Photographing the 2025 Elk Rut

Elk Rut

We just returned from a few days photographing the elk rut in Rocky Mountain National Park. The last few times Kevin and I have visited the park, including an adventure to Yellowstone, we were thinking we were probably too early for the full experience. This time we thought delaying the trip until October might result in cooler weather, smaller crowds, and perhaps a more vigorous rut season.

Stunning Autumn Hike in Colorado’s High Country

Autumn in Victor

I have to say, this has been a spendid autumn, as fall colors go in the high country of Colorado. Sometimes we get too much rain and sometimes we get an early winter storm that blows the leaves all the way to Nebraska. But this year we have been blessed with warm calm days, and the colors are fabulous.

Photographing Great Blue Heron in the Canyon

Great Blue Heron

Action with the great birds in Eleven Mile Canyon got off to a slow start on Friday morning. Crowds of fishermen arrived early, filling the canyon with dust, and scaring away the birds. As we were repeatedly passed by anglers from the city roaring up the canyon, we knew our morning was going to be limited.

Surprise on the Trail

Many mornings as I sip my coffee, I try to think of locations where I might find new adventure and capture amazing scenes that I haven't yet experienced. Most of the time nothing comes to mind, and I just head out to my nearby trail for some exercise. However, I'm also often astonished at the surprising experiences I encounter there.

Going Analog

I finally acquired the last piece of gear required to do my own analog film and slide scans. With the addition of a Canon 100mm macro lens, I finally have everything I need to do the conversion.

Major Wildlife Road Trip

Pronghorn Antelope

It was supposed to be a regular photo trip to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge. However as it has been so many times this summer, photography in the Refuge was a stunning failure. Birds we have seen in abundance the last few summers are strangely absent. The coyotes were sleeping and the bison nowhere to be found. That's when it began... our short road trip was extended.

Mid Summer Wildlife in the Rockies

Mountain Bluebird

I know my July newsletter is a bit late, in fact tomorrow will be August. Summer photography is a struggle for me, the sunrise is way too early, all the good wildlife locations are crowded with tourists, and the animals scarce. However, in just the last few days beautiful song birds have returned to my usual hikng location, and the pelicans have reappeared at Manitou Lake. Stay tuned to my blog though, on the 1st of August, we will be visiting the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Area in search of burrowing owls and snowy egret!

Mid Summer in the Rockies

I'm always glad when the Independence Day holiday is in the rear view mirror. Some of the summertime tourist furor dies down, and I can finally get into a warm weather routine.  The animals too, seem to sense the change in pace and begin to settle in to some kind of predictable balance.