The Autumn Collection

Potato Lake Fall Afternoon

Aspen Grove, East Beckwith Mountain

Lost Lake Slough Autumn Reflection

Clearing Storm

Near Dallas

Taken on one of my first big Autumn trips to the San Juans. This image was made a little west of the Dallas Divide overlook that is so popular, as a snow storm cleared off the Sneffels range about an hour before sunset. There is much I would change about this image if faced with similar conditions now, but it is fun to go back to the beginning sometimes.

Granddady Mountain

Mt. Sneffels stands tall above fall aspen along CR 5 near Ridgway, CO

Maroon Bells Reflection

An Old Stump

Sneffels View, CR5

Classic view of Mt. Sneffels from the big meadow along CR 5 near Rdigway, CO.

Polo, Double RL Ranch

Darkness and Light, Mt. Sneffels

Sunlight breaks through on stand of golden aspen on a stormy autumn afternoon near the majestic and dark 14,158' Mt. Sneffels, an icon of southwest Colorado.

On the Range

A fall view along CR 9 near Dallas Divide

Stormy Afternoon, Capitol Peak Basin (2014)

Autumn in Colorado is an amazing experience. I made this image during this week in September but in 2014. Although this area has now become a bit overrun with photographers at each of main trailhead areas, I took a nice long walk in the woods away from everyone to find this view. I enjoyed a long afternoon in solitude, watching a threatening sky roil above the mountains. It never really produced a storm, but it still provided a few moments of interesting light.

Ranch View, The Double RL

This is a sunset view of Mt. Sneffels after an afternoon snowstorm from along the side of CR 9. In addition to the dramatic skies and snow-covered peaks of the Sneffels range, golden aspen and rust-colored scrub oak capture the beauty of the Double RL Ranch. CR 9 winds through Ralph Lauren's incredible Double RL Ranch. It is my hope that Ralph someday gives the land to the USA and it can be made into a national park as working ranch. I know this image looks incredible as a large print, as I see this image above my dining room table every day.

Deb's Meadow

Cimarron Storm

During the great stormy autumn of 2018, we had the pleasure of spending a rainy afternoon in the Cimarron Range near Silver Jack Reservoir. Intermittent light, rain, and snow battered the high peaks at the top of the valley. I had fun playing with the light and shadows all that afternoon. This image best captures that afternoon for me, with hints of purple mountain's majesty peaking through the rain and snow mix, while golden aspen and orange scrub oak anchor the scene.

First Snow on the Range

On this October 7th morning in 2018, the first autumn snow storm briefly cleared off the Sneffels Range above the majestic Double RL Ranch in Southwest Colorado. I've long loved this circular corral on the ranch as I drove by back into the national forest. On this autumn morning, the snow storm cleared just as I drove by the corral, so I stopped to make this image. The Double RL Ranch is a massive ranch abutting National Forest land near Dallas Divide in southwest Colorado. This high range land is one of the most spectacular areas anywhere in the country.

Blanca Dawn

Blanca Peak towers above aspens trees in the Huerfano Basin.

Shrouded Mystery, Marcellina Mountain

Fog lifts off the rugged autumn flanks of Marcellina Mountain near Kebler Pass between Crested Butte and Paonia, Colorado.

Haunted Pinnacles

This image is of the Pinnacles of the Cimarron Range in fog. I made this image on a cold, rainy day near Silverjack Reservoir. The sun never managed to break through the dense rain and fog at sunset. Yet, I persisted, hoping for some light. Finally, at twilight, just the faintest hint of purple twilight color tinged the sky, making these pinnacles appear to be haunted.

Sunrise, Cimarrons

After spending a wonderfully warm night in a forest service cabin, Steve "Grizz" Adams suggested that the best sunrise view in the Cimarron was just up the road of Precipice Peak, which catches first light. So I went up the road and composed this image of cottonwoods below Precipice Peak and Dunsinane Mountain. Although I've never been to the Dolomites, the Cimarrons remind me of that region, and I think this picture is a good example of that similarity.

Twilight, Last Dollar Draw

I spent an entire afternoon working this scene along Last Dollar Road. Below, a small draw full of aspen and wetlands drew my attention. In the distance, 13, 496