Colorado
Colorado
A Colorado Scene,
July, 2019
Atmosphere of the Mountains,
June, 2021
On the Docks,
July, 2019
Location Notes
While staying in Winter Park near the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park, we were in close proximity to the Arapaho National Forest where we hiked many outstanding trails with beautiful scenery featuring rivers, wildflowers, waterfalls, and high-alpine grand vistas. In fact, some of my favorite hikes from the trip were within the national forest.
Also near the park, Shadow Mountain Lake and Grand Lake provided nice views and convenient locations to explore before or after a hike.
While acclimatizing to the altitude on one particular day early on the trip, I slowly wandered around our residence searching for a potential image. Undulating clouds filled the sky as color from the setting sun painted the sky in color, creating the most spectacular sunset of the trip. Fortunately, I located a nice composition featuring a railway track that meanders into the scene towards a mountain, above which the sublime sky completed the image that turned out to be my personal favorite of the trip.
Vieques
Vieques
Sailboat on the Water,
July, 2015
Location Notes
Vieques is an island of Puerto Rico that has many nice beaches from which to choose. It has an authentic, non-touristy feel, which is refreshing. The island is accessible by ferry or plane. The planes leave either from the airport in San Juan or from another airport that is located a short ride away. The ferry is less expensive but the plane is much more convenient. If you visit the island, do not miss the kayak tour of the bio bay. The water emits light when agitated, such as by the kayak, kayak paddle, one’s hands, or even fish or stingrays whose swimming path can be seen by the green lights that follow their motion. This was an unforgettable experience and the biological luminescence was an almost magical sight to see. The light emitting plankton are unpredictable and ceased their display for some time, but fortunately began emitting light again before we arrived. In addition to the incredible display in the water, if you go when the moon is not up the Milky Way is a show unto itself. The low levels of light pollution make it a great place to observe the bright stars, and the tranquility of the quiet kayaks make the entire scene truly astonishing. It is elusive to the camera, as the usual method of taking long exposures to compensate for the inadequacy of light gathering ability of the sensor fails to capture the fleeting point-like flashes of light coming from the water. No doubt one day more sensitive sensors will be made that are able to do the spectacle justice, but for now it must be seen in person to be fully appreciated.
New Orleans
New Orleans
The Concrete Forest,
March, 2017
The Jazz Musician,
March, 2017
Location Notes
I spent several nights in New Orleans attending a convention and was able to spend a little bit of time walking around the city exploring some of the downtown area. It’s not hard to see many of the attractions by foot, including the French Quarter and the riverside walk by the Mississippi. The city has a fun, worry-free, and friendly vibe to it, as well as a very unique mix of cultures. Streetcars provide a means of transportation in the city and add to the unique ambiance of the area. They are not the only unusual mode of transport, there are also horse-drawn carriages that one can take along the streets of the quarter.
The French Quarter was my favorite location in the city and has many small shops and restaurants that are situated in attractive rows of two or three-story buildings that have balconies or “galleries” with wrought iron railings. The galleries overhang the sidewalks, providing a covered walkway along the streets. I particularly enjoyed looking at the paintings from local artists which were displayed in many shops around the city. It was also nice to listen to the musicians who play instruments or sing at several locations in the quarter. Sometimes many people gather around to listen. On one occasion a large group of perhaps nearly a hundred people congregated, some of whom started dancing to the upbeat tune.
The French Quarter was originally settled by the French, but the architecture is influenced by the Spanish who rebuilt much of the area at the end of the 18th century after a large fire destroyed a vast part of the city. Americans came to the city after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.
More Locations
More Locations
Location Notes
Sedona is a town located about 120 miles north of Phoenix, Arizona, and contains many scenic red rock formations, as well as a multitude of hiking trails from which to observe them. The town contains trails that offer beautiful views of the surrounding rock faces, but only a short drive away there are many other trails that lead through the desert, woodland, or up onto the rock formations. I traveled to Sedona in January of 2020 when the temperatures were cool and made for agreeable hiking weather. During my wintertime visit, the trails were generally free of snow and ice except for patches shaded from the Sun. A notable exception, however, was the area around West Fork Trail, which is shaded by the rocks and trees, and therefore quite snowy and icy. I walked a portion of this trail before turning around at a daunting icy river crossing. It was one of the most scenic trails on the trip, however, so I look forward to perhaps trying it again sometime. Other trails I hiked that offered beautiful views of the rock formations include Fay Canyon, Courthouse Butte Loop, Soldier Pass, Doe Mountain, and the picturesque trail between Cathedral Rock and Red Rock Crossing. Sedona is also only about a 2:30 hour drive from the Grand Canyon, making for a possibly tempting day trip or an extension to your stay.