A few weeks ago, we returned from Taos, NM by heading north to Fort Garland and then down La Veta Pass to Walsenburg. Earlier this week, I made a day trip to La Veta Pass to catch the afternoon light on the willows growing along the highway. This is one of the more beautiful mountain passes in Colorado — not particularly high and no aspen forests. However, at this time of the year, after the willows have lost their leaves, their branches glow red, orange and yellow. With the setting sun, I hoped to capture some of these fiery colors. This is one of the last images that I made for the day.
Willows Along The Creek, La Veta Pass
It had snowed along the pass at the weekend. At the roadside there was about two feet of snow. I found this Rabbit Brush growing at the top of a snow bank, with some fiery willows in the background.
Rabbit Brush Bush And Snow Bank, La Veta Pass
There were gusty winds blowing through the pass, with blowing snow across the highway. Near the top of the pass, I stopped at roadside where there were some abandoned farm houses.
Abandoned House, La Veta Pass
Close by were one of CDOT’s igloos, where snow plows store their materials. I made this image of the sunny side of the igloo. With the deep blue Colorado sky, I converted this image to black and white, to show the contrast of the white snow and pale beige igloo against the dark sky.
Igloo Dome In B&W, La Veta Pass
After exploring the area around the roadside for about 1/2 hour, I stopped on the shadow side of the igloo. Here I made this image, with some fast moving clouds in the sky.
CDOT Igloo On La Veta Pass
In this image, one can still see the fiery red willows in the background.
This is the last post for my 2015 Project 52 that has kept me occupied for this year. Happy Christmas to everyone and best wishes for a Merry New Year in 2016.