Photographer in Colorado

This week’s subject is color! I headed down towards the Platte River near Mile High Stadium. There was a power generation station in the vicinity that might offer some interesting images. There was construction work along the river. The bike paths had been redirected so access would have been difficult to get a decent setup for images. While driving in the area, I noticed a street that I had not visited before. I drove around the area that showed this to be a promising location. So I parked and walked along the re-routed bike path. This led past a derelict building on Colfax Avenue. At the back was a red desk that had a green bush growing underneath.

Bush Under The Red Desk

The derelict building had red painted brickwork with green bushes growing in front. A stormy sky was present, offering some interesting possibilities. The broken windows also revealed some interesting details. All this made for some great HDR treatments. Here is one of the image that I made from several exposures.

Red And Green Behind Colfax

I continued to explore the neighborhood. Along Colfax I spotted several brightly painted buildings. Looking up, the yellow and orange walls contrasted nicely against the remains of the passing storm. This ladder was located some 20 feet above the ground, reaching up into the sky.

Ladder To The Sky

Looking south, the clearing storm was revealing blue skies hiding behind the clouds as the setting sun highlighted the colorful wall.

Colorful Wall And Stormy Sky

I made my way around to the rear of the building, where this elevated deck complemented the colorful walls and door.

Door And Deck

The adjacent building was painted a lime green hue. The stairs leading up the the back door was painted a contrasting purple-magenta.

Lime And Purple Steps

Making my way round to Colfax, the setting sun was lighting up the turret at the corner of this historic building. This is now the site of Brooklyn’s restaurant.

J Solf 1896

Heading back, I passed tall stacks of plastic — maybe they are concrete forms or barricade sections — that were stacked neatly under the Colfax flyover. The blue and white of the regular pattern made for an interesting picture.

Blue And White Abstract Plastic

Nearby was an orange drain pipe that carries away water from the elevated flyover.

Orange Drain Pipe

The light was fading rapidly as I headed back towards the parked truck. Earlier another photog was busy with a portrait session in front of the interesting wall. A red shoe was abandoned on the sidewalk together with this abandoned building.

Abandoned With The Red Shoe

It was only later that I noticed the red shoe!

A different subject for this week! Our garage had this really ugly window in the north facing wall. It is doubtful whether it ever met local code standards. After examining the house plans, I noticed that the window was not part of the original house construction. It was obviously a poor DIY project by previous owners.

Window, Outside, Before

To make matters worse, the window was installed so that the bug net could never be removed. Some years ago, I noticed the movable pane jammed occasionally. It has been installed upside down. We have made gradual improvements to our house over the years. This year was the garage’s turn — new steps were installed a few months ago.

Window, Inside, Before

Now it was the windows’ turn. Over the weekend, I started a construction project to replace this window, and to install a new window in the south wall. So I made some before and after images to record my endeavors.

The project started by removing the old window and re-framing to accommodate a larger-sized window. Whilst re-framing, I noticed the shoddy workmanship of the previous framing. It did not take long to rip out the old framing. But I spent time to ensure that the new work was done to a higher standard. Here is the interior of the window after completion.

Window, Inside, After

And here is the outside of the window. I ran out of materials for the trim strip around the window. I purposely get fewer construction materials of rarely used parts and materials. This way I can verify that items are correct and I don’t have the hassle of returning excess items to the store. Anyway, this window will be completed later this week.

Window, Outside, After

Here is the new window that I installed on the south wall. I decided to complete this window so that I did not have to be attacked by the thorns on the rose bush twice in one week!

New Window, Complete

After completing the window trim on the north wall, both windows will be sealed properly and the trim strips will be painted.

This south facing window has made a tremendous difference to the garage. Angela commented that we now get sunlight in the garage; this will get better later this year as the sun moves lower in the sky. There was an added benefit of completing this project. We cleaned out the garage, and have a big pile of stuff to go out with the trash.

This week I started the Third Eye class (with Greg Cradick) at Working With Artists. After discussing critique, we proceeded to discuss the influence of time in photography. This gave me inspiration to try making a few different images.

My morning commute starts at the University of Denver light rail station. While riding the light rail on Thursday, I made several multiple exposure images of the busy traffic on I-25. This image is the one that best shows frenetic busy traffic, with cars rushing towards their destination.

Traffic On The Interstate

This is not the first time that I have experimented with in-camera multiple exposures. You can see some more images using this technique in World Wide Photowalk – wk31 and Garden Flowers and Bees – wk32.

On Friday, I made another attempt by making more images. This time I wanted to make an image of the train arriving at the station. A skateboard came riding down the platform while waiting for his train.

Multiple Skateboarders

His train arrived and then he was gone, so I turned my attention to the station bench for another subject.

Multiple Benches

Soon I heard my train arriving behind me. I hurried to make a series of exposures that included at least one image where the train had passed by. Just what I was hoping for!

The Train Is Arriving

At class, Greg described how to make a video from several images with iMovie. I made several sequences of images while riding on the train. After several unsuccessful attempts with iMovie, I did manage to create a video with Lightroom. Here is the result of my attempt.

This is a nine second time lapse using three separate image clips. I had to wait until the camera had written its buffer to card before doing the next clip. Hence the two breaks in the sequence. More time was spent in trying to get this video into this blog post than making images and assembling the video. But it was all fun.

Now that it is summer, there are plenty of green leaves around. This time of year makes a great opportunity to take advantage of making some infra red images. This week I have been carrying my infra red camera. Leaving the light rail station, I composed this image of a sculpture at the Arapahoe Station plaza.

Sculpture, Arapahoe Station Plaza

Infra red is not visible to the human eye. It does not have a “color”. The sensor of an infra red camera blocks much of the visible spectrum. This means that a monochrome image may be a better choice than an image that has “false” colors. Infra red images are distinctive because green leaves reflect a lot of infra red wavelengths. As a result, leaves are rendered very light. In a monochrome image leaves render as pale gray or white. Open (blue) sky does not reflect infra red and renders as dark gray or black. Water in ponds and pools absorbs infra red, and also renders as dark gray or black. Cold metals also absorb infra red and usually render dark.

Returning from the office at the end of a work day, I passed the Tuscany Plaza en route to the light rail station. The grass lawns render as rolling white fields! The stormy sky forms a dramatic backdrop to this image. Also, the darker pond in the foreground balances the pale tones of the grass. This is a good example of the dramatic images that can be achieved with infra red.

Tuscany Plaza And Stormy Sky

Across the road, outside Samson Park, this shelter contrasts against the dramatic sky. There are several metallic objects in this image, including the fence, trash can and the metal sheeting of the roof. These items are render almost black. Behind the fence is a row of burning bushes. They are usually green in the summer, except during the fall when the leaves turn red before dropping to the ground. In this image, are they burning white hot?

Museum Of Outdoor Arts Shelter

Some weeks ago, I made some images of Samson Park, where the was a strange building — see Wonderland in Samson Park (week 19). This was a temporary structure for storage whilst construction proceeded on new art work. Here is the pentagonal foundation that is all that remains of the original structure now that art work is complete (in the background).

Pentagon In Samson Park

Finally, on the last leg of the walk to the light rail station, this sidewalk contrasts against the light bushes, grass and avenue of trees.

Sidewalk To The Station

More infra red images can be found on several web sites. Search Google and Flickr for these images. A couple of years ago, I converted my old camera to infra red. You can find more information at Life Pixel on camera conversions. There are also tutorials and information post-processing that may be found on this same site.

Working With Artists have an Annual Members Show. This is a fun show that is not juried and is open to all members. Members can hang up to two photographs each. Friday night was the reception, where awards were announced. Over 180 photographs were hanging in the gallery.

I submitted two mounted prints. The town of Como, Colorado, used to be site of a station serving the narrow gauge railroad that once ran across South Park. The line split used to serve a line to Brekenridge over the Como Pass. This is one colorful house and garage that I found in 2008 on a trip to make aspen photographs in the area during the fall.

Pink And Blue In Como

Prior to visiting Zion in 2008, I made a trip over the Kaiparowitz Plateau to Escalante. There are several sandstone formations in Devil’s Garden that I photographed. This is an HDR image that I made just before the sun set.

Statues In Devil's Garden

Be sure to visit Working With Artists in the Belmar Arts District, Lakewood to view all photographs. The exhibition runs until September 26. Visit their website at http://workingwithartists.org for more information.

The cone flowers (echinacea) are currently blooming in our garden. I was experimenting with macro shots and attempted some in-camera multiple exposures. This image was made from several frames, making minor movements between each image. A total of 8 frames were exposed to create this image.

Cone Flower Multi Exposure

And here is another image of a different flower.

Cone Flower Multi Exposure, No 2

The bees were visiting the flowers, but I was not successful in capturing an image. Bind weed are a common plant in Colorado. They grow upwards, twisting around a stem or a branch of an unsuspecting plant. They even have pretty little pink flowers. Here is one bind weed that overtook the cone flower. The curling leaf provides a nice balance to the head of the cone flower.

Cone Flower And Bind Weed

In a nearby bed, the spiraea bush had recently started to bloom.The bees were attracted to these bushes in large numbers. There were at least four different species of bees gathering nectar. Each branch of the bush has two or three clusters of flowers at the base of a leaf node.

Blue Spirea

Eventually I got lucky capturing an image that included a bee. This was not easy, because there was a light breeze and the bees were only spending a few seconds on each flower cluster. I had plenty of rejects with moving flowers or moving bees.

Spiraea With Bee

It will be interesting to try for some more images of these flowers — maybe next weekend.

Last Saturday was Scott Kelby’s Worldwide Photowalk. I registered for the Downtown Denver group, led by Timothy Tonge, that met at the Pepsi Center at 6:15pm in the evening. About 35 people attended the event. You can see all participants here. Tim welcomed us and explained how the walk operated. We could submit images to the official Photowalk website where prizes would be given. Although we could only submit one image on the official site, Tim had set up a Flickr group for attendees to submit their work. Tim briefed us on the route that he had planned, advising us of traffic hazards that we might encounter. And then we set off.

The sky was filled with light overcast clouds. Temperatures were pleasant for summer. Perfect for making images. You can see more images that I made by visiting my Flickr Photostream. At the southwest corner are four stainless steel towers surrounding this structure that holds the “Pepsi Ball”.

Pepsi Ball

Looking up one of the towers, we see the saucer in the sky.

Pepsi Tower

Walking past one of the entrances to the Pepsi Center, the sky was reflected in one of the doors.

Photowalk Reflection

We continued on. In the parking lot, someone had deposited a bottled water contained in one of the fence posts. Having made an image with the big camera, Tim jokingly commented that he would me $500 for a good image! I just love a challenge. So out came the iPhone. Here is the “GlowMe” treatment for the image. You can find out more about GlowMe in my post “And Now Something Different“.

Glow Bottle

And here is the “ShockMyPic” treatment for the same image. More information about ShockMyPic in “More Shock Treatment, After The Storm“.

Shocked Bottle

So I showed these images of the bottle to Tim. He preferred the glowing image. “Now I have to pay you $500”, he proclaimed!

Walking near Kacey’s, one of the planters in the street contained a hibiscus plant with giant pink flowers. Some digital cameras have the capability of performing in-camera multiple exposures. This hibiscus was the perfect subject. I made 8 exposures making slight movements between each to create this image.

Hibiscus Multi Exposure

Soon after, I crossed the road and made my way the Auraria Campus of Metro State College of Denver; this was the location of the 2009 Photowalk that I also participated. The college has several unique architectural buildings located on the campus. The Tivoli Center is one such building that housed the a brewing company. “I Lov It” spelled backwards!

Tivoli Or I-Lov-It?

In the foreground of the Tivoli Center are the Athletic Fields. Here is the track and field.

Track And Field

Meandering through the campus, I found a dumpster loaded with lots of lovely trash from construction work in nearby buildings. This looks like some insulated tubing from ventilation ducting.

Dumpster Tubing

Nearby is this clock that I have dubbed “The 8 O’Clock” after the design on of the hands.

The "8" O'Clock

I made several other images that you may find on my Flickr photostream. As the sun set, I made an HDR image from several frames of the sun setting over the parking lot.

Metro State Car Park Sunset

After returning to the Pepsi, I stopped at the location where we started the Photowalk. Here I captured an image of the Pepsi Ball with one of the towers against a backdrop of the deepening blue night sky.

Dusk At Pepsi Center

After making these images, I headed into Brooklyn’s where we had arranged to meet after the walk. Here I met and chatted with several other photogs. We shared stories and images over dinner and drinks.