Aspen and Porphyry Peak. Photographed from near O’Haver Lake, Colorado. September 30, 1986. Canon F-1. Kodachrome 64 slide film. 80-200mm zoom lens.
40 years ago today my life changed.
September 30, 1986. A Day That Changed My Life.
Category Archives: General
Two Photographers and Eleven Outdoor/Travel Writers Pick the Best National Parks for Fall
Long’s Peak and Bear Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park
Fall is a fabulous time of year to visit the national parks. Crowds are usually smaller than in the summer, temperatures are cooler, and some of our national parks have glorious fall colors. With so many to choose from, where should you go? Which national parks will provide the best photographic opportunities in the fall?
Fall Color Photography Guide to Marshall Pass and O’Haver Lake, Colorado
Marshall Pass is a beautiful fall color drive in southern Colorado. It used to be pretty much a secret but is has become more popular in recent years. It does not turn up on most lists of the most beautiful fall color drives in Colorado. It is a beautiful drive with a lot of fall color photo opportunities.
Colorado Fall Color Travel and Photography Guide – 2026
Headed for Colorado this fall (or any other time of year)? Welcome to my complete Colorado fall color photography and travel guide with 135 photos, 18 maps, and over 100 pages of information (if you print it all out). I cover many of the best fall color locations in Colorado, and most of these locations look great any other time of year. This guide gives you options for spending anywhere from a few days to two weeks exploring the beautiful Colorado Rockies at a gorgeous time of year.
9/11 25th Anniversary Memorial Service Videos
Visitors explore the grounds of the Flight 93 National Memorial on September 10, 2026, in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. United Airlines Flight 93, carrying 40 passengers and crew members, crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on September 11, 2001, after the passengers and crew attempted to regain control of the hijacked aircraft. (Photo by Matthew HATCHER / AFP via Getty Images)
You can see videos of the 9/11 memorial services at this PBS link:
Your guide to the 25th anniversary events happening at the 9/11 memorial sites
25 Years Ago Today
It was 25 years ago but I remember it like it was yesterday.
I was working in my office. The family/TV room was right around the corner. The phone rang and I picked it up. “Stop whatever you are doing and turn on the TV.” I walked around the corner and turned it on.
The Twin Towers in 2,977 Drone Lights
The Twin Towers from by 2,977 drones lights, one for each 9/11 victim.
People watch a drone light show depicting the Twin Towers in the lower Manhattan skyline during testing for the 9/11 Tribute in Light installation in New York City. September 9, 2026. Getty Images.
The 20 Year Memorial, George W. Bush at Shanksville
“On America’s day of trial and grief I saw millions of people instinctively grab for a neighbor’s hand and rally to the cause of one another. That is the America I know.
Chip East Reflects on the Last Photos of His Friend, Bill Biggart, Taken on 9/11
Photographer Chip East was staring intensely at his laptop screen.
It was two weeks after two jetliners had plowed into the towers of the World Trade Center. His good friend, photojournalist Bill Biggart’s body had been recovered from the rubble. His personal effects, including his cameras had been released by authorities to his widow, Wendy.
Bill Biggart’s Last Photos – 9/11
Bill Biggart’s final photograph. He was killed when the second World Trade Center tower collapsed on top of him. He was 53 years old.
September 11th As It Happened
This compilation of news reports captures the essence of that morning better than almost any other video on YouTube.
9/11 Tribute – In the Arms of an Angel
9/11 – Let Us Pray
LET US PRAY
On the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, four planes were hijacked and ultimately crashed. Two crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City and one crashed into the Pentagon. The fourth crashed in Pennsylvania.
LET US PRAY.
Remembering 9/11
Photo by James Nachtwey for TIME magazine.
I will never forget staring at the screen. I was stunned. It was just a few moments after I got the phone call to turn on the TV. Then the second plane hit.
On this date, twenty-five years ago, we experienced a great national tragedy in the United States. 2,977 lives that were lost in the terrorist attacks. So many families were torn asunder. The way we view ourselves and our world changed. Emergency responders continue to suffer terrible health problems as a result of working at the scene. The way we view ourselves and our world changed too. Over 2,000 first responders have died of health issues related to 9/11.
In remembrance of that day, and to honor the lives that were lost, I am posting some tributes.
Stranded for 6 1/2 Hours on an 8 Inch Mountain Ledge
My home on the ledge for 6.5 hours
Written by Andreas Stabno and posted at 14ers.com. August 15, 2022.
Andreas is a friend of mine and I was one of the people praying when his wife put out the word.
I was rescued off a ledge near McHenrys on 8/11/22 and am providing my story so you can learn from my mistakes and from what went well.
Solar Eclipse, August 12, 2026
Solar Eclipse – April 8, 2024
There will be a solar eclipse tomorrow, August 12, 2026. It will be a partial eclipse in the northeast United States and Alaska, and not visible in the rest of the U.S.
4th of July Parade Photos, 2026
4th of July Parade Photos
Individual photos follow. Click on any photo to see a larger version.
Lamoni High School Baseball Photos
Lamoni High school baseball game vs the Seymour Iowa Warriors. Drew hits a single.
On an increasingly drizzly Friday, June 26, the Lamoni High School Demons played the Seymour Warriors. Lamoni won, 13-0. The JV game was called at the end of the first inning due to the rain. The JV score was 3-3.
Click any image to see a larger version.
Memory Box Vault – Don’t Get Ripped Off
The internet is flooded with a thinly disguised advertorial in the form of a questionable review by a fake reviewer. No responsible review of film scanners (I checked 10, links below) recommends the Memory Box Vault. They don’t even mention it. It ships from overseas so you have no legal protections if you can’t get your money back. And despite the $149 special price, you can buy it unbranded at Amazon for about $55. The reviews at Amazon are mixed and some of the Amazon reviewers say this scanner is terrible.
Video of Ronald Reagan’s Speech On the 40th Anniversary of D-Day
President Reagan’s 13 minute speech at the U.S. Ranger Monument at Pointe du Hoc is considered to be one of the great speeches in American History. In addition to President Reagan, these world leaders were present: Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands, King Olav V of Norway, King Baudouin I of Belgium, Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg, and Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau of Canada.
Links
The Text of Ronald Reagan’s Speech On the 40th Anniversary of D-Day
President Reagan’s 13 minute speech at the U.S. Ranger Monument at Pointe du Hoc is considered to be one of the great speeches in American History. In addition to President Reagan, these world leaders were present: Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands, King Olav V of Norway, King Baudouin I of Belgium, Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg, and Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau of Canada. The text of Reagan’s speech follows.
Video: The Story Behind Robert Capa’s D-Day Photos
John Morris, Capa’s London photo editor, tells the story behind Robert Capa’s D-Day photos, including the terrible darkroom mistake that ruined most of the photos. The high resolution video is best viewed full screen. You can see a contact sheet of the nine surviving negatives (ripped sprocket holes and all), Capa’s photo notes, and hear the story of the rush to get the prints back to the U.S. for publication in Life more. Fascinating imagery.
Link
Robert Capa and D-Day, June 6, 1944
Robert Capa: Normandy. June 6th, 1944.
June 6, 1944 was the allied invasion of Normandy, the largest seaborne invasion in history. 24,000 allied troops parachuted into France shorty after midnight. The next morning beginning at 6:30 am over 150,000 American, British, and Canadian troops landed. There were 10,000 casualties and 4,414 confirmed dead.
My “Toy” Camera Gear
Recent Favorites (April and May) viewed with Adobe Bridge. (Click to see a larger versions.)
I just noticed something. This is a folder of my recent (April-May) favorites, opened with Adobe Bridge and in chronological order. (You can see these photos in the prior two posts.) The first 6 numbers in the file name are the date (YYMMDD), followed by the photo name, the camera, and the original 4 digit file number.
Favorite Photos, May 2026
Lamoni High School track meet at Graceland University. Lamoni wins the women’s 4x200m relay.
Favorite Photos, April 2026
Sunset, Lake LaShane
Big Boy No. 4014 On A Cross Country Tour
Big Boy No, 4014 visits Tama Iowa, June 1, 2026.
Big Boy No. 4014 is the biggest operating steam locomotive in the world. It is on a cross country tour from Wyoming to the east coast and then back across the country to Colorado and back to Wyoming. It is massive at 133 feet long and weighs 1.2 million pounds. That is 44 1/3 yards, nearly half a football field in length.
MEMORIAL DAY, IN REMEMBRANCE . . .
Cemetery, The Presidio, San Francisco, California. Photo © Jim Doty, Jr.
Memorial Day began unofficially in a variety of places as people felt the need to recognize those who gave their lives in the Civil War. Memorial Day was officially declared on May 5, 1868, when General John Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic ordered a day of observance when all Union and Confederate Graves at Arlington National Cemetery would be decorated with flowers on May 30, 1868. One state after another adopted May 30 as a Memorial Day observance until all of the Northern states had adopted May 30 by 1890. Many Southern states had picked different days to honor the Confederate dead.
Memorial Day, Rose Hill Cemetery
Memorial Day – Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address
U.S. Flags at Sunset, Rose Hill Cemetery, Lamoni, Iowa
From Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865.