Winter Approaches

As winter approaches and I prepare the cabin for the coming snow, I sometimes pause to reflect on the year that has passed by so quickly. While it was the same length as any other year, I feel that I've always been here, and that this is where I belong.

People have asked me if I still enjoy the wilderness, or if I still find interesting subjects for my work. The truth is that as I spend more and more time in the high country forests and mountains, my fascination only grows.

Each time I venture into the wilderness I learn a little more about my surroundings simply by being present and receptive to the lessons of the natural world.

Light snow has fallen in my small town for two consecutive nights. Although the afternoon sunlight causes the snow to melt, each morning brings opportunities to view wildlife tracks and picturesque glimpses of the winter to come.

Please visit From The High Country for more of my recent images, or take a look at the new "Scenes From The San Juans" 2013 calendar.

Season's End

Change seems to be constant in the forests and mountains of the San Juans. Familiar trails often yield fresh surprises to the keen observer.

Mushroom season was spectacular but seemingly brief. Individual mushrooms grow to maturity within a few days, and the various species bring additional color to the forest floor at a time when most wildflowers have already peaked.

For the last three weeks, I've been fortunate enough to follow the changing aspen leaves. As I write, I can see golden patches on the surrounding hills, while some aspen stands nearby are already bare.

Though the days are still warm, the first sightings of light snow on nearby peaks have been made. Less than a week ago, I was caught mid-shoot in heavy snow! Just 45 minutes later the sun was shining, and only in shaded areas could evidence of snow be found.

Today is the first official day of fall, which is marked by the autumnal equinox. Due to the early display of fall colors this year I decided to switch from the summer to autumn gallery at FTHC.  Since many of you probably haven't had the chance to see the golden aspens, I also put together this slideshow:



I hope you enjoy the show! Please visit From The High Country for more beautiful images of Colorado.

Fortune Telling

We all make plans at one point or another in our lives. Sometimes those plans are little more than a wish and little comes of those ideas. Even when carefully thought-out, we cannot control the future to the extent that each plan will become reality. Often we focus on certain aspects and subconsciously block problems, but perhaps that allows us to reach for the unlikely goals.

During my travels and exploration of the San Juan mountains, I often think of those who built the enduring structures that I find. Those people risked everything to reach their goals, and many lost their money or even their lives, while some prospered.

At the beginning of this year, I left a life in the city behind (seemingly abruptly, but it was the result of careful planning) and moved to the mountains that I now call home. I knew that I would inevitably make mistakes, but it is our ability to adapt and overcome that makes real success possible.

Through a series of coincidences I was recently able to secure space in a local downtown gift gallery, and I now have nearly 20 pieces on display. I'm fortunate to have such a great opportunity to reach people with my work offline, but I could not have taken so many variables into account and planned for this.

I believe that the only real failure is to do nothing. By taking no chances, you can almost guarantee that nothing will change.  With calculated risks and the resilience to adapt to changing circumstances, we can achieve much.
 

As I look outside I can see the leaves on my aspens beginning to change. Fall is coming...

To view new summer images, click here.

Daydreams

As the air starts to cool, I'm reminded of early morning ascents in the wilderness, where leaves are dew-covered and woodland creatures are surprised to find humans in the early light of dawn. A rushed breakfast is easily justified by lunch near the summit. A name and an altitude are not required - just a view like this:

As a part-time photographer, I can't always wait for the perfect shot. The weather and lighting can make or break a good shot, but when travelling it is very difficult to justify a long wait. I have to shoot and move on, and sometimes discard otherwise good images. On this occasion, the weather was perfect. The last cornice (as I sometimes call this shot) provides a reminder of the harsh winter while the rest of the foreground is bathed in summer sunlight. The clouds suggest the peaks are almost pushing against the roof of the world, and at 2.65 miles above sea-level, it sometimes feels like it!