One for Sunrise Sunday taken a couple of weeks ago. One of my favorite spots on the plains of northeastern Colorado. Even with a cloudless sky, sunrises out there always bring something special and this morning was no different. The sun was climbing over the horizon on the other side of the silhouetted trees, creating a starburst effect through them. Of course there was an orange glow and that beautiful blue above. Below, the reflection of the trees was near perfect on the waters of a canal.
Sunrise across a frozen lake on the Great Plains
Just a touch cold last Saturday as I took this image. I had hoped to find at least some open water and the wildlife that would bring in but given how cold it has been in Colorado, that was not to be.
While the lake was frozen solid, sunrise did at least provide a photo opportunity as it usually does in this spot. There weren’t any clouds to draw interest above but the sun bursting over the horizon and the sparkling ice and snow below made for a pretty (but chilly) scene.
A super Sunday sunrise over a frozen pond
This made for a pretty darned nice start to my day yesterday. I figured the show would be a good one so I made sure I was in place long before the sun popped over the horizon. My chosen location, a local pond, is a favorite of mine and Mother Nature was kind enough to have not made it too cold (only 28 degrees).
I took a seat at a spot on the shore and just sat there, soaking in the view as the colors just got better and better. The clouds lit up in orange and red while behind them the sky was a deep, beautiful blue. The textured ice below took on a purple cast. Yup, I’ll take that.
Layers and streaks at sunrise on the Colorado plains
Yikes! Normally I schedule my daily postings at least the day before, sometimes days in advance. Well, last night I got busy and never did get one setup for today so here is one, albeit later than I normally post.
Taken early last month, the sunrise was just your typically beautiful one that we get here in Colorado. I do really like this one as there is a lot going on from the silhouetted trees at the bottom to the layers of clouds in the orange then to the streaks in the clouds above. Yup, it was a pretty darned good one!
Sunrise stuns to the east and the west
Which way do I turn? That is the question I was faced with yesterday morning as I was photographing sunrise north of Denver, Colorado.
Certainly, the main show was to the east toward the rising sun with a stunning reflection on a pond. However, to the west, the cloud formations were jaw-dropping when colored in pastels and also begged for attention. I found myself running from the shoreline of one pond to another and back and forth doing my best not to miss any of the show.
A pretty danged good way to start the day to say the least!
Great Plains sunrise reflections and silhouette
Ah, yes, just another gorgeous morning on the Colorado plains.
I returned to this spot in far northeastern Colorado for the first time in several months on Saturday. Not expecting any cloud cover, I wasn’t in any rush to get out there for sunrise however with 30 miles to go, I could tell I was mistaken and regretting not having left home earlier. I raced ahead (adhering to all speed limits of course – haha) and arrived with no time to spare.
This is my favorite sunrise spot at this location. Having that little peninsula with the tree shoot out into the lake helps to create some nice interest in what is a very colorful scene.
Colorado sunrise reflections
Ho hum. Just another boring morning on the Colorado plains. NOT!
I figured the show this past Sunday morning would be a good one so I made sure I was in a spot to capture it. I arrived when there was just a hint of light on the horizon, picked my spot and took a seat.
For the next 45 minutes I sat and watched as the scene unfolded into all its colorful glory. The orange, red and blue above was stunning and beautifully reflected on the pond’s waters.
Awesome! It was well worth forgoing the “extra hour” of sleep.
Pastel-colored lenticulars in the Colorado foothills
This is a spot you have seen me share pictures from before but, goodness, this Saturday it was a particularly awesome view.
The sun was just starting to creep over the horizon in the east. To the west, this is the view that unfolded over a historical farm. Above, the clouds glowed in pastel-colored pinks and oranges. On the horizon, the Rocky Mountains with Mount Meeker and Longs Peak standing tall and proud just behind and to the left of the barn.
Beautiful!
It is with good reason that when I am photographing in the Longmont area, I usually time my arrival to coincide with sunrise at this spot.
First light on Longs Peak
For those on the Colorado Front Range or, particularly if you ever visit Rocky Mountain National Park, this is a mountain you are well familiar with.
The 14,259-foot high peak dominates the view from virtually every direction. This past Sunday morning, I had pulled up a nice, quiet spot in the park to just sit and watch the sunrise and listen to the elk bugle.
As the sun peeked over the horizon, it lit up “The Diamond,” a 1,000 foot sheer cliff on the east side of Longs Peak. The low clouds and soft light provided some nice accents to what was a beautiful view on a chilly late summer morning.
Mountain meadow sunrise
Now this is some true Colorado gold and blue! Goodness.
As I ventured out from our campsite Sunday morning, I could tell sunrise was going to be a good one. Finding the right spot to capture it though caused a bit of stress. I could see the show unfolding and just was not finding a location that I felt would do it justice.
I feverishly rushed on, hoping “the spot” would reveal itself to me. Finally, with hardly any time to spare, I found it. After a short hike out into the forest, I got what I was looking for – the sun bursting over the mountains with a beautiful, golden meadow below. I’ll happily take that!