The cold moon, the last full moon of the year was a good excuse to get out with my camera at sunrise yesterday. Some wispy clouds slightly obscured my view, but it was a beautiful morning and I think I got some excellent images anyway, plus a couple of unexpected bonus wildlife pictures.
My morning began in the dark of night, long before first rays of sunshine began to clear the ridge to the east. I wasn’t exactly sure where the best view of the moonset would be, so I had some driving around to do before I could be ready. Eventually I picked a spot very close to my home, next to some open space with a good view of new snow and the setting moon.
Eventaully the moon neared the western mountains, just as the pink light of morning began to illuminate the snow.
Much to my surprise, the western sky also mirrored the amazing sunrise, under the beautiful pink alpenglow effect. This was also my first view of the new snow on the stunning Sangre de Cristo mountain range, which has been mostly barren until now.
My long lens amplified the beauty of the moon as it neared the western horizon, and I thought the wispy clouds added to the mysteriousness of the scene.
According to Google AI, “This moon marks the arrival of winter’s deep freeze and the longest nights, with some years featuring it as a supermoon (when it’s closest to Earth).”
As if the morning wasn’t already amazingly fantastical, a gorgeous coyote wandered into the scene before me, hunting for some rodents for breakfast. He seemed intent on reaching the cover of trees before sunrise, but stopped just in front of me to take a look back from whence he came.
As the sun continued it’s relentless advance across the winter sky, this young doe and her friends also paraded in front of the camera, and of course I took advantage of the opportunity!
By this time the sun was fully illuminating the new mantle of snow on the Sangre de Cristo Range, which were enhanced even further by remnants of the storm clouds, still lingering on the high peaks.
I thought the light of golden hour illuminating the aspen trees that have taken over this abandoned gold mine in the historic Cripple Creek and Victor mining district.
Here are a few more images from my winter wonderland, I hope you enjoy them! Many of my best images are available for sale on my website on glossy metal or acrylic sheets ready for hanging, stretched canvas, and traditional matting and framing. Gift items, including t-shirts, tech items, pillows and blankets, made from my images, and much much more, are also for sale on the site.
As you begin your Christmas shopping season, perhaps my book Storm Warning, would be a great gift for the photographer in your family or circle of friends! This photo book is filled with dozens of beautiful Rocky Mountain winter images, and also provides tons of tips and tricks to find all the best landscapes and wildlife in the Colorado Rockies.
In addition to it’s excellent photography, the book also provides tons of advice on how to access the winter back country, and how to survive difficult conditions if they should arise, as your loved one tackles the harsh Rocky Mountain winter.
Don’t forget to order your 2026 Colorado Wildlife Calendar printed on heavy duty glossy paper is comprised of twelve amazing 8 1/2 x 11 inch full color images of our incredible Colorado wildlife!
Each layout also contains a full size calendar with plenty of room for notes on each day.
You can also find my historical fiction romantic adventure novels on my book page, providing hours of exciting reading during the cold dark winter months! Spirit of the Wolf introduces my characters, and is followed by Thundering Hooves. The third in the series, The War On Wildlife, is currently being published one episode at a time for free on my Substack account.
If you are concerned about endangered wildlife in the western United States, please consider purchasing my series of historical fiction wildlife novels, as told through my group of fascinating fictional characters. In the first of the series, Spirit of the Wolf, you will learn the story of the most famous Yellowstone wolf of all time. Thundering Hooves tells the exciting story of Picasso, the famous stallion who ruled over the Colorado Sand Wash Basin for over two decades.
Steven W. Krull is a renowned photographer and author who has been photographing and writing of the beauty and wildlife of the Colorado Rocky Mountains for over two decades. Please visit his website at S.W. Krull Imaging to view his work, including thousands of prints for sale, stock images for commercial use, and his library of published books.
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Colorado Photographer / Author / Wildlife Advocate | Steven W. Krull 