Colorado Sunsets

This image is from my fall trip into southwest colorado. A storm was over the Sneffels Range. If you could see to the other side of the range you would be dropping in on Telluride. The storm clouds were being stirred up by upper level winds, or a puff from the wind God, rain had just fallen in the valley and I caught this shot. This is the beauty of Colorado.

For those who are technically interested this image was taken with a medium format digital camera. I started shooting with a Hasselblad H3DII-39. The H3D is a 39 mega pixel camera. File sizes are very large. In the case of this image the original shot was horizontal and about 45mb in a RAW format. The final image is a combining of 3 images each with a different exposure. This is called HDR, High Dynamic Range, processing. The exposures were each at f 8.0 at 1/20, 1/10 and 1/5 of a second.

Images get merged in a program called Photomatix. This does the blending and the art begins with the large number of adjustments that can be made. The resulting print shows a tremendous amount of detail. The gentle transitions of color in the clouds and the evening, rain glistened shine of the road. The output is magnifico as my Italian friends would say.

Southwest Colorado Trip

Well it's been awhile since I posted. Since the last post I did a show up in Estes Park in September. Had a great time but the show was a little slow for all of the artists that exhibited.

The last week of September and the first week of October I took 10 days and traveled down to the Southwest part of Colorado. Aspen trees were turning color. In the Aspen, Colorado area they were at or just past peak. I spent a day shooting in and around Aspen. Shot the Maroon Bells at dawn and then traveled the back roads for the next several hours.

Then it was on to the Montrose/Ridgeway/Ouray area for the next week. Each day I was out before dawn and kept shooting until dark. Got some amazing images that you can see in the new gallery on my website, www.reflectionsimaging.com. The gallery is labeled Southwest Colorado.

On my last evening I wanted to shoot the Sneffels Range and Dallas Divide from a different perspective. I got to my spot as rain showers started to move through the area. This time of year should have had snow hitting the peaks but it had been unseasonably warm. But patience was rewarded with a rainbow. This shot is looking southeast. The peaks in the sun on the left are Chimney Rock on the Courthouse Mountains.

Trip to Utah

Kathy and I took at trip into Utah/Arizona the first week of June. Kind of a mission to revisit some sites where I shot back in the days of film. Things have changed in interesting ways.

Our first stop was in Page, AZ. Page is known primarily for the world famous slot canyons, primarily Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon. When we were there 15 years ago the procedure to gain access was to go the tribal office and hire a guide. If I remember correctly it cost about $25. We followed our guide back to the mouth of Upper Antelope he dropped us off and we were on our own. There was no one else in the slot that day, early May.

Fast forward to 2010. The entrance is paved, has a gate and toll both. 6 Navajo guide operations take 'tours' into Upper Antelope. For a photographer there is simply no way to get the images today that one would get years ago. By best estimate there were 300-400 people in the slot at the same time. It has turned into a great income source for the tribe and the tour companies to the detriment of photographers.

This image wouldn't be possible in a digital world without a couple of tools. Photoshop, to get rid of the guide who couldn't/wouldn't hide himself and Photomatix Pro to merge 5 images to bring out all of the detail from bright highlights to deep shadows.

On our last visit we also did Lower Antelope. Guide took us across the road, pointed to the first metal extension ladder and left us to our own devices. Metal ladders, wooden ladders, wood beam with nailed cross members. We passed one other photographer in Lower Antelope.

2010 they now have metal steps down into the slot. Though we didn't do Lower this trip saw about 30 cars parked in the lot. Lower Antelope has much less space than upper, different experience, but I can't imagine the crowds.

I asked our guide if they had any 'slow' days. About the only days are in the winter and the crowds still come in. Winter has less optimal lighting since the famous beams of light don't have the full effect since the sun is lower in the sky.

We also did Horseshoe Bend then headed up to the Monument Valley/Moab/Escalante areas. Did several sessions in each of these. I'll be posting photos from those spots over the next few days.

Honorable Mention at National Art Exhibition

Last night Kathy and I went to the opening reception for the National Art Exhibition sponsored by the Artists Association of Northern Colorado. This is the 19th year for the event. and it is the first event I have entered since setting up the website, getting my work printed and ready to offer.

There was a good turnout at the event. The exhibit is open through May 7, 2010. Juried by Frank Francese, NWS the committee received more than 800 entries from 300 artists covering 13 states and as far away as Taiwan. The juror selected 130 piece for display in the show.

I was pleasantly surprised to receiving and Honorable Mention award. Frank commented that my image '32 Pontiac' reminded him of childhood with the old gravity gas pumps and automobile. He joked that the only thing missing was a station attendant.

After the awards ceremony I went back up and had my friend Karen McKee take a photo of me with the entry. As I walked around the exhibit one person actually tracked me down and asked for a card so he could see my other works.

The print is prominently located near the front of the exhibit are as you enter the Lincoln Center in downtown Ft. Collins, CO. You can learn more about the exhibit at Artist Association of Northern Colorado.