One of the things I probably dis-like the most about blogs is having to clean house, but, this weekend I went through the tedious process of implementing a new design, updating all the categories for each post, and changing some previous posts to display the full size images this design will accommodate. I really think that much of the details in photography is lost in viewing small images, so, for those still on dial-up, I apologize now. From this point forward I will be displaying my images on up to 900px wide in some cases, like the image below of Lake City lake in Colorado (although I will try to keep the file size as small as possible).
The image above was taken in August of 2005 in Lake City Colorado. There is an overlook on the forest road where you can stop and hike up the side of the mountain. Image data: Camera, Nikon D2X, ISO-100, Focal length 35mm @ f/16
This is one of those scenes that has probably been photographed a million times but is still so beautiful that you just have to stop and take a shot. This particular shot I did do a bit of hiking off the main road. I climbed up to the top of the ridge overlooking the lake and the most gorgeous colors appeared.
I rarely think the best shot is in the foot pegs of the tripod that just left (or where everyone else tends to take the same shot), and in this case I was greatly rewarded. The drive from Creede to Lake City is one of the most wonderful drives found in the country, so if you ever have a chance, take the road right out of Creede and take a slow drive over several passes until you drop down into Lake City.
Happy Labor Day to everyone.
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I finally got back around to doing the photo of the day. This image is from a trail called Bachelor Loop that runs from the town center of Creede Colorado up into the mountain that overlooks the city, then back down the other side. The road runs in front of the cabin and you can see it in the photo here. It is a dirt forest road (not big at all, one lane at most) that winds around the mountains through Bachelor Loop.
It is an incredible drive as far as scenery goes, but you better leave your nerves behind and make sure your have a 4-wheel drive vehicle, at least in the colder months. The road here in front of the cabin is the loop road, which narrows greatly as you go up the mountain. This image of the cabin just calls out Colorado to me. Isolated at times, in the mountains, dirt roads, beautiful surroundings. Colorado has some incredible places to visit.
I have started to add my images like this image of the day, current, and past photo shoots to my business gallery, called Scott Fillmer Photography. You can see additional images here as I add them to Auburn Images gallery, or just click on the link at the top of this blog called gallery. Enjoy.
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Well, who would have thought, the sun actually does rise as well as set. For those who know me, taking a sunrise photo is a rare thing for me, but in this case I am glad I got up before the sun. This is a lake up around Minnesota, sorry didn’t record the exact location this time. I was traveling to Minneapolis St Paul on business and, at this time, I always brought my camera equipment with me. Years and years later, I no longer work for that company, but I am left with the images I took along the way.
This morning I was trying to catch a flight home but it didn’t leave until mid-day, so I thought I would try my hand at capturing the sunrise over this lake. This was one of my first visits to Minnesota (outside of the twin cities) and there are some really beautiful places just a short drive out of the main stream of city life. I just wish I had written down where this lake was so now when I look back I could be more specific as to the location of the image.
One thing about taking sunrise / sunset photos is that you never know when you are going to get the perfect light reflecting off the clouds. So, the best way to get a good sunrise or sunset photo is the very basic beginner rules of photography. Show up.
I came across this lake the night before and had decided I was going to get up and be there. I took many different orientations and positions, but I like this one with the diagonals running through the image. The person was intended to be in the shot here, but a few told me they didn’t even notice the person was standing there in the first place. A peaceful morning to watch the sunrise.
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This image of the day comes from a National Forest trail that is so green during the summer it looks like a rain forest. This is from about a mile or so down Ivy Creek Trail in Colorado, one of many hundreds of images I came out with on this particular day.
Walking the Ivy Creek Trail
If you have never walked a trail in a secluded spot you don’t know what you are missing. The peace that I tried to convey in this image is only the tip of the ice burg so to speak. You take a road out of Creede Colorado to a national forest road (dirt road), where you have road signs and a view of houses.
The farther into the woods you travel, the smaller the road gets, the more nature takes over. Once you are back into the trail you hear absolutely no man made noise. No street noise, no cars, no chatter, just the creek and some birds.
It is like you have traveled into a sound booth at a recording studio and it is miles and miles across. This photo was taken only about a quarter mile into the trail, which you can take for about 20-30 miles, or loop all the way back into the city of Creede.
This image below is one of my all time favorite shots I have taken as a photographer. I would encourage you to look at the larger size to see the details in the trees. Only can nature produce so many variants of green. In person, it is the most lush and fertile area you can imagine, almost untouched by society.
Image Specifics
- Body – Nikon D2X
- Film – Digital RAW 12.1mp
- Lens – Nikon 17-35mm [f/2.8] shot @ 17mm – f/13
- Exposure – 6 seconds @ ISO-100
