Colorado Photographer / Author / Wildlife Advocate | Steven W. Krull
Renowned Colorado wildlife photographer and author advocating for our wild living legacy
According to this update by Colorado Parks and WIldlife (CPW), no additional wolves will be released in 2026. Reasons cited are interference from the federal government and objections from western slope ranchers. Some lawmakers object to funding the program when the state is experiencing a budget shortfall. In my opinion these excuses aren't sufficient reason to override the will of the voters.
The holidays are behind us, and I'm getting back into my photography routine. This weeks adventure took me to Eleven Mile Canyon, in search of our bald eagle pairs. Unfortunately I was only able to capture one sighting, but a new winter storm has arrived in the area, and I was able to capture a few ghostly images of the snowy landscape.
2025 is now behind us, and it was a productive year for my business right up to the very end. I finished out the year by publishing the Christmas Episode of my serial novel, The War On Wildife, and a photoshoot at Eleven Mile Canyon. I had hoped to photograph our bald eagle nesting pair, but was fortunate to capture some beautiful American dipper images instead. With the holiday distractions now behind me, I can take a bit of time to reflect on what was accomplished, and what lies ahead.
Today is the day when the sun reaches it's southernmost position in the sky, and begins the journey north in it's march to summer. Of course the sun is not moving around in the sky, but the solstice is "the shortest day of the year, marking the official start of winter, and happens because Earth's tilted axis points farthest away from the sun in one hemisphere."
The cold moon, the last full moon of the year was a good excuse to get out at sunrise yesterday. Some wispy clouds ultimately 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.
I was fortunate this weekend to get to take a photo adventure to Waterton Canyon to shoot the beginning of the Bighorn sheep rut, when the rams are down in the valley challenging each other for the right to breed with the herd of ewes.
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.
Aspen leaves in many parts of the state of Colorado are reaching peak color this weekend. A brief excursion around the Cripple Creek and Victor area revealed a variety of gold and red colors adorning vast swaths of aspen stands in the 10,000 foot elevation range.
Today at around noon Colorado time, the sun will cross the celestial equator, marking the passage of summer and the advent of celestial autumn. For me it means that the best photography of the year is nearly upon us.
Summer isn't giving up yet in Eleven Mile Canyon, or probably anywhere in the Colorado high country. Osprey and great blue heron, and even a bald eagle were enjoying the morning along the rich fishing waters of the South Platte River, and many took the time to stop and pose for our cameras on Friday.
Colorado Photographer / Author / Wildlife Advocate | Steven W. Krull 