I went up some 14ers, fell in a river, saw some baby moose take their first steps, went hiking in the moonlight, fell in another river, was charged by a rude sheep dog, spent so much time wandering the forests in search of my moose friends, and even to my surprise photographed a wedding! There’s so many more incredible moments that I witnessed this year, and I’m so thankful to have been there for them all. I just hope I did them justice in whatever photo I took.
I’m not sure how sustainable this will be going forward as while I spent so much time outside, I didn’t even begin to spend enough time there, and I didn’t even spend many nights out. So I’m looking to improve greatly on that, and hike so much farther, and come home less often next year. None of that matters too much today though. So I went through what I saw this year and tried to pick my favorites, which is impossible, and changes every time I look at them and remember the experience behind taking the photo. These are the final photos though, all taken within 20 miles of my front door. So which one is your favorite?
You can order prints of any of these images by clicking on the photo!
Fast forward 6 hours from yesterday’s photos, and this was the scene!
"I got up at 6 AM and went to look for critters as I try to do every few days. Usually, I just see the moose and elk regulars, but yesterday I saw them plus bighorns, coyotes, a golden eagle, and the grand finale, a mountain lion! I’ve lived here and have been hoping to see one for over 8 years now, and it finally happened due to pure luck! I had stopped because I saw my three coyote friends crossing the river. Once they disappeared, I turned around to get back in my car and saw a golden eagle with maybe 20 magpies/crows competing over an elk carcass about 100 ft away up the hillside. I watched them for maybe 45 minutes, and when the golden eagle took off I assumed the party was over. He circled a few times and the crows joined him in circling before following the river north. Then the magpies all made a noise and took off in unison, and this mountain lion walked into the light out from behind the trees. The entire scene unfolded so beautifully and perfect. The lion was fixated on the carcass, and I almost think he had no idea I was there. The first time it looked at me and heard the shutter it almost looked shocked and retreated behind a tree. Then it looked back into the trees and made several kind of whistling noises before slowly walking off in that direction. It was all over in about 2 minutes. I waited over an hour hoping it/possibly they would reappear, but the magpies and crows returned in time, and the world once again was filled with their squawks and calls. I headed home elated to have witnessed this incredible animal, but had already decided to come back a few hours later....
I had hoped the mountain lion would be there. It made sense for it to be there, but when I got there I didn’t see anything. That was to be expected, of course, because what are the chances you would see a mountain lion twice? Even if it should be/has been there. I turned around so I could pull off the road, and set up my camera for the wait. I had about an hour of light left so there was plenty of time, but the second I put the camera out the window it’s face peeked out from behind a rise to look at me. I started shaking with adrenaline again and taking photos. I feared I would scare it off again, but after a brief staring contest and full buffer on my D500 it carried on with its meal. The snow was now coming down pretty good and the wind and magpies/crows/eagle had all gone leaving just the mountain lion and me in silence. This is definitely one of the most incredible scenes I’ve ever witnessed. Not only did I never think I’d get to experience something like this, I never even let myself imagine this perfect of a scenario. After about 15 minutes watching it somehow got spooked, and it was now obvious he was uncomfortable with my presence as he tried to drag the elk away. When that failed, he hid under the tree again. I knew those were my signs that it was time to go, as the first rule of wildlife photography is to never cause stress to the animal. I took a quick final few photos, and looking back as I drove off, I saw him head back to his meal in peace."
"The Full Wolf Moon setting behind the peaks of Uncompahgre, Matterhorn, and Wetterhorn.
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I’ve been planning this photo for years, but it’s never quite worked out due to snow, clouds, being out of town, or mainly the fact this opportunity only comes around about three days a year. It all finally came together yesterday morning though. There was a predicted 47% cloud cover and snow later on, in which Uncompahgre is usually obscured very early on, but I woke up, and saw stars through the window, and was out the door into a cold and very windy dawn. Once I arrived to the aptly named point, this was the view I was rewarded with. For the next 30 minutes, I watched the moon creep down towards the mountains as the sun rose behind me all the while trying (and failing) to not lose feeling in my hands. All was worth it, though, as I think I came away with a new favorite photo of the peaks, and I even saw a moose on the way home!"
"A Mountain Bluebird out enjoying the warm Spring weather."
"March was a snowy month! Here's what it looks like on top of Slumgullion Pass"
"Bull Moose in a spring snow storm"
"A torrential downpour isn’t the best time to look for moose as they’ll usually hunker down somewhere inconspicuous, and that’s exactly what happened here. This time, though, I was able to spot just half of his antler with him laying hidden completely in the brush. I waited for the rain to ease and then walked out to a safe distance. After a few minutes of me sitting in the brush, the rain ceased, and he rose! He was in a meandering mood and didn’t really do anything interesting, barely staying visible, but being there was enough so I was happy to sit and watch. Then the sky lit up in a most brilliant pink/purple, and he stepped out into a clearing filled with wildflowers! The color in the sky went as quick as it came, and he was back in the willows, invisible once more. That left me in the decreasing light, wet, with the rumble of thunder both behind and in front of me now, but elated. It was time to go before the lightning on the horizon came and the light had completely gone, so I packed my camera and portable lightning rod away to head back home, but not before one more stop..."
"They’re growing up so fast! Moose twins on their one month birthday"
"I’ve been doing my absolute best to spend as much time as possible out in the mountains! Here’s a photo from an all too short hike (8 miles) on a section of the Continental Divide Trail (3100 miles) as it passes through a large expanse of tundra at over 12,000 ft between Lake City and Creede."
"A perfect peaceful summer morning in Colorado shattered by a moose calf who wanted to play! This little calf went from zero to sixty instantly running laps around and through the pond splashing her mom pretty good and interrupting breakfast! This continued on for 15 or so minutes before the calf strayed a little too far and mom got out of the pond to chase her down. After that, mom got back in the pond and the calf, presumably now in time out disappeared into the trees."
"Finally found some deer willing to pose in front of Uncompahgre and Wetterhorn!"
"I definitely don’t possess a climber’s heart, preferring a nice solid footing wherever I’m standing. Having said that, I’ve recently acquired the goal to climb the six 14ers near where I live. Starting with the easiest first, I started out early under threatening skies that produced only a few flakes of snow in August and not the feared lightning.
Thankfully, about halfway up, the skies to the West started to clear, and I could continue ever upward into the wind. Despite an attempt to turn around near the summit (remember no heart for this), I made the summit after, thankfully, I was prodded on by friends! 14,058 ft high!
Actually being able to hike this after a fun battle with Lyme disease that left me unable to walk for months the year earlier and a torn meniscus made this easily one of the happiest moments of my life. I never thought this day would ever come after so many obstacles that took years to overcome.
Anyway, the wind and cold made our stay on the summit relatively short, but during the descent the weather improved so we enjoyed the views more and more while taking our time back down the mountain. You can’t really ask for a more incredible day out in the mountains, but stay tuned for Class 2...."
"Taking in the views from the summit of Uncompahgre Peak!"
"Still can’t believe this sunset happened or the reason I was there to witness it!
I was sitting in my gallery half asleep after a morning hike, and the busiest Saturday in two months when a couple came in looking for a photographer for a wedding that was to take place in 2 hours. That’s something I have no experience in, and I was definitely happy for it to stay that way. While moose don’t particularly care how their photos turn out, people do, and I find that way too stressful so I’ve always avoided it.
Considering their original photographer was in a car accident, and couldn’t make it to Lake City, it was a parent with an iPhone or me. That seemed less than ideal for them, so I reluctantly agreed! With my shoes still soaked from a trip through a creek a few hours earlier, I headed up Engineer. The wedding went great with minimal stress, and as good as a first experience as I think possible! Then after the ceremony, the clouds started to light up and the most incredible light began to fill the valley and sky! The unbelievable pinkish and orange hues only intensified, and thankfully, the couple didn’t mind as my natural state as a landscape photographer returned, and my focus returned to the mountains and Engineer’s newly changed autumn tundra!"
"Not sure why it makes me so happy to see these first snows of the year because along with that blanket of beautiful snow on the mountains will follow true Winter, and all that it entails. Darkness, severe isolation, cold, a ton more snow, and what I’m sure is to be a glorious case of cabin fever. Nevertheless, It snowed, twice now, and I am happy because of it."
"Visiting Lake City this Summer?
Make sure to stop by my gallery located on the Alpine Loop (133 Second Street). I’ve got a large selection of nature photography completely from the San Juan Mountains so you can take the mountains you love home with you!!
I’ve got prints (for every budget), calendars, greeting cards!
I’m open 10-4 everyday (except Sundays) on 133 Second Street in downtown Lake City. Stop by anytime, and make sure to share with your friends and family!"
]]>
I had stopped because I saw my three coyote friends crossing the river. Once they disappeared, I turned around to get back in my car and saw a golden eagle with maybe 20 magpies/crows competing over an elk carcass about 100 ft away up the hillside. Golden Eagle and a Magpie
I watched them for maybe 45 minutes, and when the Golden Eagle took off I assumed the party was over. He circled a few times and the crows joined him in circling before following the river north.
Then the magpies all made a noise and took off in unison, and this mountain lion walked into the light out from behind the trees. The entire scene unfolded so beautifully and perfect. The lion was fixated on the carcass, and I almost think he had no idea I was there.
Mountain Lion Stalking through the trees
The first time mountain lion looked at me and heard the camera shutter it almost looked shocked and retreated behind a tree. Then it looked back into the trees and made several kind of whistling noises before slowly walking off in that direction.
It was all over in about 3 minutes. I waited over an hour hoping it/possibly they would reappear, but the magpies and crows returned in time, and the world once again was filled with their squawks and calls. I headed home elated to have witnessed this incredible animal, but had already decided to come back a few hours later.
Fast forward to 4:40 PM I returned to the area. I had hoped the mountain lion would be there. It made sense for it to be there, but when I got there I didn’t see anything. That was to be expected, of course, because what are the chances you would see a mountain lion twice? Even if it should be/has been there.
I turned around so I could pull off the road, and set up my camera for the wait. I had about an hour of light left so there was plenty of time, but the second I put the camera out the window it’s face peeked out from behind a rise to look at me.
I started shaking with adrenaline again (as evidenced by the video above) and taking photos. I feared I would scare it off again, but after a brief staring contest and full buffer on my Nikon D500 it carried on with its meal.
The snow was now coming down pretty good and the wind and magpies/crows/eagle had all gone leaving just the mountain lion and me in silence. This is definitely one of the most incredible scenes I’ve ever witnessed. Not only did I never think I’d get to experience something like this, I never even let myself imagine this perfect of a scenario. After about 15 minutes watching it somehow got spooked, and it was now obvious he was uncomfortable with my presence as he tried to drag the elk away. When that failed, he started back to go hide under the tree again.
Mountain Lion walking through the snow click here to order a print click here to order a print
I knew those were my signs that it was time to go, as the first rule of wildlife photography is to never cause stress to the animal. I took a quick final few photos, and looking back as I drove off, I saw him head back to his meal in peace.
Thanks for reading and feel free to share with your friends!
]]>The three photos below where taken around 7:15am to 7:40am.
prints available here
prints available here prints available here
Here's a terrible quality timelapse from my photo that shows the entire scene throughout the time I was up there.
and finally the moose. Thanks for looking and feel free to share!
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I moved back to Lake City, Colorado, and opened a gallery for my photography during the summer. Despite that, I got out a lot; and I took some of my favorite images this year. From the Sandhill Crane Migration, to Yellowstone in the Spring and then onto the San Juan Mountains of Southwest Colorado for the remainder, it was a year filled with nature! You can see a few of my favorite photos below, but if you would like to see them all, then click here.
I have to start out with quite possibly my favorite photo I've ever taken from a perfect sunset with four Moose friends this September.
A valley of Aspens near Lake City, Colorado.
Wilson Peak near Telluride, Colorado.
Lupines on Slumgullion Pass, Colorado
Rainbow over Lake City, Colorado.
Moon over American Basin
Prints available here
Nellie Creek Falls through a window of Fall colors.
A Bull Moose with the La Garita Mountains at sunset.
An aerial view of Lake City, Colorado, in the summer. A print of which was donated to the Hinsdale County Museum.
First steps of a Baby Bison at Beryl Springs.
Hundreds of thousands of Sandhill Cranes migrate through Nebraska every spring, here are a few hundred in a thunderstorm near Gibbon.
A coyote portrait in Yellowstone.
Twin Grizzly Bear cubs following their mom through the forests of Yellowstone.
A Mountain Bluebird.
Frozen North Clear Creek Falls.
Curious what my favorite photos where last year or the year before?
]]>All photos taken with Nikon D600 and D500 with Tamron 150-600mm G2 and Nikon 24-120, Nikon 16-35mm.
Autumn Light along the Gibbon River
Eagle in the SnowFirehole River, Yellowstone. Artist's Point - Landscape Artist's Point Watching the SunsetLamar Valley Snowline Twilight in Lamar Valley Pledge to the Wind Hunt Yellowstone Falls Yellowstone River Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Gibbon River Sunset Grazing at Sunset The Crossing Napping Enjoying the Snow Watching the Sunrise On the Lookout A Better View Dashing through the Snow Curious Watching The Alter Ego Breakfast Grand Prismatic Spring Grand Prismatic Spring Lone Dead Tree Grand Prismatic Spring Old Faithful in the Snow Mt Republic Cooke City Storm Devil's Half Acre Pilot Peak Cooke City Sunrise Mt Republic at Sunrise Big Sky Blues Soldier's ChapelBig Sky, Montana Night in Big Sky
Thanks for looking!
]]>Feel free to ask any questions you have as well.
What I use for Landscape Photography:
Nikon D750 (full frame, great ISO, and 24mp is enough for me right now)
Nikon 16-35mm f/4 (best lens you can get for landscapes with Nikon)
Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 (for astrophotography)
Nikon 24-120mm f/4 (great all around lens)
Lee Filter Holder (it holds filters!)
Lee Little Stopper (for slowing down the exposure times for smooth water)
Lee Graduated Soft Neutral Density filter 0.9 (for toning down the sky at sunrise/set)
Cable Release (needed for maximum sharpness)
Really Right Stuff L-bracket (makes it easy to take vertical shots on a tripod)
Think Tank Pixel Pocket Rocket (memory card holder)
What I use for Wildlife Photography Kit:
Nikon D500 (10fps, and the crop sensor are the reasons I choose this for my wildlife camera)
Tamron 150-600mm G2 (a godsend for the wildlife photographer not willing to choose a lens over a car! Also use this for landscapes too)
Tamron 1.4 tele-converter (because wildlife is shy and that's not something to encroach on without rudeness)
Aerial:
Dji Mavic Pro 2 (newest addition that will add a new perspective for some of my photos.)
Tripod and Ballhead:
Feisol Travel Tripod CT-3441T (the best lightweight tripod if you are freakishly tall like myself. Camera comes up to just under my eyes at 6'7)
Really Right Stuff Bh-30 (lightweight and build quality is second to none)
Bag:
Gura Gear Bataflae 26L (great bag if you have a two camera setup, though discontinued now)
Think Tank Retrospective 30 (my favorite shoulder bag for times when I don't need my full complement of gear)
Most Essential:
Some behind the scenes shots of my camera in the wild! (pictured with the Acratech GV2)
Along the Gibbon River in Yellowstone.
Sunrise at Lake San Cristobal
Sunset at the Colorado National Monument
Please note all links all Amazon.com affiliate links that help support me but do not add anything to the price.
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All photos taken with a Nikon d600, Nikon 16-35 f/4, Nikon 24-70 f/2.8, and a Nikon 70-200 f/2.8
Christmas Day sunset in Wells, Maine
The incredible sunrise the day after Christmas on Cape Elizabeth at Portland Head Light and Ram Island Ledge Light.
That night a storm moved in and made for a beautiful blue hour at the lighthouses.
Going fishing
A winter surfer braves the cold for a sunrise surf in Old Orchard Beach, Maine
A minimalist scene on Old Orchard Beach
Storm at Nubble Light
Ogunquit covered in snow.
Nubble Light decorated for Christmas.
A lonely photographer at sunset in York, Maine
Breaking Storm
Rockport Harbor at dawn
Under the pier at Old Orchard Beach
Blue Nothing
Sunset at Marshall Point Lighthouse
Rhode Island trip begins!
The best sunset I've seen in Sakonnet Beach and Lighthouse
A very long exposure of the Newport Bridge.
Castle Hill Light in Newport under two very different conditions.
Sailors Take Warning. A storm moving in towards Newport
Blue Morning
That's all from my brief excursions in these two beautiful states! All photos can be purchased as prints here
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All photos are available as prints. Just click the photo to take you to the gallery page.
(the links to amazon are affiliate links that help support me)
The Slumgullion Earthflow where Mesa Seco came crashing down 700 years ago.
Sunrise in Lake City, with the cottonwoods and aspens in nearly full color.
The living and the dead. The forests of Slumgullion Pass.
A several image panorama of Lake San Cristobal and Crystal Peak.
The Silver thread scenic byway, Colorado 149.
The blown dam at the Henson Townsite.
Cottonwoods in full color around town.
Follow the river to Lake City.
An incredible sunrise above Lake San Cristobal.
Autumn sunrise in town with the fog forming over the river.
Wetlands at the south end of Lake San Cristobal.
The Lake Fork of the Gunnison River winding into Lake San Cristobal.
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Prints are available of all these photos. Just click them, and it'll take you to their gallery page or you can send me an email.
Sunrise at Portland Head Light in Maine. January.
Castle Hill Light in Newport, Rhode Island. January.
Sakonnet Lighthouse in Rhode Island with easily the most colorful and vivid sunset I've witnessed. January.
The Atlantic in Winter. Rhode Island. January.
Fox tracks in the snow. Hinsdale County, Colorado. March
Desert Bighorn Sheep ewe with her twin lambs trailing behind learning to climb. Grand Junction, Colorado. March
A couple walks toward Las Vegas, Nevada. March. I never have photos with people in them, but I couldn't help but take this one.
A juniper tree in Richville, Utah. Can you believe the hotel front desk woman said there was nothing worth photographing there? March
Arches National Park in the twilight with the La Sal Mountains in the background. March.
Endless dirt road and storm chasing in Buffalo County, Nebraska. July
Crazy storm skies in Overton, Nebraska. July
Cornfields and storms. Nebraska. July
A white horse watching me from a hillside near Broken Bow, Nebraska. September
The blue hour at Lake San Cristobal. August.
Thirty minutes later at Lake San Cristobal. August.
Another fantastic sunset over Lake San Cristobal. August.
A black bear up a tree in Lake City, Colorado. August.
A lone Cottonwood tree on the Colorado plains. August.
The stars of Gunnison County. September.
Layers of Autumn on Slumgullion Pass. September
The Lake Fork river following through the Lake Fork valley. October.
Lake City in autumn for the air. September.
Black Wolf in Yellowstone. Montana, October (my favorite)
Feel free to share and let me know what your favorite one was!
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This twelve month 9x12 scenic wall calendar features 12 photos of the beautiful landscapes and wildlife of this pristine and remote area of Colorado. There is a quantity discount if you order more than 2.
Also I am including a free Lake City Greeting card on the first 30 orders of 3 or more.
Shipping is a flat rate of $4.00.
You can order yours here!
http://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/2018lakecitycalendar
Back cover preview
Preview of the inside
]]>What can you see around Lake City, Colorado if you've only got 48 hours? Answers below with a photo journey through one of America's most remote counties, Hinsdale County, Colorado!
All photos taken over two days in early September, 2016.
North Clear Creek Falls, and some probable storm clouds coming in.
The aforementioned storm clouds and a very Autumnal Uncompahgre Peak.
Typical day summer day in the San Juan Mountains.
Right to left, Crystal, Uncompahgre, Matterhorn, Wetterhorn, Broken Hill, Red Mountain, Grassy Mountain, and Sunshine
Summer Sunset above Lake San Cristobal.
Colorado 149 and the way to our next shot a few minutes away.
Look at me, back at Windy Point, with good reason though of course.
Passing the day by the lake named after the patron saint of travelers.
Day Two- The signs that summer's remaining time is coming to a close. The Postage stamp above town on Round Top.
Uncompahgre peaking (see that pun) from behind Round Top
I sat here and read. Then I couldn't decide which I prefered so I'm posting both.
Moose! I saw 5 in one night, at Deer Lakes, though only three consented to be photographed.
Usually a moose is in that, not then though, so I watched the sunset there.
Another Windy Point photo you're thinking, and yes here is the moonset over the San Juans.
This guy said bye and come back soon on the way out. Very hospitable.
But wait there's more! This is Colorado 149 and the road to Lake City.
(though our journey has crossed out of Hinsdale in into Gunnison)
This is the same but going to Gunnison.
The core of the Milky Way shining bright in the Gunnison night.
Probably my favorite photo I've taken. Taken in Powderhorn.
In case you prefer the horizontal versions.
That's what you can see! And I didn't even have a 4wd to get to the more beautiful places!
All these prints are available as prints, click on the photo to go to the photo page and see options and help fund further trips!
Here's some bonus photos from the neighbors to the north, taken on the same trip.
The planet Mars sets over Blue Mesa Reservoir in Curecanti National Recreation Area.
]]>They tried and failed several times, narrowly avoiding a fall each time. They ran away back towards the comfort of the stragglers in the herd, stared at the crossing filled with trepidation looking for a route over and would watch the older sheep cross while simultaneously getting in their way. They would follow the same route as the others, but couldn't even get halfway across. I was worried wondering what was going to happen? Fall? Abandonment?
Maybe 10 minutes of this and then a brave little one attempted it and went almost vertically up the rock then across instead of just across like the older ones did. This allowed it to be in a more manageable position when it started to slide back down, which it did, but through this it had enough momentum/traction to make it across! It then took off at a lightning pace up the canyon running full speed to catch up to presumably Mom. I wish I could have got that photo. It really was a last day of school run. The others spurred on by the success followed using the same tactic, failing quite a few times but all managing it in the end.
Basically the lambs got out of a slippery spot by climbing a harder route. Not often you get to see newborn animals learning in front of your eyes. I'm sure they can handle that spot with ease now.
"But Mom I don't wanna"
(The other two had ran away back down the path)
The way across is found!
One achieves, one attempts, one runs away.
No lamb left behind!
And all was well in the Monument that night.
]]>
Judiciary Station lined with Trump supporters, 8ish am.
I came out of Judiciary Station and saw this group waving an Anti-fa flag around. Of course I followed. They got in several verbal skirmishes, to be fair not instigated by them. The woman standing next to the guy with the flag was allegedly punched in the mouth by a Trump supporter. I didn't see it but she did have a split lip. Things got pretty tense with the police there for a bit but they took statements and everyone moved on, peacefully and free.
Opposite Numbers.
This man was desperate to convince a woman she was a coward for wearing a bandanna, as police don't need to hide their identities. I don't think his point was made to her.
Anti-Fa.
Mostly Trump supporters line up for an unticketed gate. A police said this was one of the least congested.
A woman looks down on the security checkpoint to get into the mall.
Bring back real journalism.......and weed scribbled on the back.
Hello there Mr. Secret Service man. You had a nice view of me in my checkpoint.
Young girl waits in line for a checkpoint to get into the National Mall.
Not bothered at all. Anti Trump demonstrators march past mostly Trump supporters in a checkpoint. Chants of "USA", "Build the wall", "Trump" and many more individual efforts at crude wit and response baiting bravado made the atmosphere turn contentious quickly. Police kept the groups apart well.
This guy chose a "to the point" protest sign.
Pennsylvania Ave. with an army of cops lining the route to the White House. I got yelled at for taking this, that reminded me why I enjoy landscape photography.
The crowd during Donald Trump's oath of office. Very few anti-Trump here. Enthusiastic crowd. Barack Obama passing the Washington Monument on the way out of Washington DC on Marine One, but i guess it was no longer Marine One since he was a former President?
After the Inauguration had concluded I caught this guy starring down the Mall towards the Capitol building with his scribbled prayer of "God help us" on his vest.
An empty National Mall, as twilight starts to arrive.
Washington DC mounted police patrol the National Mall.
Dusk descends on Inauguration Day, and your weary photographer starts to fear falling asleep on the Metro missing his stop like a common tourist.
The Women's March, the day after.
I had planned to skip the Women's March rally and do tourist stuff, and then maybe catch some of the March, I was a bit ambivalent towards another day walking around a city. I had heard on the radio that the March was canceled because of high turnout so I decided to make my way over. As I arrived the streets were packed with people walking away towards the Capitol. I thought I had missed it! I walked down toward 3rd street and was stunned when I could see out over it all, unbeknownst to me they decided to march down Pennsylvania Avenue. I've never been around or seen that many people.
All photos below are from the march down Pennsylvania Avenue,
Casper, a biker for Trump. Really nice guy, said "hi" and thanked me for a peaceful protest and agreed that's what we both wanted. Then I sang along to "Free Bird" playing over the speakers. I felt bad for these guys because they had a permit for this spot well away from the other end of the political spectrum, but the route change put them a mere hundred feet from the March. An offshoot March from the main March. The entire city was filled with an electric energy. People filled the streets, signs, chants everywhere it was inescapable.
An Offshoot of the main March. The entire city was electric. People filled streets, chanting, so many homemade signs, horn sections, anarchists showing solidarity at the courthouse, traffic, opportunistic vendors. Just an atmosphere I've never experienced before,
Pulitzer please. :)
]]>My favorite 9 photos of 2016.
It was a bit of an interesting year for me. I was pretty much done with all this photography coming into the year. I hadn't even taken a photo in about 8 months or so. Just completely burnt out with it all. Some things changed and for some reasons I don't even really know, I started taking photos again and these are my favorites. Thank you all for following along! Here's to a great New Year and all those other positive and hopeful words or resolutions that are said over the next few days.
Autumn's Last Stand. McClure Pass.
The Solitary One. Rocky Mountain National Park.
A few minutes of a Grand Valley sunset.
Fort Pickering Light in Salem Massachusetts.
Underneath those Colorado stars.
Lookout Rock. Blackstone Valley, Massachusetts.
Sunset over Lake San Cristobal. Lake City, Colorado
A young moose calf enjoying the last days of summer.
A fox in Crested Butte.
Splendid Isolation in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Light through the snow covered forest. Blackstone Valley.
If you would like you can purchase my 2017 Lake City Calendar here-
www,michaelunderwoodphotography.com/lake-city-calendar
Only 7 left!!!
]]>In the 1870s, George Darley was a missionary who wanted to raise a Protestant (in this case, Presbyterian) church and evangelize in the San Juans, so he snowshoed back and forth over Engineer Pass in the middle of winter, Lake City to Ouray and vice versa, several times. Unlike another, who did this feat, he only had an appetite for the Lord. So once in town, he quickly formed, founded and built the first church on the Western Slope in Lake City in 1876. Once established, he went to the six month old Ouray and did the same, giving the first sermon in a saloon in the winter of 1877, and then built the church in the fall. After serving as the first pastor for his new church in Lake City for several years, he left and pastored churches in numerous Colorado towns.
The church, along with Lake City nearly died with the mining decline and the Depression but bounced back around the 50s, as Lake City became a tourist destination and apparent Texan colony. The church still stands today; my dad was the pastor for several years. The church in Ouray disbanded and merged with Ridgway a few years ago though.
Anyway that's why this mountain is called Darley Mountain, if you were curious. Hope you enjoyed the history lesson of Presbyterians in the San Juans.
Also if you like this kind of post, let me know by commenting or sharing, thanks!
]]>Available on my website here
www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/lake-city-calendar
Available now in these stores
Lake City-
The General Store, Slumgullion Gift Gallery, and The Highlander RV Resort.
Gunnison-
Rocky Mountain Frames
Grand Junction-
Silver Leaf Art Gallery, and OutWest Books.
Also available is my 2015 Lake City Calendar featuring several photos from last year's list of my favorite photos.
January-
A winter moonbow over a frozen Blue Mesa Reservoir outside of Gunnison, Colorado.
February-
The Lake Fork Valley after a winter storm.
March-
Sunset at Red Canyon in the Colorado National Monument in Grand Junction, Colorado.
April-
Alpenglow on Monarch Pass
May-
San Luis Peak and Colorado #149 at Sunset.
June-
Sunset at North Clear Creek Falls
July-
Fourth of July in Lake City.
August-
Sunset above Henson Creek on Engineer Pass.
September-
Autumn in the San Juan Mountains
October-
Sunrise at the Moulton Barn in Grand Teton National Park.
November-
Close-up of Uncompahgre
December-
Leaving Lake City under the stars.
see my favorite photos of 2013 here
]]>Uncompahgre Peak, Matterhorn Peak and Wetterhorn Peak at sunrise from Windy Point.
Sunrise up on Slumgullion Pass.
Fall colors at peak and a newly paved Slumgullion Pass. Lake San Cristobal in Autumn
Sunset from the Lake San Cristobal Overlook.
Chapel in the ForestRedcloud Camp, Lake City, Colorado.
The first snow of the season and Camp Redcloud's Chapel.
Capitol CityFall colors north of Capitol City on the Engineer Pass road.
Just west of the ghost town of Capitol City on the Engineer Pass road.
Round Top and Red MountainRound Top and Red Mountian rise above the Lake Fork Valley.
Early fall in the Lake Fork Valley a few miles north of town on the Silver Thread Scenic Byway.
Sunset on the Alpine Road north of town.
Fall SunriseA pink autumn sunrise on Slumgullion Pass reveals the newly snow covered mountains.
Another Sunrise from the Windy Point area.
Also my 2018 Lake City and Hinsdale County Wall Calendar is available on my website here and in the Back Country Navigator, The General Store, Slumgullion Gift Gallery, San Juan Reflections in Lake City. It is also available in Gunnison at the Gunnison Gallery and Rocky Mountain Frames and Trophies.
See more landscape photos from Autumn in Colorado here-
]]>Bull Moose #1 wandering in the forest.
Bull Moose #2 walking through Mill Creek.
A cow moose in one of the Deer Lakes.
A young bull moose in the waters of another one of the Deer Lakes.
]]>Fourth of July Fireworks in Lake City, Colorado from high up on Slumgullion Pass.
Show's Over.
]]>Overlooking Bristol Head and Mineral County, Colorado, to the east.
North Clear Creek.
Late afternoon at the falls.
The sunset and North Clear Creek Falls
The view looking back towards the east.
Spring Creek at twilight near the summit of the Spring Creek Pass.
]]>The eclipse, Mars, and the Community Presbyterian Church.
]]>All photos taken on 2/1/2014.
A snowy Gunnison Avenue just before sunrise.
The sun breaks through the storm clouds over Cannibal Plateau.
Red Mountain, Round Top and the Lake Fork Valley are left covered in snow after the storm clears.
Lake San Cristobal, a few miles south of Lake City.
Red Mountain.
The Lake Fork of the Gunnison River.
Sunset in the Forest.
Sunset over Uncomaphgre Peak.
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January-
"Before the Storm"
Twilight above the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River, before a strong winter storm moves through Hinsdale County.
February-
"Lake Fork Storm"
The frozen Lake Fork of the Gunnison River north of Lake City.
March-
"Elk and Snow"
An elk herd just north of Lake City after a spring snowstorm.
April-
"Moose Calf in the Snow"
The sun rises behind a young moose calf during a brief spring storm.
May-
"May Snow"
An early May snowstorm leaves the mountains and forests around Lake San Cristobal covered in a few inches of snow.
June-
"Summer Sunset at Lake San Cristobal"
The sunset from the shores of Lake San Cristobal after a month of wildfires to the east.
July-
"American Basin"
Wildflowers by the Lake Fork River in American Basin on the Alpine Loop.
August-
"Twilight on the Lake Fork"
The last color of the day fades as a storm moves in where the Lake Fork River feeds into Lake San Cristobal.
September-
"Capitol City"
Engineer Pass road leads west out of the ghost town Capitol City.
October-
"Slumgullion Sunrise"
November-
"Gunnison Ave. in the snow"
December-
"Nightfall"
Twilight on the freezing Lake Fork of the Gunnison River.
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Autumn SunriseSnow weighs down the aspens on Slumgullion Pass on an early fall morning.
Sunrise up on Slumgullion Pass. T Mountain
T Mountain
]]>A panorama of the San Juan Mountains near Lake City, Colorado.
]]>The Lake Fork of the Gunnison River at twilight.
Order a print of this photo here
http://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/colorado-summer/e619c980f
]]>Stormy Sunset at Upper Mill Creek in Hinsdale County, Colorado.
Order a print of this image here
http://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/colorado-summer/e6dde4c2c
]]>My first ever exhibit featuring my photography of southwestern Colorado will open today at the Anthony Gallery/ Mary Stigall Theater in downtown Lake City. The show will also feature art from Jane Jones. The show begins tonight and will run through August 24th. The show will be open weekdays from 1-4pm.
(Poster courtesy Lake City Arts)
]]>Sunset at Love Lake in the Rio Grande National Forest outside of Creede.
]]>Sunset on the Silver Thread Scenic Byway (Colorado #149) a few miles east of Lake City.
]]>Order a print of this photo here
http://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/colorado-summer/e684a13fe
]]>Order a print of this image here
http://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/colorado-summer/e6fccafb7
]]>A summer sunset after some much needed rain at Lake San Cristobal located a few miles outside of Lake City, Colorado.
Panorama of the scene.
Buy Prints of this image here
http://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/colorado-summer/e64db711c
]]>Some much needed rain falls in the small mountain town of Lake City, Colorado.
]]>
Windswept flames from the Papoose Fire, yesterday afternoon. Winds gusted up to 40 miles an hour as a thunderstorm moved through the area.
A panorama of the fire and Rio Grande River from #149.
Flag in the wind and smoke at Freemon's Ranch.
]]>Smoke filled meadows along Colorado Highway #149
Looking west out at the fire, Rio Grande River, and sunset.
Sunset on the Rio Grande River, looking away from the fire.
http://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/papoose-fire
The Papoose Fire, now a part of the West Fork Complex Fire is an 11,000 acre wildfire burning in the Rio Grande and Road Canyon Reservoir area of Hinsdale and Mineral Counties, all photos taken on 6/21/13 from around 7:30 pm to about 10:00pm.
Information on the fire here http://hinsdalecountycolorado.us/fire_info.html or http://www.hinsdalecountysheriff.com/Emergency_Incident and an article from the South Fork Times here.
Smoke from the West Fork Complex Fires, taken a few miles west of North Clear Creek Falls.
North Clear Creek at Sunset.
Looking east towards the fires from the Bristol Head Overlook.
Flames seen from Spring Creek Reservoir.
Looking west toward the fire and sunset.
Smoke from the fires seen from just west of Spring Creek Pass.
Air Support.
The setting sun reflected in the the Rio Grande River.
]]>
The peaks of Uncompahgre, Wetterhorn and Matterhorn and at sunset in the San Juan Mountains east of Lake City, Colorado.
Buy a print here-
http://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/colorado-summer/e6f9a545a
]]>
(front cover)
Jupiter, Mercury and Venus align in a rare triple planetary conjunction above Uncompahgre Peak in the San Juan Mountains outside of Lake City, Colorado.
]]>A quick May snow storm leaves a dusting of snow on the trees and mountains surrounding Lake San Cristobal south of Lake City, Colorado.
]]>A fiery sunset in the San Juan Mountains, seen from Windy Point east of Lake City, Colorado
]]>A young bull moose calf in an early morning spring snowstorm on Spring Creek Pass.
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Sunset in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
]]>A late spring ice and snow storm in the Platte River Valley somewhere south of Grand Island.
]]>Cebolla Creek sunset in Powderhorn, Gunnison County.
]]>January Sunset on the Alpine Loop, near the ghost town of Sherman.
]]>
The historic Ute Ulay mine on the Alpine Loop a few miles west of Lake City before a storm.
]]>Sixty 1.6 second exposures at 300mm on a fixed tripod that were then stacked in Deep Sky Stacker.
]]>An Elk herd just north of town.
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Twilight in the town of Ouray, Colorado.
]]>The day after a snowstorm that left the town of Lake City with just under a foot of new snow.
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