Tony's Takes Photography

Wildlife, landscape and weather photography

Foggy forest in black and white

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Foggy forest in black and white
A foggy scene at Sprague Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. (Tony’s Takes)

When I ventured out before sunrise this past Saturday I knew it was going to be a tough morning, photography-wise. The fog was crazy thick and temps were in the low 40s with drizzle falling.

As I arrived at this spot, hoping for moose, I almost decided to forego the hike given the conditions. I am glad I didn’t. While I didn’t see any of the critters I was hoping for, the scene over the lake was pretty darned amazing.

With the fog, the colors were very muted and in some ways, distracting, so I opted for a black and white conversion for this image and have decided I like it quite a bit.

Field of gold on the Colorado plains

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Field of gold on the Colorado plains. I’ve shared some other pics of what was a beautiful sunflower field last month. This provi…
A massive field of golden sunflowers on the plains of Colorado. (Tony’s Takes)

I’ve shared some other pics of what was a beautiful sunflower field last month. This provides a nice, close view of the golden flowers. The field was one of the most stunning and biggest I have ever seen with the flowers stretching far and wide. When the morning sun hit them, well, that is when they really lived up to their name.

Cool clouds at first light in Colorado’s high country

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Cool clouds at first light in Colorado’s high country
Colorful clouds at sunrise over Brainard Lake in Colorado. (Tony’s Takes)

This camping trip to 10,000 feet two weekends ago was a disappointment in terms of wildlife sightings. It was however, a winner in terms of the views afforded, particularly at dawn. The winds were howling pretty good which is unusual for early in the morning and a chill was definitely in the air. In the end it was worth it but I was thankful to be close to camp with hot coffee awaiting.

Smoky mountain sunrise

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Smoky mountain sunrise
Smoke from wildfires in neighboring states colors the sunrise in Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Thus far this summer, Colorado has managed to escape any significant wildfires. However, smoke from blazes burning in neighboring states has occasionally intruded on our normally blue skies. Such was the case last weekend when smoke from fires in Montana intruded. Certainly the cause of the smoke is not welcome but it does make for some nice sunrises and sunsets, like this early morning capture. 

Golden sunflowers and the Mile High City

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Golden sunflowers and the Mile High City
A field of sunflowers lights up the way to Denver, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

This sunflower field is absolutely massive and its location affords some fun, different views. While it was, unfortunately, a bit hazy on the morning this was taken, it was way cool to be able to get those blooming sunflowers in the foreground and Denver, Colorado in the background. Oh, yeah, there is also those Rocky Mountains in there too. 😉

I do count myself as privileged to have grown up here and have lived in this city most of my life. Historically, Denver was called the Queen City of the Plains. Both it, and the more common Mile High City nickname, seem quite appropriate.

A field of sunflowers with the Mile High City and Rocky Mountains in the background. (© Tony's Takes)
A field of sunflowers with the Mile High City and Rocky Mountains in the background. (© Tony’s Takes)

High altitude sunrise’s shadows and sunlight

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High altitude sunrise’s shadows and sunlight
Sunrise bursts over the horizon with the road leading up Mount Evans below. (© Tony’s Takes)

A capture from last weekend near the top of Mount Evans, Colorado. The slopes of this mountain are one of my favorite places to watch the rising sun. The show is almost always beautiful and there is quite a lot to take in if you spend the time.

This shot is a nice example of that. Not only do you have the starburst from the rising sun with the orange glow across the horizon, you also have the silky shadowed side of the lower mountains and foothills in the distance. Closer in, you see part of the highest paved road in North America, the Mount Evans Scenic Byway, illuminated by the rising sun.

Sometimes I wish I could just hit pause on moments like this and spend hours soaking it all in. 

A sign of the coming change of seasons?

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A sign of the coming change of seasons?
Snow or hail? White precipitation covers the side of a mountain in Colorado’s high country. (© Tony’s Takes)

Snow or hail? I am not sure which.

I headed up Mount Evans at dawn yesterday and noticed a surprising about of “white stuff” in the shadowed areas on Evans. To the south, the 13,523 ft high Epaulet Mountain (pictured) had quite a coating of white.

There clearly had been rain at lower elevations the day before as I saw many spots where washouts had crossed the road. However, the stuff I was able to touch sure looked like snow, not melted hail and it was also 41 degrees at the summit so… 

Snow or hail? I’m not sure but given it is now the middle of August, it could be snow and an early sign of the coming change of seasons.  I for one am not in any rush for the “white stuff”! 

Note: I asked the National Weather Service via Twitter and they said it was likely hail / graupel. 

Golden sunflower field beneath the Rocky Mountains and Denver

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Golden sunflower field beneath the Rocky Mountains and Denver
A beautiful sunflower field lies in front of Denver and the Rocky Mountains with the moon above. (© Tony’s Takes)

This made for a pretty danged nice view yesterday morning! The sunflowers are starting to bloom on the Colorado plains and this particular spot had some added bonuses. Of course you had the flowers but in the distance, also the majestic Mile High City and the Rocky Mountains. Throw in the setting near full moon above in the blue skies and, well, that was darned awesome for sure.

Tellurium Peak views in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness

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Tellurium Peak views in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness
A stunning view from the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness in Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Going to places like this is always a highlight of my trips to the Colorado high country. It took a long, rough ride on our ATVs to get there but, so worth it!

The views were stunning and the quiet was almost deafening. My wife and kids and I just sat, soaking it all in together, watching the clouds move above the ridgeline against those blue skies.

Thanks to late spring snows, the landscape was covered in lush, green vegetation which really popped next to the reds and browns of the mountains.

Stunning cliffs and mountains from 12,000 feet

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Stunning cliffs and mountains from 12,000 feet
Stunning cliffs and views from American Flag Mountain in Gunnison National Forest. (Tony’s Takes)

Yeah, don’t get too close to that edge. While the view is beautiful, the fall is a killer. 😉

From our recent trip to Gunnison National Forest, this mountaintop stop affording stunning 360 degree views. Here, I was facing north with the “back side” of the Collegiate Peaks off to the right.

The big peak in the distance on the far left is 13,385-foot high Italian Mountain, said to be named that due to the green, white and red colors in its slopes that mimic the Italian flag.