Morning Walk

I'm finally feeling well enough to go on early morning photo walks. This morning, I returned to one of my favorite spots, Ute Valley Park. Summer is definitely here. The cattails at that pond are filled in and hide the pond with their deep green leaves. The oaks have all filled out. The yuccas are starting to flower.

I was a bit foolish while taking this photo this morning. I was wearing shorts and flip-flops and wading through the tall grass. This is not smart because there are a lot of Rattlesnakes in the park, and flip-flops are not much protection against them. I never saw, or heard, a rattler, but I did meet a small grass snake at this location.

That's my world - be sure to click on My World Tuesdays for others'.

Yellow

Last week, I went to Ute Valley Park well before dawn to attempt a sunrise shot in a certain spot. After I finished, I took my time returning to the parking lot, enjoying the morning, the bird song and scattered wild flowers. I found this little field of flowers highlighted by the yellow of the early morning rays.

Sunrise at the Park

Ute Valley Park - It is one of the best urban parks that I've ever seen. Perhaps, it's because I have such easy access to it. Ever since I moved to Colorado Springs, I've lived near it. There's a great little pond, an overgrown canyon, open prairie, great mountain biking, hiking and running trails, and great views of Pike Peak! Click here (Edit: Fixed link) to see all my posts of the Park. Additionally, it's a fairly quite park. Nearby Garden of the Gods can be packed with people on the roads; driving really slow and gawking. I feel so lucky to live close to the park, and I hope it show though my photos.

That's My World! Head over to My World Tuesday to see others'.

Red-Winged Black Bird

One of Ute Valley Park's resident red-winged black birds.

Mind's Eye

I've been "stalking" this tree for awhile. It lives in Ute Valley Park near where I live. I've photographed the tree many times in different weather and lighting conditions. I'm still waiting for the perfect combination of lighting (sunrise) and weather (partial clouds) and/or the moon. This combination is fairly rare. I got the sunrise on this one, but no clouds.

There are a few other scenes that I repeatedly shoot. In my mind's eye, I can see an image. But, I've been unable to fulfill that image with the camera. Yet...

Keep shooting!

Be sure to visit Thursday Challenge where the theme to day is "TREES" (Leaves, Branches, Bush, Forest, Pinecone, Seeds,...)

Lonely

Click the link for other photos from Wordless Wednesday.

Tree vs Storm

I had a hard time with this image. If not keep in check, I tend to lean towards dark, low key images. I fight that impulse by consciously adjusting towards the brighter end of the spectrum if I feel exposure adjustments are needed. Quite often I'll save a dark and a light version of an image. Later, after 'sleeping' on it, I'll usually end up liking the brighter image when compared side-to-side.

Not this one. It seems to call for a dark, brooding mode.

Don't forget to visit Sky Watch Friday.

May Flowers

All of those April (snow) showers we had are finally paying off in the proverbial May flowers. Spring is really here!

For other signs of spring, step over to Thursday Challenge where the theme is "SPRING" (Birds, Flowers, Puddles, Trees Budding, Spring Cleaning, Young Animals,...)

Pinon Valley Park

Here's a view of a section of Pinon Valley Park in NW Colorado Springs, CO as seen from the top of a ridge that runs through Ute Valley Park. Even though Ute Valley Park is surrounded by suburbia, there are many places in the center of the park where you'd think you were in the wilderness. I spend a lot of time hiking around the park (and photographing in it).

Click on the link to see my other posts about Ute Valley Park.

This photo was taken with an old Canon G2. It's fairly small and light, yet gives full manual control and shoots in RAW. I use it when backpacking and other occasions when I want to travel light. It has been a while since I last used it. Since backpacking season is coming up, I pulled it to refresh myself on its operation. In comparison to my 40D, its very slow and cumbersome, but it can still take some descent pictures.

The other, possibly, interesting aspect of this photo is the style. I wanted this shot to look like a model. To accomplish that, I replicated the narrow DOF by selectively blurring areas, and jacked up the saturation and contrast. Since we've been trained to associate the narrow DOF with macro photography, this effect makes it seem as if we're looking at a photo of a small model. The other way to accomplish this is to use an expensive tilt/shift lens.

Hike over to That's My World Tuesday to sightsee elsewhere around the planet.

Replenish

This little pond, surrounded by cattails, serves as an suburban sanctuary for marsh and water birds. Sadly, it may die this summer. Apparently, given the current economic conditions, the city of Colorado Springs will not maintain the Ute Valley Park pond. I'm hoping that summer brings clouds like the one above to replenish this pond. I'll be watching this sky.

For photos from other who watch the sky, focus your gaze on Skywatch Fridays.

Wordless Wednesday

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My World Tuesday: Their Best Side?

In Colorado Spring's Ute Valley park there is a nice little pond surrounded by Cat Tails. The water attracts a lot of birds, especially Red-winged Blackbirds and various ducks. I live nearby, and hike in the park a lot. It's a great little oasis of nature in the city.

I often take my camera and stop at the pond in an attempt to photograph some of the birds. I can't decide if this photo shows that the local Mallards are tired of my paparazzi ways with them and are showing me their disdain. Or, perhaps, they want to be photographed from what they believe to be their best side.

This is part of my world. To see others from around the globe, visit My World Tuesday.

Pikes Peak from Ute Valley Park

This shot is of Pikes Peak from Ute Valley Park, near where I live. This park is amazing. There are many places within the park that can make you feel as if you're in the middle of nowhere.

I often go there at lunchtime to walk. Yesterday, I followed a small stream through a tight, overgrown canyon. I was hoping to glimpse some birds. However, the wind was fierce. I’m sure the birds were hanging on for dear life.

Sunset over Pikes Peak

Last night I hiked up onto a ridge in Ute Valley Park to take some sunset shots. The sun set behind Pikes Peak, throwing the face into shadow. About 15 minutes later, the clouds lit up. I was not sure that I could capture a shot that included both the foreground (in deep shadow) and the clouds. I was correct - no single shot could handle both. Knowing this ahead of time, I bracketed my exposures. At home I fiddled around with the RAW files and was able to build a 'poor man HDR' image using two different RAW files from one bracket set. My imaging software, Photoshop Elements, does natively support HDR.

The result is not perfect, but not bad either. This technique is definitely one keep in the toolbox.