009-07-20T16:07:00.002-06:00

I've been debating about posting any of these, but this weekend, I loaded the trusty camera and headed to the mountains in search of wildflowers. I went up near the Ruby Range, near Lake Irwin, up around the 10,000 ft elevation. There were kind of slim pickin's, due to time, I didn't get great light, and my technical skill wasn't the greatest. But I'll put a few shots up in the next day or so, anyway.

Visitors in the 'hood

2009-07-03T12:26:00.002-06:00

This is what happens in my neighborhood when you leave your garbage cans out too long. Driving home from an errand, I happened across this happy family celebrating their great good fortune. If a few of these shots seem a bit shaky, there's a good reason, but I couldn't resist.

The owner of this house must have seen the garbage spread out on his lawn, but not the bears. He came out to the bag to pick it up and looked just to his left and quickly headed back to his house.

Colors and Angles on the Gold Dust B&B

2009-06-28T08:00:00.003-06:00

A Flower Garden in Breck

2009-06-27T08:00:00.000-06:00

A Daffodil in Breckenridge

2009-06-25T15:25:00.001-06:00

Aspens in Breckenridge

2009-06-22T18:27:00.003-06:00

A couple more shots from the morning workshop exercises. The ideas was to look for lines, color and texture, and this is one of the locations chosen.

Turn Your Eye to the Heavens

2009-06-18T15:31:00.001-06:00

The first exercise of the workshop in Breckenridge was to go around town and take pictures of old buildings there. The idea was to try to develop an eye for color, texture and shape. Here's one shot.

The First of the Season

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

I went to Breckenridge last weekend for a John Fielder workshop and took nearly 500 pictures, probably 250 too many. Then, when I got home, I found this scene in my back yard, the first new fawn of the season.

Enjoy

A Couple of Random Shots

2009-06-07T10:18:00.002-06:00

After a longish absence, a couple of shots I got this morning. The weather until this weekend has not cooperated at all. It has been cool and either rainy or snowy until this weekend. Next weekend, it's up to the mountains for a day to take in a workshop with John Fielder. Should be a good source of material for a few weeks to come.

Looking for a Sign of Spring

2009-05-07T15:11:00.002-06:00

It's been a while since I've had anything to post. So, reaching back to the files, this is a shot from June 2 years ago. In a month or so, this will again be a common sight around my house.

Update on Sarah

2009-04-19T09:19:00.002-06:00

Sarah and her sister, Felicity on the hunt.

We made our last trip to Ft. Collins Vet School two weeks ago. Examination revealed that Sarah's esophagus was open to 8mm (from 5.4) and she could now be considered cured of the stricture problem. However, the bad news was that the examination also revealed she had some little ulcers in her tummy, likely a result of the Prednisolone given to her after her last ballon dilation to help with the irritation caused by the endoscope. She has been on a course of anti-biotics for two weeks and has a week to go, but we think that she can begin living a more normal life from now on.

April in the Rockies

2009-04-17T17:21:00.002-06:00

As you might have heard, we've had a bit of snow. Here's a few shots from earlier today when the snow was coming down hard. Easter Sunday was much like this so it's been difficult, to say the least, to get out and get some pictures.

Stay warm!!!

Defeat (or, Who Will Win this Battle of Wits?)

2009-04-02T12:33:00.007-06:00

Just checking in. I was lazy last weekend and didn't get many pictures, although I got a couple of shots at the bird feeder I set up on Sunday.

As for the feeder, this has been an effort in frustration. I set one up on a steel pole designed (see above) to hold potted plants. I did this because of the increasingly inventive squirrels that happen to live in my neighborhood. I think those guys all have Ph.D.s in pilfering bird feeders. I put it up about three weeks ago and started getting a few customers. Then I looked a couple of days later and it was empty. I was a little surprised but pleased; I thought the feeder had been discovered and was gaining in popularity among the intended beneficiaries. Then, a week later I looked out my kitchen window and there was a herd of five or six deer sucking the feeder dry -- it hadn't been the birds that ate the seed, it was the deer!

I got brave and headed out to Wal Mart. I picked up a supposedly "squirrel proof" feeder to hang in a tree, out of deer reach; I feared the deer more than the squirrels. I filled the thing only partially full, trying to hedge my bets, and hung it on a Scrub Oak branch. There appeared to be few takers, but I decided to be patient, at least it hadn't been drained. Came home last night after our second blizzard of the year had started, and looked out the kitchen window. The feeder, and the branch it was on, was on the ground. It was empty, of course.

I hate to admit it, it seems just wrong, but I 've been bested by our 4 legged, furry, neighbors.

"Bird" Watching

2009-03-29T10:38:00.002-06:00

Looking forward to spring, I am reminded of another rite of the season around here, the arrival of the Thunderbirds for the Air Force Academy graduation in May. I live about two air miles south of the Academy and right in the flight pattern for the T-Birds, and so, usually get a few good chances for a photo op from my back deck. This is from last years practice under very cloudy skies. I think the actual performance was either greatly reduced or cancelled altogether. It is hoped the weather will be better this year.

Yes, this "bird" is as close as it looks; this wasn't shot with a powerful telephoto lens.

2009-03-28T12:14:00.001-06:00

Only one bad winter storm this year, but I'm ready for spring.

A Doorway

2009-03-27T11:12:00.002-06:00

Just to break up the monotony, here's a picture of a doorway I took in Santa Fe a couple of years ago. I will say, it's my second favorite place in this part of the country.

The Mountain in Spring

2009-03-27T09:00:00.000-06:00

Another from a couple of weeks ago. Another sight I never get tired of here is "the mountain." Every time you glance its way, it gives you a different sight. All beautiful.

Quiet Before the Storm

2009-03-26T19:46:00.000-06:00

We are enjoying a blizzard today, and not the DQ kind. It is very cold and has been snowing since noon. It's supposed to let up tomorrow, but in the meantime, here's two shots I took at the Garden two weeks ago. I was experimenting with the 18-55 mm zoom lens and these may serve as good examples of using the wrong lens for the wrong image. These shots are from the east side of the park, near Rock Ledge Ranch, so they are from a bit of a different angle than is usually seen.

I know that I seem to be stuck on taking pictures at our local city park, but with my work schedule, the weather, and lack of local wildlife at the moment, there isn't a lot of opportunity for me to get other shots. But summer is on the way!!! I have a number of trips planned for this year that I hope will yield some good results.

A Busy Beaver, or two

2009-03-24T17:30:00.000-06:00

I'm jumping around chronologically, but here are a few shots from our trip to Ft. Collins last week. I saw my first robin of the year, and also came across what appears to be a beaver dam under construction. I was surprised to see the size of the trees they were working with

Sunday in the Park

2009-03-22T10:57:00.000-06:00

For your Sunday morning enjoyment, a shot of the Gateway formation in Garden of the Gods. Cheyenne Mountain is in the background.

From “The Fairies”

2009-03-17T12:57:00.001-06:00

High on the hill-top
The old King sits:
He is now so old and gray
He’s nigh lost his wits.
With a bridge of white mist
Columbkill he crosses,
On his stately journeys
From Slieveleague to Rosses;
Or going up with music
On cold starry nights
To sup with the Queen
Of the gay Northern Lights.

William Allingham

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Felicity and Sarah

2009-03-14T08:02:00.000-06:00

03/20/09 Update - Sarah did well with her procedure, but we won't know if we have a permanent fix until we take her back next Friday for an examination and another possible dilation. Will keep you posted.

+ + +

Update on Sarah -- last night when we got home we found a hair ball on the floor. We're wondering if her esophogus is constricted a bit more than it was, it was holding pretty stable, and that, instead of not being able to get something down she couldn't get it up. She was fine and playful, "bright and alert", as the vets say last night and we go to Ft. Collins at 0545 tomorrow morning. We'll keep you posted.

***

Lynn has requested a picture of Felicity, the "big" sister in our 6 month long sister act. She is also the one with the outsized ego. My wife aptly put it the other night when she said that Felicity's can't be described in any other terms but smug. I was reluctant to post a picture of her since I feared that a great deal of public attention, or even a little public attention, would inevitably go to her head and make things completely unbearable around here. However, I did come across a shot of the two sisters together, which might be a nice compromise. Felicity is on the left, Sarah attempting to squeeze into the picture on the right.

Sarah

2009-03-13T13:34:00.000-06:00

It's amazing how something so small and innocent looking can be such a little devil. This is Sarah, a 7 month old Burmese kitten who, along with her sister, Felicity, have pretty much taken over the household. She has her quirks. For example, on any given night, morning actually, sometime between 2:00 and 3:00 AM, she will decide it is the most important thing in the world that she be petted. If we're not awake when the decision is made, we must be awakened. Did I mention she is extremely persistent? She also loves to be up close to us at other times during the day, even if this requires jumping onto our shoulders from the nearest table or chair top.

My wife and I have been cutting her plenty of slack, though. She has had a bit of a tough time in her short life -- she was born with a constricted esophogus, although it took some time to find that out. Simply put, she had a terrible time trying to eat anything. After a trip to the vet emergency room after increasingly violent gagging fits, she was referred to an internal medicine specialist who, in turn, referred us to the Colorado State Vet School hospital for diagnosis and treatment. He knew that figuring out the problem would require a very small scope since she weighed barely 1lb.

The initial diagnosis was that there was nothing that could be done, but I insisted on one final test and that was when the constriction in her esophogus was discovered. After two "balloonings", along the lines of an angioplasty for heart patients, she improved to where she could eat a liquified diet. Next week there will be another and it is hoped with this one she will be able to eat normally and begin living a more normal life.

So, even though the temptation has been strong at times, mostly very early in the morning, to put a balloon over her head and get back to sleep, we'll make one more trip and hope for the best.

The Uphill Climb

2009-03-11T20:19:00.000-06:00

Sometimes, it seems like everything in Colorado is uphill.

Playing in the Garden, Again

2009-03-10T20:12:00.000-06:00

This is a shot of the Kissing Camels formation in Garden of the Gods park that I took last Friday.

Playing in the Garden

2009-03-09T18:48:00.000-06:00

A rock formation in Garden of the Gods.

From Fountain Valley

2009-03-07T14:16:00.000-07:00

I'll backtrack to a shot of what I believe to be a female Mallard; this from my visit to Fountain Valley Nature Center last weekend.

Playing in the Garden

2009-03-06T14:37:00.000-07:00

An 18-55mm zoom lens came with my Nikon D50 and I hadn't used it until today. I took a day off and went over to Garden of the Gods to play with it. The is the entrance to the park off 30th Street, on the east side. A storm is coming and you can see the first indications in the sky behind Pikes Peak. More from today's expedition to come.

Pikes Peak Again

2009-03-03T17:23:00.000-07:00

This is a shot I took a couple of years ago from near the Siamese Twins formation in Garden of the Gods. "The Peak", as everyone around here refers to it, is obviously a big part of life in this part of Colorado. It influences our weather, it's an obvious land mark, it provides all kinds of recreation opportunities in both winter and summer, and above all, it's beautiful. I remember an elderly Franciscan sister here said to me one time that she never tired of looking at it because, every time she did, it looked different. It was a never ending source of surprise, and gratitude for God's goodness, for her. Amen.

Pikes Peak

2009-03-01T18:22:00.000-07:00

A couple more shots from my outting on Saturday. The first is from Big Johnson Reservoir, the second from Fountain Valley Nature Center. We've had an exceptionally dry winter and you can see that in these photos.

Slim Pickins

2009-03-01T11:54:00.000-07:00

I went out yesterday to scout a couple of locations that promise good photo ops in the the spring. One is Big Johnson Reservoir, which was disappointing, although I did get this shot of a prairie dog and of the small group of Canada geese. I also went to Fountain Valley Nature Center and will post a couple of shots from there separately.

Garden of the Gods

2009-02-27T12:14:00.000-07:00

I'll try this again.

Since it is, technically, still winter, I'm having to dig back in my archives for some pictures to post here, this is one example.

I chose it because, even with a mild winter we've had here in Colorado Springs, as spring and summer slowly approach it's difficult to avoid a touch of cabin fever. Nights are still cold here, and unless in direct sun, there is usually a distinct chill in the air, even on the mildest of days. So, this is a shot of Garden of the Gods that I took last summer and post now as a reminder of hope in the coming of warmer days. This is hardly a great picture, but enjoy.

Seagull Confusion or Profusion?

2009-02-24T12:18:00.000-07:00

Another Prospect Lake shot.

Canadian Geese

2009-02-23T12:10:00.000-07:00

A couple of Canadian geese at Prospect Lake; there is no shortage of these around here.

An Ugly Duckling?

2009-02-22T20:01:00.000-07:00

A few shots from my first photo expedition with the new Nikon lens. The shots were taken at Prospect Lake, just east of downtown Colorado Springs.

Where did you say you were from again?

The Road Not Taken

2009-02-22T17:01:00.000-07:00

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,