I was feeling the need to take a ‘different’ photo excursion as I was getting burnt out on some of my regular places. One spot that I always say I should shoot more is downtown Denver. So, I headed out at 3:30 this morning and hit up a number of spots, including this popular location. It gives a fantastic view of the city and really shows off our amazing skyline. Despite all the city lights, you can even make out a few stars.
Holiday lights at the Denver City and County building
Taken on Christmas Day last year, The annual lighting of the lights on the building are a tradition in the Mile High City and are an impressive and beautiful display. Now days they do it with LEDs and the colors are constantly changing making it even more fun and always different. I have yet to get down there this year but need to make sure I do. I wish you all a very merry Christmas and happy new year!
Black and white fire escape
From a visit to downtown Denver’s LoDo area a few weeks ago. This fire escape and the early 20th century brick building it was on were captivating to me. I don’t spend much time in urban environments but when I do, there is so much that catches my eye.
Black And White Fire Escape A fire escape works its way up the side of a brick building in Denver, Colorado’s historic lower downtown. Denver, Colorado’s LoDo area has a number of historic structures and features, including this bridge. The area underwent major restoration and renoavations over the past two decades and now is a shining example of what a downtown area can be. |
Looking up at historical railroad bridge
I don’t venture to downtown Denver very often – urban settings just aren’t my thing. However, a couple of weekends ago I was down there for family pictures and while I wasn’t taking those images, I took along my camera in case anything interesting came along.
While my wife and kids were taking their turn in front of the portrait photographer’s lens, I found myself captivated by this old railroad bridge.
Found at the south end of Wynkoop Street where it meets Cherry Creek, the bridge was constructed in 1908 for the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. Now it serves as a pedestrian bridge over the creek with access to the regional trail system.
The weathered, cold steel look really brought back memories of a bygone era when the iron horse was king. This image looks almost black and white due to the bridge struts’ coloring and the drab skies but is in fact a color image. I cranked up the clarity to add some ‘grit’ to it.
Colorado State Capitol building glows at night
I don’t take images of buildings very often and visit downtown Denver even less than that as the urban scene just does not normally appeal to me. However when showing some guests the heart of the Mile High City this past Christmas I felt compelled to snap a few images of the city lights. This image was taken while standing in Civic Center Park near the Denver City and County Building. The capitol looked quite regal with the golden dome aglow and the streetlights sparkling.
Merry Christmas from the Mile High City
The Denver City & County Building is a gorgeous piece of architecture, especially during the holiday season when it is lit up in a myriad of colors. Tonight we took our family down to view this beautiful display in all its splendor. Light snow was falling, the bells chiming, music playing. Just beautiful! Scroll down to view the complete gallery.
My day today was filled with family and food and lots of laughter and love – I hope yours was as well. I wish you all a very merry Christmas. Remember – He is the reason for the season.
“Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.””
The Colorado State Capitol’s golden dome
An image I took last month while in downtown Denver with my son while he worked on a photography project for school.
The gold leaf of the dome was re-finished in 2013 as part of a restoration project. At that time, they also re-painted the cast iron structure to this blue-gray color which doesn’t match the rest of the building but is ‘historically correct.’ Personally I think the mismatched colors look stupid. 😉
The building was constructed in the 1890s and opened in 1894. At that time the dome was copper but that soon tarnished and turned very dark so in 1908 it was gilded in gold.
The 15th step on the west side of the capitol is engraved with “One Mile Above Sea Level.” In 1969 and again in 2003 surveys determined the 18th and 13th steps were actually 5280 feet above sea level and they too bear a marker now.
Iconic Denver tower and Old Glory
The Daniels & Fisher Tower is an iconic piece of architecture in the Mile High City. Constructed in 1910, the building was the tallest structure west of the Mississippi at the time. Modeled after St Mark’s Campanile in Venice, Italy, the 325 foot tall building now houses offices and lofts and remains a reminder of Denver’s historic past.
I took this image earlier this month when helping my son with a high school photography assignment. Amusing thing is, I remember taking a similar picture for the same class when I was his age!
The Denver Art Museum, ‘ Lao-Tzu’ and the moon
A couple of captures from my recent one-day break from wildlife photography. Taken in Acoma Plaza in Downtown ??Denver?, the images capture the Denver Art Museum’s iconic angles and the moon above in the deep, blue Colorado skies – all framed by the sculpture Lao-Tzu.
Mark di Suvero created the sculpture and named it after the Chinese philosopher-poet and founder of Taoism. ??Chinese? ??philosophy? is not a strong suit of mine by any means but in doing some research, I did like a number of quotes from Lao-Tzu including this one: “A journey of a thousand miles starts under one’s feet.”
Gateway to the halls of justice
My son is taking a photography class in high school and his latest assignment was architecture. While that type of photography isn’t my normal thing, I was looking forward to us taking a trip to downtown Denver and me giving my hand at it for the first time in years.
We mapped out about a dozen locations and were having so much fun and taking our time we only got to about half of those. This particular building got the bulk of my attention – the Byron White U.S. Courthouse.
The three-story high columns made of Colorado marble that line the front of the building along with the classic light fixtures were absolutely compelling. Converting the image to black and white, in my opinion, really helps to ‘make’ this image. Construction of the building was completed 99 years ago and it is one of the most beautiful structures in the Mile High City.