Wildlife, landscape and weather photography
A bit of Old West meets the new west as a bison strolls along the plains with the Mile High City and the Rocky Mountains in the background.
I’ve taken hundreds of pictures of the bison in front of Denver like this but every time I just get excited. Such a cool scene and one that helps me to remember why I love living in the Centennial State.
I’ve taken many pictures of this scene before and I just never tire of it. It is such a privilege to live here in Colorado and viewing this is a great reminder of just how good we have it, even in these uncertain times.
I wish you all the very best this blessed season.
Image is of the Denver City and County building, a beautiful sight this time of year. This was taken last year as I haven’t been down there yet this year to visit it.
“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.”” ~ Luke 2: 8-14
From one of the few urban photo outings I have taken but one that was a lot of fun and a chance to mix it up a bit from my usual photo fare. Denver’s Union Station is one of the iconic buildings in the Mile High City.
Located within the LoDo district, it is the main railway station for the city. The current building was completed in 1914 and followed by major renovations in 2012 that included the canopies seen here.
Designed in the Beaux-Arts style, the building has welcomed famous guests including Queen Marie of Romania, Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Today, it is a centerpiece of downtown not only serving as a transit hub but also a tourist attraction.
While it does look kind of cool, thankfully this isn’t typical for Denver. Those of us that live here are used to seeing far more sun and warmth this time of year.
A late season storm brought cold, a lot of rain and a bit of snow to the Colorado Front Range this past week. Just to the west in the mountains they were measuring the snowfall in feet. It was a bit of a shock to the system of residents.
In reality, snow in May is not that unusual although this system was stronger that normal for this late in the season. Certainly I hope we are done with the white stuff for the season but Denver’s latest snowfall in history occurred on June 12, 1947 so you just never know.
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!
Many folks that have never been here before envision Denver as being in the mountains. That is certainly not true. The Rocky Mountains lie just to the west of the Mile High City with Denver itself actually residing on the Great Plains.
This image, taken back in November, gives a good view of the landscape. Looking toward the west from a spot about eight miles northeast of downtown, you can see the city with the mountains towering in the background.
As everyone knows however, the city’s official elevation is one mile above sea level, 5,280 feet, as measured from the steps of the state capitol. That of course is where the city gets its primary nickname but it has also been called the Queen City of the Plains and the Queen City of the West at different times in history.
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.
For those that have never been here, it can be hard to appreciate what an amazing place Colorado and the Mile High City are. From the golden plains to the rugged Rocky Mountains, the diversity of the landscape is amazing. Throw in wide open expanses of land and an abundance of wildlife and this place is a haven for recreationalists of all kinds, including of course photographers.
This image was taken this past Sunday at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge and does a great job of summing up this extraordinary place. Yes, Denver is a bustling, major metropolitan area. However, going west you find those glorious mountains in the background and to the east the Great Plains which have their own type of beauty. Here, a lone bison grazes with the city behind it.
Urban photography really isn’t my thing but early yesterday morning I found myself in a good spot to capture what was a gorgeous ? sunrise . Brilliant red clouds, deep blue skies and the distinctive skyline of Denver , Colorado made for a very nice scene. Being a Denver-area native I can’t help but be struck by how much the #cityscape has changed over the decades.
