Photographer in Colorado

This last week we had a wild weather week, starting with snow that soon turned to warm spring like weather. With the sun setting later in the day, I had the opportunity of making images after work at the end of the day, without avoiding snow in the images. I made the following image just before the sun sank over the mountains. I shot down into the pond to get the reflection in the water of the building and the lone tree. Two minutes later and the orange glow of the building was gone.

Reflection, Tuscany Plaza And Tree At Sunset

Walking to work on the following morning, construction of the new AMG Bank building was lit up by the early morning sun. There were colorful construction vehicles working around the building. Stopping at the same pond as above, I made the following images of the construction reflections in the water. Some ducks and geese had made some ripples to the right that made interesting abstract shapes in the water.

Construction Reflection In Tuscany Plaza Pond

The next morning was clear blue skies again. Taking a walk through Samson Park, I was drawn to the contrast of the orange/brown branches reflecting in the blue of the water. Again, there were just enough ripples to break up the reflections into a more abstract image.

Reflection In Samson Park Pond

On Friday afternoon, I returned from work, taking a stroll through Tuscany Plaza. Leaving the building through the covered walkway, I noticed the leading lines created by the railings, also reflected in the windows. I setup a composition and made an image. Just then, a lady came walking her dog on the far side of the street. I made a few images, this last one when she turned to walk through Samson Park.

Tuscany Plaza Exit

Friday was First Friday Art Walk on Sante Fe. I am always inspired by the art on display in the various galleries, so I usually have a camera with me on the art walk. I headed down to the basement of one of the galleries to view the art work. On the way out, I turned around to make this image with leading lines going down to the basement. Around the corner below, there was mixture of various colors from different light sources that rendered as gaudy colors. So I converted this image to monochrome for less distraction.

Stairs, Down To Art Gallery Basement

After visiting several galleries, I noticed the warm colors in the empty store front. A street band had just finished playing and were packing up their gear. I made another composition with leading lines as they were busy.

Santa Fe Blvd Street Band, Packing Up Gear

After selecting some images for this week’s post, I noticed that I had two themes in the images — reflections and leading lines. I pruned my selection to just the images above.

On Sunday afternoon, I made a trip down to Waterton Canyon with the intention of make images of ice in the Platte River. On arriving, I discovered that the parking lot was like a mud pit! The recent warm weather caused ice and snow in the parking lot to melt. I knew that it would be a muddy hike along the canyon. After hiking about a mile into the canyon, I reached a bend in the river where the walls of the canyon were reflected in the water. Here the water was dammed up by large rocks in the river. There was still some ice around.

Rocks, Ice And Reflections, Platte River

When I shot ice in previous years, the afternoon lights up ice formations with colors of the setting sun. It was just too warm this time. December would have been a better time to make images here. Farther upstream, on the bend, there was some blue sky reflecting in the water that was captured in this image.

Reflections In Platte River, Waterton Canyon

Nearby, on the far bank of the river, was a stand of scrub oak trees emerging from the snow covered floor. Some of the trees still had remnants of fall colors in their leaves!

Trees Among The Snow, Waterton Canyon

About this point I turned back.  In the canyon, there are several examples of metamorphic rocks that have some interesting color banding. In this example, I found a spot where pink, white and gray banding was present. The pink coloring is from feldspar minerals in the rock.

Pink And Gray Rock Patterns, Waterton Canyon

I spotted the rock below on the way into the canyon. On the way out, I decided to make an image that shows the ice skirt attached to the rock above the fast flowing water. At this time of day, the low light level required a longer shutter speed to allow the water to blur as it flowed past the rock.

Rocks Wearing An Ice Skirt, Platte River

During the return hike, there was less mud as the water started to re-freeze.

Monday this week was one of the monthly Meetup groups that I attend. So I decided to shoot some street photography images in the Five Points neighborhood in the afternoon before the meeting. It was also Martin Luther King Day. Taking the light rail, I got off at Welton Street. This is close to the location where we did the Worldwide Photowalk in October. In one of the alleys, I found a colorful mural painted on an orange wall. There were some crates laying up against the wall — probably used for seating from workers taking a break from work in neighborhood stores.

Mural And Crates Against The Orange Wall

Along Welton Street is some interesting art, including murals with embedded mirrors. At this time of day, the colors of the sky from the setting sun was reflected in the mirrors.

Mirrors In The Wall, Five Points

The light rail line comes to an end at the intersection with Downing Street. Looking back along Welton Street, the sun was setting behind the tall office buildings downtown.

Sun Setting Along Welton Street

Walking back down the street towards downtown, I stopped by one of the light rail stations. I waited for a passing pedestrian to make the following image.

Station Along Welton Street

There are some really interesting stores and businesses in Five Points. This Barber and Beauty store echoes a bygone period.

Barber And Beauty, Five Points

Here is an Emporium that was lit by inviting warm yellow lighting inside.

Emporium, Five Points

Further along the street, I noticed the Mercury Cafe in a parallel street. This is an interesting building that a dance floor, restaurant and bar. We did some swing dancing here a few years ago!

Brewhouse, Mercury Cafe

The black cat in the mural below caught my attention. It was obvisously terrified by the approach of the bigger tiger that I captured in the image below.

Two Cats, Mercury Cats

That was the last image that I made before hurrying over to the meetup group.

Today, Angela and I made our way down to the river. Armed with binoculars we spotted a Cooper’s Hawk just after arriving at the river. We crossed the bridge to get a better look at the hawk. While looking down into the Platte River, I noticed the rust covered bridge components that I included in this image.

Looking Down Into The Platte River

Walking along the river, we spotted a variety of water fowl. This included many species of ducks as well as Canada Geese. Under the Evan Street bridge, I stopped to make several images. The sun reflected off the water casting pools of light onto the bridge pillar in the center of the river.

Reflections, Evans Street Bridge

Farther along the river, I noticed the clouds and blue sky reflecting in the river. The sun was shaded by some clouds at this point. As a result, there was no extreme contrasts that were introduced by bright sunlight.

Sky Reflections In The South Platte River

Near the Mississippi bridge a construction project was underway. The river was partially dammed to protect the downstream work area. A floating barrier was stretched across the river at this point. I carefully composed this image to put the orange barrier on a diagonal.

Floating Barrier In The Platte River

Soon after we turned back to head back home.

Recently, I discovered a new app (Waterlogue) for the iPhone. I made an image of the Christmas decoration on the walk from light rail to work. I used this image in Waterlogue, to convert to a watercolor-like image that can be seen below.

Christmas Decorations, Arapahoe Station

This last week has been one with really frigid weather. We have had two days with ice and freezing rain. Leaving the light rail station, I pass Chinook Tavern. At this time of the year, the low sun streams through the glass windows at the entrance. I have made similar images at this location in previous years. The orange cover is for an outdoor umbrella that sees use in warmer months of the year.

Orange Cover And Long Shadows

Further along the walk to work, a thin sheet of ice formed in a shady road intersection. The  sun reflects off the building to light up the road surface.

Street Reflections, Araphahoe Station

Currently, construction of the Arapahoe Station III building is in progress. Construction cranes are in continuous use to hoist precast concrete sections into place. Looks like they are busy with the 9th floor in the image. On a clear day, the red booms of the cranes contrast against the blue sky, as can be seen below.

Construction Crane Over Arapahoe Station Building

I stopped by Samson Park to make some iPhone images in the snow. Later I processed in Snapseed and Tangled FX.

Snow In Samson Park, Tangled

Later in the week, we had the second day of icy weather, with freezing rain that formed ice on roads, cars and sidewalks. During the commute on light, an elderly guy on the other side of the train was preparing for walking through icy conditions. I captured and image and immediately gave it the Waterlogue treatment. This app also finds and exaggerates any bright colors that appear in the image. The purple backpack of the girl (on the left) and her blond hair were enhanced by the app, as were the red stripes in the light rail seating.

Light Rail Commuter

The icy conditions lasted most of the day, under warmer conditions at night caused melting to occur.

Yesterday was the first Friday of the month — Art Walk time on Santa Fe. I made my way to Santa Fe early last night. It was very quiet in comparison to warmer months. People have probably been reveling earlier this week too! I also decided to do another Project 52 again this year. Shoot every week and post here.

I stopped at a gallery along Santa Fe that was run by Laurie. Hope I spelt her name correctly. She does weaving. It also turned out that she does photography with alternative processes (eg, tintype, calotype, ambrotype, etc). After chatting with her a while, I made these images of her colorful glass bottles.

Laurie’s Bottles

And her colorful knitting needles.

Laurie’s Needles

During visits to various galleries I passed an antique store, where I was attracted by the warm glow of the lamp in the window.

Antique Store On Santa Fe

I made a few other compositions of lampshades, including this one with a similar color palate.

Lampshade In Antique Store

Later, I was in the Point Gallery. They have this galvanized steel ceiling that reflects the colors of artwork. I moved around until I got a pleasing abstract composition reflecting blues from a painting hanging on the wall.

Reflections In Blue, Point Gallery

Returning home I passed across the road from an architect’s office. Outside were 10 lights on a low wall. The blue of the street lights provided contrasting colors. It also complements the blues in the picture above!

Ten Lights Outside

Best Wishes and a Happy New Year for 2015! Come back to see more new images throughout the year.

Recently, I signed up with Ello. You can see some more images by following this link.

Last night was the monthly Illuminate Workshops meetup group night shoot. In December, the holiday lights event takes place. Some other images from our meetup group may be found here. We met outside the Ink Coffee Shop. On the way there, I made my way from the Union Station light rail station over the Millennium Bridge. Looking up the Millennium Bridge Tower, I made this image to include the lights of the Da Vita office building.

Millennium Bridge Tower

Crossing the bridge, down the other side, I made this image of the stairs leading up the bridge towards the the tower and building.

Stairs Leading To Da Vita

After getting started with the photowalk, I made this image of the base of the tower, with fencing lit up in lilac.

Lilac Millennium Fence

The planned route was to head along 16th Street, to Union Station and then catching a free bus ride to the Denver City and County Building. Along the way we stopped to make images of reflections. I found the blue lights from an adjacent building reflected in the street. This contrasted nicely against the orange sodium lighting the sidewalk.

Blue Reflections

Next to a construction site we made our way through this blue tunnel.

Blue Pedestrian Tunnel

I made my way to Union Station for this “Travel by Train” image.

Union Station, Travel By Train

While at the station, the Chicago-bound Amtrak train had made a stop. I spent about 20 minutes in the station, chatting with some of the passengers who had left the train from some exercise and fresh air.

Amtrak Train, Chicago Bound

After the train departed, I made one final image or the pillars that support the station roof. This station has been rebuilt in recent months and has a spectacular roof that circles the platforms and railroad tracks.

Union Station Pillars

At sometime while make images at Union Station, I had lost touch with the rest of the group. Earlier there had been some protesters demonstrating along 16th Street. Apparently, the buses had stopped running, so I had no idea where the group had headed. I decided to call it night and head back home.