American Basin Columbine Sunrise

The previous evening, we left Ice Lakes and began driving to American Basin, Colorado. The road was rough, but we made the trip within the hour. That night I explored the location and looked for a perfect sunrise frame. I woke up the following day and set up my camera behind a patch of Columbine. The sun blanketed the rocks with a golden light as everything came together, perfectly representing Colorado in one picture.

Castles on the Horizon

I have had this scene in mind for a while, and while traveling near Crested Butte, Colorado, I was able to make it a reality. As the sun began to set, the golden rays cloaked the castle’s rock walls, matching the fields of wildflowers in the foreground. Everything came together in less than a minute but made for an incredible photograph.

Last Light over Slate River Valley

On the first night of our trip, we set up our camper near Crested Butte. The sun was beginning to set, so we went for a drive on Washington Gulch Road. I found a patch of wildflowers growing on the side of the road and set up my camera. The storm clouds did not look promising for a sunset, but as I waited, the rays bounced up from behind the ridge. Everything came together briefly as the golden light contrasted the lush green valley before me.

Sunset Lane over Crested Butte

While heading back to our campsite, the sun began to set over Crested Butte. We were informed that someone’s car had overheated, and we could not pass until they could move the vehicle. As we waited by the side of the road, I noticed a large patch of wildflowers. I set up my camera, and everything aligned perfectly as the summer glow covered the landscape.

Fields of Columbines

Back in July, we had a fantastic time hiking around Blue Lakes near Ridgway, Colorado. As we were heading back down the trail, I spotted this cluster of Columbines. I captured this image as the storm clouds rolled over the mountain tops and the clear lake reflected the scene before me.

Blue Skies and Wildflowers

With no recent snow over Colorado Springs, pictures become harder to capture with all the brown tones. So I thought I would post a memory from this summer that I captured while hiking around Ice Lakes near Silverton, Colorado.

First light at Ice Lakes, Colorado

As we approached the summit, the mountain began to glow red. Our legs were tired, but we made one final push and reached the lake just as the sun rose. The wind was calm, and the water reflected the surrounding landscape as I captured the photo.

Blue Lakes Overlook

The hike was long, but the views were rewarding. The fields were covered in wildflowers, and the lakes were as blue as the skies above. The light danced on the mountains as the storm clouds began to build, and we started our descent back to our campsite.

Red Mountain Sunrise

As I walked the fields of wildflowers in the mountain valley with Red Mountain in the distance, I found a large Columbine plant that made for the perfect foreground as the sun rose over the mountains. Taken near Ouray, Colorado

Red Mountain Sunrise Vertical

Slate River Valley

A well-spent evening driving on road 811 near Crested Butte as the sun set behind the ridge casting its golden beams on the green slopes covered in wildflowers.

A moonlit path near Gunnison, Colorado

Crested Butte Ski Resort Sunrise

First Light

A stunning sunrise over Ice Lakes trailhead new Silverton, COlorado