Sneffels Range, Colorado

Ron NiebruggeColorado, Photos, Travel 22 Comments

Sneffels Range, San Juan Mountains, Colorado.

Sneffels Range, San Juan Mountains, Colorado.

Now we are talking!  I think we have found the amazing colors Colorado is known for.

Yesterday we moved to Ouray, Colorado – what a beautiful town!  I’m sure I will be posting photos of it eventually.  But, the trees around here are far healthier, looking great, and at or near peak.  The next few days should be a whirlwind – stormy weather is in the forecast, we need to cover as much ground as possible as this might be a wonderful, but small window of opportunity.

See more photos of our Colorado travels.

Mountain Biking Crested Butte

Ron NiebruggeColorado, Photos, Travel 7 Comments

Janine riding the Upper Loop, Crested Butte, Colorado.

- Janine riding the Upper Loop, Crested Butte, Colorado.

The Upper and Lower Loops in Crested Butte are great trails.  They run parallel a nice little stream, and wind through some great stands of pine and aspen as they climb up the valley.  It was a great place to ride and photograph!  At 9,000 feet, I’m glad we are acclimatized to the elevation – no wonder everyone looks so fit around here!

Check out more mountain biking pictures.

Fall Colors

Ron NiebruggeColorado, Photos, Travel 4 Comments

A small patch of color along Highway 92, Colorado.

A small patch of color along Highway 92, Colorado.

Finding nice patches of color has been a bit difficult, I think most photographers are hoping it improves next week.  This was the best patch of color I have seen in awhile.

The National Parks, Americas Best Idea by Ken Burns

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Kenai Fjords, Miscellaneous, Photos, Travel 5 Comments

Cameraman Buddy Squires, producer Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns in Aialik Bay, Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska.

Cameraman Buddy Squires, producer Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns in Aialik Bay, Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska.

I thought I would do a quick reminder that the Ken Burns series on our National Parks will begin airing Sunday evening on PBS.

As you may know, I helped out a bit when Florentine Films was filming in Kenai Fjords back in 2003 – they have been working on this film for sometime.  Ken, Dayton and Buddy were some of the most interesting people I have ever met, and could tell fascinating stories about the people they have met and places they had seen thanks to their past projects.  What doesn’t come across in the television interviews I have seen is Ken’s wonderful sense of humor – the group of us sure had a lot of fun, I don’t think I have ever laughed so much while out in the field!

I had the chance to see much of the Alaska portion of the coverage of this series and it was really well done.  I can’t imagine the research that must go into a project like this.  The series talked at length about people like Adolph Murie, Bradford and Barbara Washburn, Charles Sheldon and Joe Quigley – all people that are well known to Alaskans, but may be unfamiliar to most Americans.  I look forward to learning about similar people from other parts of the United States who may be unfamiliar to me.

I don’t think I’ll have a chance to watch it right now – we don’t get much in the way of TV right now, and we are kinda busy, but I do look forward to watching it once we are back in Alaska.  Here is the PBS site with much more information including times for The National Parks, Americas Best Idea.

Ken Burns pretending to be deeply contaplating a rock as he hams it up for my camera. He was halarious. At the time I was sorry my flash didnt fire, but in hindsight, I like the shiouette.

Ken Burns pretending to be deeply engrossed by a beach stone as he hams it up for my camera. He was hilarious. At the time I was sorry my flash didn't fire, but in hindsight, I like the silhouette.

Crested Butte, Colorado

Ron NiebruggeColorado, Photos, Travel 3 Comments

Crested Butte, Colorado.

Crested Butte, Colorado.

Crested Butte is a really cool little ski town!  The old buildings in the main part of town have been carefully restored and colorfully painted – it is like this on both sides of the street for a number of blocks.  This town has a ton of character, and the surrounding area offers endless outdoor activities.Read More

Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park

Ron NiebruggeColorado, Photos, Travel 18 Comments

Janine at a viewpoint at Black Canyon Gunnison National Park, Colorado.

Janine at a viewpoint in Black Canyon Gunnison National Park, Colorado.

Last week we were in one of the busiest National Parks, Rocky Mountain National Park.  Last night we visited one most people probably never have heard of, Black Canyon of Gunnison Natonal Park, but we weren’t at all disappointed, it is a beautiful Park!  It consists primarily of Black Canyon.  Black Canyon is very dramatic, at places over 2,700 feet deep, with solid rock walls full of interesting shapes, patterns and textures – a photographers dream!  We plan on returning and spending a bit more time at this little gem.

Painted Wall, Black Canyon Gunnison National Park, Colorado.

Painted Wall, Black Canyon Gunnison National Park, Colorado.

For the image of Painted Wall, I used a 3 stop graduated neutral density filter, and a blend of two different exposures.

By the way, thanks for all the great location suggestions and advice I have received from readers of my last few posts – I really appreciate it!

Here are more pictures of the Black Canyon of Gunnision National Park, Colorado.

Red Aspen

Ron NiebruggeColorado, Photos, Travel 8 Comments

Red Aspen during a snow storm, Monarch Pass, Colorado.

Red Aspen during a snow storm, Monarch Pass, Colorado.

I  love finding the occasional patch of red aspen – they really stand out in the sea of yellow.

When we passed through Monarch Pass a couple of days ago the colors were amazing.  We went back yesterday  to find most of them had past, I’m sure thanks to the stormy weather.  Lots of areas around here are still green, and the stormy weather didn’t hurt those trees, so I think there will be lots of fall to come!

Here are many more fall photos of Colorado.