Rocky Mountain National Park

Carol Freshley April 19, 2015

We met in Boulder and headed 'up the hill', going through Estes Park to Rocky Mountain National Park. We expected the upper roads in the park would be closed. They were. However, the lower roads were still accessible and we were just happy to have a road trip.

A horizontal take on the scene. — A horizontal take on the scene.

Diane and I had a nice conversation on the composition for the scene.  I shot horizontally but the saw her vertical take on the same scene.  Her shot was stronger and used the diagonal sun rays to highlight the single tree.  Seeing he… — Diane and I had a nice conversation on the composition for the scene. I shot horizontally but the saw her vertical take on the same scene. Her shot was stronger and used the diagonal sun rays to highlight the single tree. Seeing her image made me get out of the car, set up my tripod again and get one for myself!!

Diane took this with her Fuji Finepix S400 in pano mode.  Dang, my D800 will not do that! — Diane took this with her Fuji Finepix S400 in pano mode. Dang, my D800 will not do that!

A vertical take.  I read recently that vertical shots were 'on their way out'.  Sorry I don't remember the reference, but am not sure I agree. — A vertical take. I read recently that vertical shots were 'on their way out'. Sorry I don't remember the reference, but am not sure I agree.

We hiked the perimeter of Sprague Lake (1/2 mile cold and windy).  Diane got the two best iconic shots. — We hiked the perimeter of Sprague Lake (1/2 mile cold and windy). Diane got the two best iconic shots.

Part of the path was still covered with snowy slush!  The view made up for it. — Part of the path was still covered with snowy slush! The view made up for it.

We spotted these Big Horn sheep along the road in front of a small motel as we headed up from Estes Park.  They were in no hurry to move along even though they were drawing quite a crowd of photographers. — We spotted these Big Horn sheep along the road in front of a small motel as we headed up from Estes Park. They were in no hurry to move along even though they were drawing quite a crowd of photographers.

On our way back to Boulder, Diane suggested we look for the Malo Center.  She described it as a unique building with a great background.  She was right. — On our way back to Boulder, Diane suggested we look for the Malo Center. She described it as a unique building with a great background. She was right.

I have posted a couple of images of the flowers planted along the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder.  We were hungry so we stopped there for a late lunch.  The wind was pretty strong but Diane prevailed. — I have posted a couple of images of the flowers planted along the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder. We were hungry so we stopped there for a late lunch. The wind was pretty strong but Diane prevailed.

After lunch we each headed home. A special thanks to Diane for spending three consecutive Sundays with me. She is fun to shoot with.

Spring at the Zoo

Carol Freshley April 16, 2015

Phyllis, Barbara, Jon and Rick spent some quality time at the Phoenix Zoo. They share their photos with the rest of us. I have put all the photos of Bess and her family together. Bess was born in 1979 and is the mother of Kasih, born in 2006 and Jiwa, born last September. Michael, born in 1987, is the father of both offspring. In just the last week or so, Kasih has been allowed to join her mother and baby brother, Jiwa. The interactions between family members is quite remarkable.

That little hand . . .  Older sister looking on . . . Bess in protective mode. — That little hand . . . Older sister looking on . . . Bess in protective mode.

Bess is known for liking to get up close to the glass, especially for children.

For some other zoo photos . . . Equally interesting!

Looking for a place to shoot this weekend? Well, spring is in the air and there are babies everywhere . . . at the Phoenix Zoo! A very special thanks to the photographers. You made my day!

Denver Botanic Garden

Carol Freshley April 11, 2015

It is always fun to visit a new botanic garden. There were lots of caveats about this not being the best time to visit tho Denver Botanic Garden as the spring flowers are not in full bloom, it is a small garden as these things go, etc. I still wanted to check it out. I also wanted to play with my new lens. Diane and I were thinking we would just spend a morning there. NOT!! It was mid afternoon before we managed to extricate ourselves from the many photo opportunities to head for a cool glass of wine. Enjoy.

Diane and I both loved this flower and I don't know about Diane but I have WAAAY too many shots of it.  It is a great flower to highlight or show off with others.  When I saw Diane's representation it looks a bit like a water lily.  B… — Diane and I both loved this flower and I don't know about Diane but I have WAAAY too many shots of it. It is a great flower to highlight or show off with others. When I saw Diane's representation it looks a bit like a water lily. But, alas, it is earthbound.

Before we even got to the entrance I could see the Chihuly glass on display. This piece is left over from the Chihuly exhibit that was there some time ago. One thing I noticed right away was the abundance of water in many areas of the Denver Botanic Garden compared to the Desert Botanical Gardens. It should not have been a surprise, yet I was amazed at the difference it made in photographic opportunities with reflections!

This was one of those "I want this image" situations.  Problem?  Yes! The upper part was blown out if I was to get any detail in the reflection.  Plus, I wanted more of both the upper and lower parts of what I could so clearly see wit… — This was one of those "I want this image" situations. Problem? Yes! The upper part was blown out if I was to get any detail in the reflection. Plus, I wanted more of both the upper and lower parts of what I could so clearly see with my eyes. Even my 20mm prime could not get me the whole thing as close as I had to move in order to avoid a wall. Sigh! I ended up using my graduated neutral density filter on the widest lens in my bag at hand. It took a while!!

While I worked at the whole thing, Diane got exquisite detail in the parts!!

Just change your point of view and the whole view changes!

This was one of the few statues in the Garden (that I saw).  I took a photo of the whole thing, but it got lost in the background.  Diane had a different take.  Then, as you will see below, she took a 'head shot', which I like but the… — This was one of the few statues in the Garden (that I saw). I took a photo of the whole thing, but it got lost in the background. Diane had a different take. Then, as you will see below, she took a 'head shot', which I like but then she turned it into something entirely her own!! On the second photo below she is using the extrude filter in Photoshop. I include both so you can see what she started with and how her final image is much more interesting.

We sat on a bench for a while across from this spot.  Gorgeous day, perfect weather!  With a friend.  Taking pictures.  Dang, life is pretty good. — We sat on a bench for a while across from this spot. Gorgeous day, perfect weather! With a friend. Taking pictures. Dang, life is pretty good.

By now we have had a small lunch while sitting outdoors and enjoying the weather, had sat on some benches to rest. I could have been ready to leave. Then Diane tells me that the best may be yet to come! The orchid house, the tropical room . . . yikes! OK, let's go (slowly)!

Just look at this luscious little creek in the orchid area.

Here is another.  This orchid really caught our attention. — Here is another. This orchid really caught our attention.

I think this is where we moved from the cool wet of the orchid room to the HOT wet of the tropics room. We took a stairwell and this metal sculpture was hanging from the ceiling and attached to an opposite wall. What fun!

I call this the dreadlock tree.  It was quite large and full of these hanging flowers. — I call this the dreadlock tree. It was quite large and full of these hanging flowers.

Here is the story. I was trying (not succeeding) at capturing a Blue Dart frog. Very poisonous and very, very photogenic. But, it required shooting through moisture covered glass in a dark corner. I was ready to get out of the heat. Diane was upstairs taking her sweet time! I called her. She was thrilled with these flowers and suggested I come on up and see. WOW!! So we spent another 30 minutes getting shots from every angle. Funny how you forget the heat if the subject is interesting.

Another perspective.  They looked like butterflies!!! — Another perspective. They looked like butterflies!!!

These flowers hung in long strands.  Very interesting.  No smell. — These flowers hung in long strands. Very interesting. No smell.

I would love to go back in a month and see the Garden in full spring bloom. When we finally left we headed into Cherry Creek for lunch. Great day. Glad you joined us. And a special thanks to Diane who went with me.