Road to Bear Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park. September 27, 2016.
My fall in Colorado series.
Colorado, September 27
Category Archives: Photographs
Colorado, September 25
Colorado photo workshop near the Storm Pass Trailhead. September 25, 2016.
My fall in Colorado series.
“Jay’s Rock” and the Maroon Bells
Jay on “his” rock.
Bob and I (see my prior post) arrived at Maroon Lake about an hour before sunrise and it was already getting close to crowded around the lake-shore. We picked our spots. People who arrived not too much later than us had to pick spots that would have other people in the frame.
Colorado, September 24
First sunlight on the peaks, Maroon Bells and Maroon Lake, early morning, September 24, 2015.
My fall in Colorado series.
Maroon Lake and the Maroon Bells in the Moonlight
The Maroon Bells and Maroon Lake by moonlight with the Milky Way.
I had never been to Maroon Lake and the Maroon Bells, so I planned a trip. Ten years this evening, Bob (my brother-in-law and long time photo buddy) stood on the lake-shore. I saw them for the first time. I was entranced. I see why this is considered to be one of the two most popular and spectacular scenic locations in Colorado.
Today is the First Day of Autumn!
How to Find the Metadata in a Photo Using an Online EXIF Viewer
Moon Over Balanced Rock, Arches National Park
You can find the metadata in a photo by dragging the photo from your computer to an online EXIF viewer. Metadata is the information a camera attaches to a digital photo when the photo is saved to the camera’s memory card. Metadata, also called EXIF DATA, usually includes the time and date of the photo, the camera and lens used, the focal length of the lens, and some cameras record the GPS coordinates of the photo.
How to Find the Metadata Embedded in a Photo
Maroon Bells and Maroon Lake, September 24, 2015.
This article will show you how to find the metadata embedded in a photo in any of four different ways: iPhone, Windows 11, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Bridge. I was asked in a recent email if it was possible to determine what camera was used to take a digital photo. The answer is yes, provided: (1) the camera saved that information in the metadata for the photo at the click of the shutter, and (2) the metadata has not been stripped out of the photo at some later time. In addition to the camera being used, the metadata usually tells you the lens that was used, the date and time of the photo, the aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and in some cases, the GPS coordinates of the photo.
Portraits of the Day: Dinka
Dinka
Camera Test
September 17, 2015. Ten years ago today.
I had just acquired a brand new Canon 7D Mark II and I was testing its focus tracking ability on moving subjects. Our dog Sunny was my test subject. It is 10 years later and the Canon 7DII is still my preferred wildlife, sports, and action camera.
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?
The Best National Parks for Fall Photography
Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
What are the best national parks to photograph in the fall? Here are my choices, grouped by state and province from west to east. This list includes the favorites I have been to, plus the ones I most want to see based on the recommendations of the photographers I trust, like Tim Fitzharris and QT Luong. More about them later.
Outtake of the Day: Poses
Poses
Poses and I were traveling across far northern Michigan and we stopped at Legs Inn in Cross Village Michigan for lunch. (“Poses” is her professional name.) Fortunately for us, we were seated at a table that had just about perfect portrait light. Nice, neutral light was coming in from an outside window on the right (camera right), and soft, warm interior light was coming from the left.
Colorado Fall Color Photography and Travel Guide – 2025
Headed for Colorado this fall (or any other time of year)? Welcome to my complete Colorado fall color photography and travel guide with 136 photos, 18 maps, and over 100 pages of information (if you print it all out). I cover some of the best known fall color locations in Colorado, and most of these locations look great any other time of year. Spend anywhere from two days to two weeks exploring the beautiful Colorado Rockies at a gorgeous time of year.
Fall Color Photography Guide to Marshall Pass and O’Haver Lake, Colorado
Marshall Pass is a beautiful fall color drive in southern Colorado, and still pretty much a secret. 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.
A Guide to One of My Favorite Colorado Photo Spots
Bear Lake, Longs Peak and the Keyboard of the Winds.
This is one of my favorite photo spots in Rocky Mountain National Park. Longs Peak and the Keyboard of the Winds are in the background, Bear Lake in the mid-ground, and aspen leaves and boulders in the foreground. Here’s how to get to that spot.
Original vs Optimized
Vet sign, original and optimized
Digital cameras have a tonality range that is much more limited than what our eyes can see. Because of that, in some situations the digital file falls far short of what our eyes see when we click the shutter. When I “optimize” an image, my goal is to use software to create an image that is as close as possible to what I was seeing when I clicked the shutter. This photo is an example.
19 years ago today, it all started with Sarah . . .
Nineteen years ago I was looking through some of my images and decided my portrait photography was lacking. That is when I got the bright idea of working with a professional model.
Night Flight: 9 Years Ago This Evening
St. Joseph (lower left) and Kansas City Missouri from the air.
Constellations (Sagittarius and Scorpius), Meteor (left center), and Saturn (above the scorpion’s back).
Photos: One Year Ago Today On a Photo Adventure In Michigan
Norwalk Lutheran Church, Manistee Michigan.
Don’t Shoot on Railroad Tracks
Samantha, July 10, 2011, RR tracks, Ohio.
When I created this image 14 years ago this evening, shooting on railroad tracks was popular and still pretty much an accepted thing. I have several railroad track images in my collection. All kinds of professional and amateur photographers created images on railroad tracks. A Google image search will turn up hundreds of photos. Careful photographers chose long, straight sections of track with great visibility and they paid attention.
Photos: 4th of July Parade
4th of July parade collage in chronological order. Individual photos follow.
Every year I photograph the annual 4th of July parade in Lamoni Iowa. In addition to the 14 “selects” I share below, I discuss the equipment I use, the number of photos, and at the end of this article I describe what I look for when I photograph a parade. “Selects” is a newspaper/magazine word for the best photos (the photos selected) out of all the photos created. An editor working on an event article might say to a photographer, “Send me a dozen of your selects”, so the photographer would send 12 images out of all the photos that were created at the event.
Happy Birthday, Acadia!
Acadia National Park is 109 nears old today. The photos in this article were taken by me in Acadia National Park, October 2017.
Happy Independence Day!
161 Years Ago Today: Abe Lincoln and Our First “Public Lands”
Last Light on El Capitan. My first trip to Yosemite Valley, December 30, 1990.
What a great idea! It started with Abe Lincoln, 161 years ago today. He was the first President to create “public lands” and it started with Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove.
Sarah: A Last Minute Baby-Bump Shoot
I received a text message on a Saturday night from a very pregnant young woman. Sarah told me she might deliver early and she wanted to know if I could shoot Sunday morning at 7:45 am. It was her only chance to shoot that week. Of course I said yes.
Metaphid Jumping Spider
Metaphid Jumping Spider
When a rare photo opportunity comes your way, jump on it (pun intended). You have no idea if or when it will happen again.
Google Maps Tracking
Google maps tracking for July 19, 2024.
If you have the Google Maps app on your phone, you can turn on or off the ability of the app to track your travels. Some people like this and some don’t. You can turn tracking on and off any time you want. The map does not drop bread crumbs that track your exact routes. It draws straight lines between stops. Each round symbol on the map shows one of my stops for the day. Most of these are photo stops but some are for food, gas, or other necessities. By using two fingers on the map on your phone’s screen, you can zoom in or out on the map.
Trip Logs
Trip Log, September 28-29, 2024.
Before there was Mapquest or Google Maps, there was me! (Tongue-in-cheek font.)
Happy Birthday Big Bend!
Sunset, “The Window”, from the Chisos Basin.
Big Bend National Park was officially established June 12, 1944. Generally I don’t like deserts. I like mountains, high altitude lakes and streams, cool breezes, and pine scented air. So imagine my surprise when I fell in love with Big Bend on my very first visit.