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.
The Maroon Bells and Maroon Lake by Moonlight with the Milky Way. September 23, 2015.
Colorado is the place to be the last week of September and early October. I will be sharing some of my favorite photos.
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.
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.
Dinka
September 17, 2015. Ten years ago today.
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. That is what moved me to write this prayer.
“LET US PRAY”
Dozens of people in each of four airplanes living in terror as their hijacked planes are flown to destinations unknown to them. Each ends in a terrible fiery crash.
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.
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.
This compilation of news reports captures the essence of that morning better than almost any other video on YouTube.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
Bear Lake, Longs Peak and the Keyboard of the Winds.
The Hype
The hype. If you went outside early this morning expecting to see something like this, this is not what you got.
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.
Perseid Meteor photographed from Rose Hill Cemetery west of Lamoni, Iowa. 4:55 am CDT, August 13, 2018. Cropped from the original image.
Tonight, August 11-12, you can still see the Perseid Meteor Shower. But you can also look for the next few nights. This article will tell you what you need to know to see and photograph the most popular meteor shower of the year.
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.
Canon Rebel T7 camera body and two lenses, July 31, 2025.
Yes, you can get a quality, name brand DSLR with two lenses for under $350 at Canon USA. I found this particular kit July 31, 2025 at the Canon USA web site.
One year ago today I was watching the Olympics and taking pictures of the TV screen. I noticed how the photographers were equipped.
I’ve met a lot of fine park rangers and become acquainted with several of them as a result of meeting them more than once, some of them over a period of years. Today is a good day for me to say thanks to all of the NPS employees I have encountered over the years and the excellent work they do.
Test Prints. iPhone photo. Click for a larger version.
One of my two favorite photo labs was bought out and no longer exists, so I am searching for another favorite photo lab. I sent the same 10 digital files to three of the highest rated photo labs in the country and had them make 8×12 or 8×10 prints. My third batch of prints arrived and I am like a kid in a candy store!
The Temple, Independence Missouri
Because of the clouds this is one of my favorite evening photos of The Temple.
Kim (left) and a friend at Park of the Pines.
You don’t realize the significance and importance of some events until long after the event.
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).
Norwalk Lutheran Church, Manistee Michigan.
