Nifty Piks - Photos and Art

Mt Evans towers in the distance while clouds and blue sky reflect in Echo Lake.

A closeup shot of Hahn's Peak from a field at the base as the light of a beautiful fall day fades.

A HDR shot of a mountain reflecting in Beaver Lake, near Marble, CO. The colors were changing this weekend and provided a spectacular view and amazing colors.

A HDR shot of the valley next to Highway 133, between Carbondale and Redstone, CO. I really like the one green tree (bottom right) amongst the yellow ones. Still clinging on to summer.

A HDR shot of the valley just before the turnoff to Marble, CO. The colors were changing this weekend and the sun was just starting to fade casting a soft glow on the entire scene.

A HDR shot of Lake Dillon from the East side at sunset.

An HDR shot of a High Country reservoir and mountain peaks with spectacular clouds near Leadville, CO.

One of the cliff walls that line Red Rocks ampitheater.

A shot of the Unaweep Seep Natural Area, near Gateway, CO. Differential erosion by wind, water, and glaciers has caused the canyon here and the dramatic mixed rock type formations and outcroppings.

A shot of a towering sandstone bluff and sediment filled stream, just outside of the town of Gateway, CO.

A man made canyon carved into solid sandstone to allow for railroad access. Near Corona arch in Moab, UT.

The clouds in this shot were just unreal. It had just finished raining on us on our way back down from Corona arch.

This is a HDR Image of the sunset taken from our campsite just outside of Moab, UT. My tent was just to the left of this shot :) . It is so beautiful there. My attempt with the HDR here was not to go crazy, but to use the HDR to capture the multiple levels of light without either washing out the photo with the sun or making the foreground too dark. I think it worked extremely well.

Sandstone towers and billowing clouds just off of Highway 128 on the way to Moab, UT. And a few cows for good measure.

A HDR shot of the Independence Monument from the top of the Colorado National Monument. I love the way the whole image seems to have a light pastel tone to it.

This is a shot taken from the top of Mt Evans in Colorado. Mt Evans is a 14er, or is 14,000 ft above sea level. This specific spot is at an elevation of 14,200ft. From this height, you can easily see for miles and miles. Even all the way back to Denver, if you are looking in the right direction. This vantage point allows for some spectacular views of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains below it.

This is a shot taken from the top of Mt Evans in Colorado. Mt Evans is a 14er, or is 14,000 ft above sea level. This specific spot is at an elevation of 14,200ft. From this height, you can easily see for miles and miles. Even all the way back to Denver, if you are looking in the right direction. This vantage point allows for some spectacular views of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains below it.

This is a shot taken from the top of Mt Evans in Colorado. Mt Evans is a 14er, or is 14,000 ft above sea level. This specific spot is at an elevation of 14,200ft. From this height, you can easily see for miles and miles. Even all the way back to Denver, if you are looking in the right direction. This vantage point allows for some spectacular views of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains below it.

This is a shot taken from the top of Mt Evans in Colorado. Mt Evans is a 14er, or is 14,000 ft above sea level. This specific spot is at an elevation of 14,200ft. From this height, you can easily see for miles and miles. Even all the way back to Denver, if you are looking in the right direction. This vantage point allows for some spectacular views of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains below it.

This is a HDR image of the Rocky Mountains from the Eagle - Thompsonville road that runs between I-70 at Eagle as the name implies to Thompsonville, near Basalt, CO.

Colorado Midland Field

Colorado Midland Centennial Trail

This is a shot taken at the top of Haggerman Pass, atop the Continental Divide. Hagerman Pass is located between Basalt, and Leadville, CO, high up in the Rocky Mountains.

A HDR shot sandstone cliffs near Eagle, CO. I really love the three levels of very stark colors in this shot and the way they transition into one another.

A cloudy day in Moab, UT. South of town looking back towards the La Salle mountains.

Sunrays burst through the clouds and fog shortly after a high plains rainstorm near Georgetown, CO.

Delicate Arch, located in Arches National Park in Moab, UT.

Delicate Arch, located in Arches National Park in Moab, UT.

A wider view of Delicate Arch from a nearby hole in the cliff side (another arch itself).

It has been a little more rainy this year than years past in Moab and these purple wildflowers were growing all over the place. This shot was taken just off the side of Hwy 191 just south of Moab on our way back to our campsite.

Mt. Hood gloriously rises up over the stormclouds into the sunny afternoon sky. Within minutes of when this photo was captured, the low-altitude snowstorm ungulfed the viewpoint and reduced visibility to less than 200 feet.

It's easy to imagine warming yourself by the fire in this cozy creekside cabin, tucked away in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in southwest Washington. The last rays of the afternoon sun pierce through the trees and provide idyllic highlights to this magical wilderness scene.

Nestled in the shadow of massive Mt. Jefferson is the high alpine wilderness of Jefferson Park, a nature-lover's playground of crystal-clear lakes and scenic wildflower meadows.

The high apline enviromnent above the treeline on Oregon's Mt. Hood is transformed every July into a brilliant canvas of wildflowers. In the shadow of the dramatic snow-capped summit, blue lupine, red Indian paintbrush, and dozens of other colorful blooms cluster around the many rushing creeks and springs. Come September, the entire area is reclaimed by snow and ice.

With its mild and wet climate, Oregon forests are lush with brilliant emerald undergrowth year round. Salal and Oregon Grape are harvested for their perfect glossy leaves and used to enhance cut flower bouquets.

The snow covered peak of Mt. Hood dominates the hoziron at Trillium Lake, one of Northwest Oregon's most scenic alpine lakes. With all motorized traffic banned, Trillium Lake is an oasis of calm, where the only sounds are Ospreys diving for fish and songbirds chattering from the surrounding marshes.

This idyllic setting in the heart of Oregon's Eagle Cap Wilderness is as tough to reach as it is beautiful to behold. A stunning display of craggy granite peaks surround this wonderland of crystal clear lakes, gurgling brooks, and dramatic wildflower meadows.

The gigantic South Falls is the primary attraction of Silver Falls State Park, one of the most spectacular natural areas in the state of Oregon. The Canyon trail, which can be hiked in only a couple of hours, passes by seven very large and dramatic waterfalls - a must-see in any nature lover's tour of the western Oregon.

American Brown Pelicans can often be seen migrating along the rugged Oregon coast in spring and fall. They ride the surf, taking advantage of the updraft as the wind passes up and over the wavefront.

Eichorn Pinnacle is in Tuolumne, the high country of Yosemite National Park. This was shot as I descended from having climbed Cathedral Peak. You can see two climbers with white helmets scope out the way to the top.

Bud Lake in Tuolumne, the high country of Yosemite National Park. This was taken while climbing Cathedral Peak.

I'll give you a sneak peak into a trad (traditional) climber's world. Up here, you often see little gems. This lake, blocked by the mini granite dome, is only visible from above. I was granted this priviledge by climbing up a multi-pitch route named Hobbit Book.

In September the Tuolumne Meadow takes on a golden hue. One tree stands green while it's predecessor provides food for the soil. It's all part of the life cycle in Yosemite high country.

White clouds, a blue sky, dark green trees and the September yellow of the meadow grass create an inviting get away to Tuolumne Meadow, part of the high country of Yosemite National Park in California.

Snow melt from the mountains has fored a lake from which a clear stream meanders lazy through the green grass. A light blue sky is perfect for daydreaming.

Vernal Falls in Yosemite National Park plunges into a clear pool. You can hike along this fall on the Mist Trail.

A playful mountain stream beckons you onward. I captured this on my way to solo ascend Mt. Johnson in Tuolumne, California.

Blue skies, dreamy clouds, granite peaks and a forest of trees greet you. A panoramic view of an example of nature's majesty.