Tony's Takes Photography

Wildlife, landscape and weather photography

Cloud-shrouded Longs Peak at sunrise

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If you have been to or live in Colorado, you have undoubtedly seen the extraordinary mountain that is Longs Peak.  There is arguably no more recognizable, photogenic mountain in the entire Centennial State.  

One of 53 “14’ers” in the state, this 14,259 foot tall peak is imposing and beautiful.  It bears the name of Major Stephen Harriman Long, leader of an 1820 government sponsored expedition who noted the mountain from the plains but never climbed it.  The survey party of John Wesley Powell was the first to record summiting Longs Peak in 1868.  

This image was taken earlier this month on a cold morning when the mountain’s top was intermittently shrouded in clouds. 

Colorado's Longs Peak is shrouded in clouds at sunrise. (© Tony’s Takes)
Colorado’s Longs Peak is shrouded in clouds at sunrise. (© Tony’s Takes)

Hawaiian sunrise as seen from the deck of an aircraft carrier

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Happy 239th Birthday to the U.S. Navy! Please forgive the quality as this comes from an old negative that was scanned. Image taken at sunrise on August 29, 1995 aboard the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) off the coast of Waikiki, Hawaii.

The ship and its air wing (I was attached to VS-35, the Blue Wolves) were taking part in training exercises and ceremonies commemorating the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II.

By far the most memorable part of the short deployment was 11 WWII era warbirds that made the trip with us and actually launched from the deck of the carrier soon after this picture was taken. You can see some of those old planes toward the bottom right in the image.

The event was an amazing reminder of the heritage of the U.S. Navy and its importance to the nation and the world over the past two and a half centuries. GO NAVY!

Sunrise as seen from the deck of the U.S.S. Carl Vinson in August 1995 off the coast of Hawaii. (© Tony’s Takes)
Sunrise as seen from the deck of the U.S.S. Carl Vinson in August 1995 off the coast of Hawaii. (© Tony’s Takes)

Brilliant Colorado sunrise

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Taken back in May just outside #Denver, #sunrise on this morning was absolutely gorgeous. Scenes like this are quite common here – something which we oftentimes don’t take time to enjoy. But, when we do slow down and look, we are aptly rewarded.

Sunrise in Adams County, Colorado in May 2014. (© Tony’s Takes)
Sunrise in Adams County, Colorado in May 2014. (© Tony’s Takes)

Winter sunrise reflections

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Going back a few years for Throwback Thursday to December 12, 2010. It was a calm morning in Thornton, Colorado but also quite cold with temperatures in the teens. A friend and I met to walk along the South Platte River and take pictures. We were treated to a gorgeous #sunrise which was reflected almost perfectly in a pond’s surface. It was worth braving the cold to see this!

A brilliant orange and red sunrise is reflected on the calm waters of a pond. (© Tony’s Takes)
A brilliant orange and red sunrise is reflected on the calm waters of a pond. (© Tony’s Takes)

Persian Gulf sunrise aboard the USS Carl Vinson

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One for Throwback Thursday. Taken in August 1996 while in the Persian Gulf conducting Operation Desert Strike. The ‘island’ of the massive aircraft carrier and F/A-18 Hornet and EA-6B Prowler aircraft are silhouetted by the rising sun.

Combat operations were taking place against Iraq to stop Saddam Hussein’s genocidal attacks against Kurds in nation’s north. Tensions were further heightened by the Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia two months before that killed 19 U.S. service members.

For those that don’t know, I served six years in the +U.S. Navy primarily working on the electronics on S-3B Viking anti-submarine warfare aircraft. Lots of stories from those days and I am proud to have served my nation.

The sun rises behind the USS Carl Vinson in the Persian Gulf in 1996. (© Tony’s Takes)
The sun rises behind the USS Carl Vinson in the Persian Gulf in 1996. (© Tony’s Takes)

Sunrise at 14,265 feet

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Taken on top of Mount Evans, Colorado this past Sunday morning. We weathered 40° temperatures with 40 mph winds as the sun rose – it was SO worth it!

Mount Evans is the 12th tallest of 53 ‘fourteeners’ in the Centennial State. Did you know Colorado has the majority of peaks in the contiguous United States over 14,000 feet?

Sunrise as seen from Mount Evans, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
Sunrise as seen from Mount Evans, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Lakeside sunrise high in the Colorado Rockies

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This is how we do sunrises in Colorado. Taken this morning at Brainard Lake in Arapaho National Forest – Elevation 10,400 feet. A crisp morning and while the sunrise was gorgeous, I was there on a different mission: Moose! Lots of pics of those to share later. In the meantime, enjoy the view from above. 😉

Sunrise at Brainard Lake in Arapaho National Forest, Colorado. © Tony’s Takes
Sunrise at Brainard Lake in Arapaho National Forest, Colorado. © Tony’s Takes

A foggy plains sunrise

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Taken in northeastern Colorado on Saturday morning (May 31).  Blue sky with low lying fog made for a very warm scene.

A foggy plains sunrise. (© Tony’s Takes)
A foggy plains sunrise. (© Tony’s Takes)

A gorgeous Sunday sunrise

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Out and about this morning looking for Great Horned Owls my focus was for a time on the east as the sun rose.  Beautiful sunrises and sunsets are a near daily occurrence in Colorado and this one was no different.

Photos © Tony’s Takes. Images are available for purchase as a print or for digital use. Please don’t steal, my prices aren’t particularly expensive. For more information contact me here.

Colorful Sunday sunrise. (© Tony’s Takes)
Colorful Sunday sunrise. (© Tony’s Takes)

Sunrise casts Colorado mountains in hues of pink and orange

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A very chilly start in the pre-dawn hours as I set out to capture images of the setting full moon, the mountains and bald eagles.  The moon and eagles turned out not to  be the highlight of the morning.

Instead, the prize winner was this image taken as the sun rose and cast the mountains from Mount Audubon to Longs Peak in a gorgeous pink / orange.  As seen from Golden Ponds in Longmont.

Sunrise casts Colorado mountains in pink and orange colors. (© Tony’s Takes)
Sunrise casts Colorado mountains in pink and orange colors. (© Tony’s Takes)

Photo © Tony’s Takes. Image is available for purchase as a print or for digital use. Please don’t steal, my prices aren’t particularly expensive. For more information contact me here.