• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Tony's Takes Photography

Wildlife, landscape and weather photography

  • Home
  • Top Shots
  • Latest News & Images
  • Purchase Prints
  • Photo Books
  • Calendars
  • Contact
  • About Tony

Roadside pillar of light at sunrise

January 24, 2021 by Tony Leave a Comment

Roadside pillar of light at sunrise
A sun pillar-like stream of light rises from the horizon north of Denver, Colorado. (Tony’s Takes)

Oh, how I am kicking myself for not being prepared for this. I wasn’t expecting much in the way of a cool sunrise yesterday so I didn’t plan on being anywhere appropriate.

As I was driving to my photo destination, I quickly saw that was a mistake. To the east was a beautiful show with a sun pillar-like shaft of light shooting vertically.

I did the best I could, stopping just off I-25 north of Denver and quickly finding a place to stop. The foreground wasn’t ideal but my goodness, what a beautiful show in the sky.

Portrait of a beautiful, smoky fall sunrise

January 19, 2021 by Tony Leave a Comment

Portrait of a beautiful, smoky fall sunrise
Smoke from area wildfires help color the sunrise on the plains of Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

It’s been a while since I shared a strictly “landscape” shot so here is one from back in the middle of October.

Wildfires were raging in the west and, in the end, were quite disastrous. One benefit to them was the amazing sunrises and sunsets the smoke created. Certainly, here on the Colorado Front Range we are no stranger to beautiful views starting and ending the day but the smoke took it up another notch.

This shot shows globe of our sun soon after it rose above the horizon and the beautiful orange clouds above. On top, the beautiful blue skies of the Centennial State are seen.

Bison at sunrise on a cold morning on the Great Plain

January 10, 2021 by Tony Leave a Comment

Bison at sunrise on a cold morning on the Great Plain
Bison graze on the plains on cold winter morning. (© Tony’s Takes)

Taken at sunrise on New Year’s Eve. The bison herd at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge was to the east with the rising sun behind them. Normally that doesn’t make for good pictures but on this morning, it worked out perfectly.

The cold weather allowed the bison’s steamy breath to be quite visible as their dark frames and the trees were silhouetted against the orange sunrise. Just a really cool scene and I am liking this capture quite a bit.

The last sunrise of 2020

January 1, 2021 by Tony Leave a Comment

The last sunrise of 2020
Sunrise on New Year’s Eve in Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Well, the year pretty much sucked but at least it closed out with a beautiful view. Yesterday morning I made sure I was in place to catch the show and was rewarded with this view. The frozen lake, blaze orange clouds and blue sky sure looked nice. Now, let’s just hope 2021 is better!

East or west, a stunning sunrise

December 28, 2020 by Tony Leave a Comment

East or west, a stunning sunrise
A deep, orange sunrise over a lake in Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Saturday found me southwest of Denver, Colorado checking out a bald eagle nest. Unfortunately, the birds did not want to play that day but, not soon after arrival, Mother Nature put on one heck of a show and best of all, it was a stunner no matter which way you looked.

To the east toward the rising sun, the colors were deep orange and reflected nicely on a lake. To the southwest, the colors faded to pastel pinks and oranges lighting up a wave cloud beautifully.

It was hard to focus on one area so I found myself pivoting back and forth, soaking in the view one way before turning back to the other. Just awesome stuff!

Sunrise lights up a wave cloud over the Colorado foothills. (© Tony's Takes)
Sunrise lights up a wave cloud over the Colorado foothills. (© Tony’s Takes)

On the road at sunrise

December 24, 2020 by Tony Leave a Comment

On the road at sunrise
A road disappears into the distance while above, pastel colored clouds from sunrise float by. (© Tony’s Takes)

Just a beautiful scene this past Sunday on my photo drive as the sun started to rise. The clouds were colored in pastel shades of blue, orange and pink and cast the entire landscape in some cool colors.

Certainly this holiday will be far different from Christmases of the past and I look forward to a return to “normalcy” next year. I wish you all a very merry Christmas and hope you and yours stay safe as we celebrate the birth of Our Lord.

Geese take flight at sunrise

December 16, 2020 by Tony Leave a Comment

Geese take flight at sunrise
A gaggle of geese take flight during a gorgeous sunrise. (Tony’s Takes)

Ah yes, scenes like this are one of the many reasons I get up so early for my photo outings. As I walked out the door there were early hints that sunrise this past Saturday was going to be a good one so I hurried to a prime spot.

Mother Nature did not disappoint as the clouds had all sorts of cool shapes and then, as if on cue, a gaggle of Canada geese took to the skies. Below, the pond’s water was ablaze with the same orange in the sky above.

Yup, I’ll happily get up before dawn to be able to witness scenes like this.

From 5,280 to 14,265

December 8, 2020 by Tony Leave a Comment

From 5,280 to 14,265
The Colorado Front Range at sunrise from the Mile High City to Mount Evans. (© Tony’s Takes)

Just a typically gorgeous morning on the Colorado plains and a look to the west at Denver and the Rocky Mountains.

The sun had just popped over the horizon and the trees were casting spots of shadows. In the distance and to the left, the Mile High City (elevation 5,280 feet), known at one time as the Queen City of the Plains. Beyond, the snow-capped foothills and mountains, most notably to the right, the indominable Mount Evans (elevation 14,265 feet).

Oh, and of course some bison grazing the plains making this a fine picture for Tatanka Tuesday!

Sunrise on Kachemak Bay

December 5, 2020 by Tony Leave a Comment

Sunrise on Kachemek Bay
The sun rises in the sky over Kachemak Bay in Homer, Alaska. (© Tony’s Takes)

When I flipped my calendar to December a few days ago, this is the image that greeted me and surprisingly, it is one that I have never shared on here.

Taken on July 31, 2019 in Homer, Alaska, it was one of our last days on what was an amazing trip to our 49th state. It was also my wife’s and mine 26th wedding anniversary. This trip was originally supposed to be for our 25th but had been postponed a year due to other commitments. The wait, was well worth it.

I had promised her a nice, lazy day with no crazy wildlife viewing excursions and definitely not any early morning wakeups – just a fun, relaxing day exploring this quirky town. Sticking to my word, I quietly got ready while she slept in, brewed some coffee, stepped out from the RV and looking to the east, this was the view.

Yes, I absolutely grabbed my camera and while I did snap some pictures, most of my time that early morning was spent just sitting, looking, drinking that coffee, soaking in the once-in-a-lifetime view and thanking God that He brought that beautiful woman into my life.

Orange and blue sunrise

November 29, 2020 by Tony Leave a Comment

Orange and blue sunrise
A typically beautiful sunrise on the Colorado plains. (© Tony’s Takes)

Well, if my Denver Broncos were doing better, I would probably call this a “Broncos sunrise” as it was taken this morning on a game day. Clearly the team is struggling so perhaps we’ll just forget football for this one.  😀  It was indeed a beautiful morning on the Colorado plains though and I ended up with a ton of pics, starting with this one.

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Go to page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 3
  • Go to page 4
  • Go to page 5
  • Go to page 6
  • Go to page 7
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 18
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Connect With Me

Tony's Takes on Facebook Tony's Takes on Twitter Tony's Takes RSS Feed

Recent News & Images

  • Sunspot, baby!
  • Mule deer chills out, gives a smile
  • Moonset above the snow-covered Rocky Mountains
  • Cool Cooper’s
  • Video: Fox kits play a game of chase

Photo Use Information

All photos © Tony’s Takes. Images are available for purchase as prints or as digital files for other uses. Please don’t steal; my prices aren’t expensive. For more information contact me here.

Galleries

  • Exhibits
  • In the City
  • In the News
  • Landscapes
  • Pets
  • Random Stuff
  • Sun, Moon and Stars
  • Transportation
  • Weather
  • Wildlife

Archives

Search

Tags

American Kestrel Astrophotography Bald Eagle Bear Bighorn Sheep Bison Burrowing Owl Canada Goose Clouds Coyote Deer Duck Elk Fall Colors Ferruginous Hawk Flowers Fox Golden Eagle Great Blue Heron Great Horned Owl Hummingbird Marmot Military Moon Moose Mountain Goat Mountains Northern Harrier Osprey Pelican Pika Prairie Dog Prairie Falcon Pronghorn Rabbit Red Tailed Hawk Snowy Egret Squirrel Sunrise Sunset Swainson’s Hawk Thunderstorm Turkey Turkey Vulture Video

Footer

Connect With Me

Tony's Takes on Facebook Tony's Takes on Twitter Tony's Takes RSS Feed

Search

Photo Use

All photos © Tony’s Takes. Images are available for purchase as prints or as digital files for other uses. Please don’t steal; my prices aren’t expensive and I will work with you to get you the art you desire. For more information contact me here.

Latest

  • Sunspot, baby!
  • Mule deer chills out, gives a smile
  • Moonset above the snow-covered Rocky Mountains
  • Cool Cooper’s
  • Video: Fox kits play a game of chase
Copyright © 2023 Tony's Takes Photography
  • Home
  • Latest News & Images
  • Purchase Prints
  • Photo Books
  • Calendars
  • Contact
  • About Tony