I love the different formations of mangrove trees in the Everglades National Park’s Keys. I couldn’t help but use them as focal subjects for my photographs. Coming from the Colorado Rockies, these swamp/marsh forests are super cool.
Mangrove Tree Off of Rabbit Key
One of the cool aspects of exploring Ten Thousand Islands in Everglades National Park is the plethora of Mangroves that are present there. The Gulf of Mexico is very shallow in the area and tides can expose large expanses of beach when they recede. Trees can thrive out in these sections as long as the top of their roots remain exposed to the air. This presents some interesting opportunities for unique subjects in photography that are not available in other locations.
Campfire on Tiger Key
We kayaked to Tiger Key in Everglades National Park and spent 2 wonderful evenings on the beach looking up at the stars. Late at night the guys headed off to sleep and I stayed up a watched the campfire die down to embers. The stars blanketed me overhead and the quiet settled on Ten Thousand Islands and soon I would be in my tent sound asleep.
Sunset Peaking through Clouds on Tiger Key
Listening to the waves roll on to the white beach and looking up through the mangroves to see the sunset happening on Tiger Key was a fabulous moment. Everglades National Park has numerous locations to get away from Florida’s crowds and just absorb nature's beauty. Ten Thousand Islands is a prime location to experience the setting sun dip below the Gulf of Mexico.
Beauty of a Crashing Wave
I sat on Tiger Key Beach and watched the evening waves crash into the sand and this stump. I was fascinated by the water drops shooting up from the waves as it hit the immovable object. The sound of the waves and the sight of the crash was so cool. Having lived my whole life in the desert southwest, I am seduced by the ocean and sauntering on the gulf coast.
Tranquil on the Beach
It was relaxing exploring Tiger Key in Everglades National Park. We spent several nights camping on the key during our kayak trip into Florida’s Ten Thousand Islands. I was heartened by many sights like the one captured here. It was wonderful to sit in the soft sand and daydream about the many different people who visited this key and saw sights similar to mine and may have felt their souls soothed as I did.
Golden then Denver from Mount Galbraith
A winter landscape view while hiking Mount Galbraith above Golden Colorado. The Denver skyline can be seen in the far distance. Mount Galbraith is one the most popular Jefferson County trails near Golden. Hundreds of hikers frequent it on the weekends. Best time to hit this trail is during the week.
Tabeau Peak above Joshua Tree National Natural Landmark
Enjoying the quiet serenity of sunset at Joshua Tree National Natural Landmark on the border of Utah and Nevada. This is a wonderful location to get away from the city and just “be”. I am alsways searching for those places when I am traveling.
Deep Snow on Mount Falcon
A big snowstorm hit Denver and the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains leading to this beautiful winter landscape on Mount Falcon. Teig and I spent the afternoon exploring this mountain in the awesome silence that comes to the forest in a huge snowstorm.
Traildog Sauntering to Fisher Towers
It was a fantastic view hiking up to Fisher Towers outside of Moab, Utah. The Fisher Towers contains layers of sedimentary rock in various shades of red-brown, red-purple, and maroon. The colors are a result of varying amounts of hematite (an iron oxide).
Cabezon Sunset
Cabezon Peak is one of the best-known and most visible landmarks in northwest New Mexico. Cabezon is located about 75 miles northwest of Albuquerque. This giant volcanic plug is visible for tens of miles in all directions, and as far away as Placitas. Cabezon means “big head” in Spanish, and it is aptly named. It is the largest of several dozen widely scattered rocky monoliths, called the Rio Puerco necks. Rising above the Rio Puerco valley floor, they are some of the best-preserved examples of volcanic necks in the world. The craggy black peaks stand in sharp contrast to the sparsely vegetated, buff-colored lowlands from which they emerge. Mt. Taylor looms majestically to the southwest, Mesa Prieta borders the valley to the east, and the Jemez Mountains are visible to the north. This starkly beautiful landscape is unique in New Mexico. At an elevation of 7,786 ft, Cabezon Peak towers more than 1,100 ft above its base, and 2,000 ft above the Rio Puerco nearby.
Red Sandstone Formation at Valley of Fire
Teig and I were exploring off-trail in the Valley of fire State Park in Southern Nevada. The red rock formations are beautiful even in full winter sun. The bright red Aztec sandstone is from the Jurassic period and is the remnant of the sand left behind by the wind after inland seas subsided and the land rose.
Winter Scene at White Ranch
Winter in Golden Colorado is especially wonderful after a snowstorm. On this day I took a hike up to White Ranch above the valley and I found this group of frozen trees on my way to the summit. The light was nice even though it was later in the morning. A hike becomes super fun when you come across gems like this.
Stars, Milky Way and and Night Eyes
The Milky Way is amazing, especially viewing it above 11,000 feet in the Colorado Rockies. On this summer evening I was shooting the night sky in complete darkness. I was out in the forest alone and heard a bunch of rustling near me, totally freaking me out. I booked it back to camp which was a couple of hundred yard away. I came back a got my camera a short time later with a extremely bright headlamp. When I got home and processed the shots I found out it was just a few deer feeding in the grass on the mountainside. When you are out in complete darkness by yourself, you can get rattled and spooked by noises in the dark. By the way, Teig was asleep in the truck back at camp.
Winter Storm Engulfing Redrocks
A winter storm came into the Front Range and blanketed snow on beautiful rock formations at Redrocks outside of Denver Colorado. Sauntering the trails was a pleasure with no tourists because of these chilly conditions. As a photographer, these conditions are great and require a trip around the trails in the park.
Mt. Wilson through the Joshua Trees
Teig and I made an excursion trip to Red Rock Canyon outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. We were thrilled we made that choice. The mountains there are exquisite with bright red and orange faces on the sheer cliffs. I was surprised to see these mountains a stones throw from Vegas. I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to get a photo of Mt. Wilson through the Joshua Trees… I do love colorful mountain faces and Joshua Trees!
Joshua Tree in Utah Preserve
Sauntering through southwest Utah near St George, Teig and I stumbled upon Joshua Tree National Natural Landmark and spend a day and evening there enjoying the desert landscape and Joshua Trees. It is definitely worth the time and we really enjoyed the area especially since it was deep into December and winter but the nights stayed above freezing temperatures.
Winter Flatirons from North Table Mountain
A beautiful day hiking and exploring North Table Mountain outside of Golden Colorado. The view north to Boulder and the Flatirons was awesome with the snow covering much of the landscape. What a fantastic place to call home.
Heavy Snow at Redrocks
Redrocks Park is a phenomenal hiking location when a winter storm hits the Front Range mountains of Colorado. The Redrocks and snow create a red and white wonderland that you will not find in most other parts of the world. Redrocks is truly a beautiful place especially in winter.
Ice and South Boulder Creek
The winter conditions in the Front Range mountains of Colorado create some cool features. We were exploring the canyons west of Boulder and we came across partially frozen South Boulder Creek. Sitting down and having lunch I began to study the creek and became fascinated with the icicles and crisp flowing water. I spent a little time there and I captured this photo.