A snow storm hit the Sandia Mountains outside of Albuquerque New Mexico and Teig and I went out to explore Elena Gallegos Open Space. The Tree Cholla Cacti were so striking in the snow especially with their bright yellow fruit. It was surreal to see this landscape and the cacti in deep snow.
The Castle at Capitol Reef
One of the wonderful National Parks found in the West. A majestic view of Capitol Reef from Panorama Point.
Slot Canyon Falls on Willis Creek
A beautiful waterfall in Willis Creek Narrows. This location is a beauty within the Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument of Utah.
Thor's Hammer in Bryce Canyon
Thor's Hammer, the left side of the photo, at Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah. Thor's Hammer is a spectacular example of a hoodoo, which is sometimes referred to as a tent rock or fairy chimney. They form because of erosion processes and may be found in badland areas whenever relatively hard rock overlays softer more erodible rock, such as sandstone. Thors Hammer is one the Iconic hoodoos in Bryce Canyon and can be seen from Navajo Trail.
Traildog at Lost Park
Autumn colors abound in late September in the high country of Colorado. Teig loves hikes under the canopy of gold colored aspens. He even looks stately in grass field between those aspens.
Treasure Creek Falls
Beautiful waterfalls on Treasure Creek in the San Juan Range of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. We hiked on Summit Trail to these falls which were dappled in nice midday sunlight, perfect to sit beside and have lunch and listen to the sounds of the roaring stream.
Saint Thomas the Apostle Church
This church, built in 1935, replacing an older one that burned in 1860. The church anchors the main plaza of Abiquiu, New Mexico. Abiquiú means "wild choke cherry place" in the Tewa language. The community is also called Santo Tomas de Abiquiú and the Pueblo of Santo Tomas de Abiquiú.
Standing in Browns Lake
Teig resting his paws in Browns Lake high in the Cache La Poudre Wilderness north of Rocky Mountain National Park. Trekking back to this lake from the valley below was worth the hike. The gorgeous cirque with alpine ridges sits above the lake and is not overly visited by hikers. I would consider this location a nice place in the Colorado Rockies to get away from the crowds. It is approximately a 4.5 mile hike in to reach the lake.
Dinosaur National Monument Canyon
Looking out over Dinosaur National Monument in Northwest Colorado is a wonderful experience. The canyons span out under you and you can see for miles into the heart of the beautiful American West.
Llama Running Along Fence
This llama was super curious of Teig and I when we got out of our truck to photograph the storm over the distant vistas. He kept an eye on us the whole time to make sure we didn’t trespass on his turf.
Resting on a Colorado Plateau
My Colorado Traildog resting on a flat rock overlooking the backcountry of western Colorado. We love our state and thoroughly enjoy exploring the unsettled areas far removed from civilization.
Teig at Treasure Creek
The San Juan Range in Southwest Colorado is some of the most beautiful mountains in the continental United states. They are remote, wild and rugged. For those reasons Teig and I love to saunter into them. We were on Treasure Creek when I took this photo of Teig.
Waves at Sunset on Rabbit Key
A beautiful Gulf Coast Sunset from Rabbit Key in Everglades National Park. Storms had moved passed and provided splendid color and light in the western skies over the Gulf of Mexico.
Serene Scene on Tiger Key
The calm photo as dark clouds work their way through the Gulf of Mexico from Tiger Key in Everglades National Park.It is rewarding to absorb the peaceful ambiance of the natural Florida landscape and not the large urban congestion to the north and east of the park.
Seaweed on Mangrove Roots at Low Tide
Relaxing on Tiger Key beach, I watched the tide move down he beach and expose the mangrove roots, shells and remnant seaweed. I enjoyed the calm afternoon sun in the shade of the trees as the salty breeze kept the sand fleas away.
Grove of Mangrove Trees on Tiger Key
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.
Drying Nautical Map on Rabbit Key
When we made it to Rabbit Key (camp site) in Everglades National Park, it is time to unpack the gear from the kayaks and dry things out. This includes the essential nautical map for the area. We all have electronic GPS but it is important to also have a secondary map in case you run out of power or your GPS is malfunctioning. You must know how to read the map and use a compass.
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.
Reflective above Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon is one the most spectacular views in America. Looking down into the orange and red banded canyon made me feel inspired with the beauty of nature. This young woman appears to have a similar reaction to viewing the canyon.