Autumn

Flower?

This must be the first cousin to the dandelion.  Any flower petals are long gone but the pretty little ball of fluff remains.

Nearly Done

It's way past prime time for wildflowers in the Colorado mountains but there are still some little beauties hanging on.  

Most Unusual

We've been over Kebler Pass a number of times but this year we found lots of tan-colored ferns at the base of some of the aspen trees.  Conditions for the ferns must have been different this year and it created some interesting contrast.  This spot was especially nice for photography because of the light streaming in and the contrast with the big aspen trunks.

Black and White

I could post more photos of fall color on Kebler Pass but decided to show some of the other subjects we encounter on our little jaunts (like the sheep posted yesterday).  Today its an aspen tree that no longer thrives.  It has many dead branches and was completely stripped of any foliage but I thought it would be interesting to try in black and white.  This is the lovely result.  Now if a red bird had just perched on one of the branches just before I shot . . . .

Surprise!

Although it isn't common, occasionally one encounters a herd of sheep on the highway in Colorado.  They are either coming from or going to high country where they pasture for several months.  On a recent trip over Kebler Pass we came around a curve and there they were! by the hundreds.  There's no choice but to stop or run over them so we waited until the herders could clear them away and took advantage of the photo op.  The furry creatures were polite and moved right along.  Of course the sheep dogs nipping at their heels and barking created a good incentive.

Harvesting

We put in a limited garden this year because we thought we were moving.  It's always nice to reap the benefits of the planting, weeding and watering.  This is the harvest from one of the red potato plants.  We're still have more potatoes, beets, carrots and onions to harvest.  Growing season is winding down.

Stuck

Maybe it was all that texture; maybe it was the bright yellow against the darker background; maybe it was the unusual occurrence--I just thought this was a photo worth taking and sharing.

Colorful Trees

By far the most dominant color of the fall foliage in the aspen trees is the brilliant yellow.  Occasionally there is a patch or orange or a patch of red.  But to see all of the colors together is just a treat.

It Pops

This is a red that pops.  The plant grows quite low to the ground and most of the summer the leaves are green.  But come the cooler weather of fall with the decrease in daylight and it mutates into this brilliant red.  They are pretty easy to spot in the forest.

A Bird On The Rock

This little bird was kind enough to pose on a rock at the edge of a lake on Grand Mesa.  I liked how the bird and big rock contrasted with the water and I thought the squiggly reflection lines added nice interest.  Enough is enough; he flew away soon after I snapped the photo.  Never mind that I was hoping to take another shot.  But I'm happy with this one.

Hmmmmm

Remember my saying that unusual things sometimes catch my photographer's eye?  This is another example.  It's looking down on some foxtail grass that has gone to seed--but not all of the seeds have been carried away.  Those fine little threads carry the tiny seeds and probably give them better mobility.  They are very good at sticking in socks and other clothing.  But I stayed back from the plant and am sticking with my story that it's an interesting pattern.

Contrast

I saw these bright aspen leaves with trunks as a background.  You may be thinking that I manipulated the photo to put the background in black and white but I didn't do anything to it.  Sometimes the photographer is just lucky.  

Jumbo Lake In Color

Jumbo Lake seems to maintain a pretty constant water level so it always looks good.  But add that fall color and some daisies at the side of the lake and it's a sight to behold.

Beauty In The Wood

I think the aspen trunks have a beauty all their own.  The starkness of the nearly white bark is striking and there are always black blemishes where branches have died off.  It's not usual to see so many skinny ones in an area but it did make an interesting photo.

Reflection on Grand Mesa

Grand Mesa is known for its many lakes and, of course, it's especially beautiful when the colored leaves and lake water come together for a photo with a reflection.  Some of the lakes have sadly emptied of water quite a lot but this reservoir was still full.  The sun cooperated and there was just a bit of wind so it all came together nicely.  But you should see it in person.  There's no good substitute for that.

Nature's Color

The color of the aspen leaves is just beginning to change on nearby Grand Mesa but there are already some beautiful spots of color.  This photo shows the variations of color that can result although, by far, the most predominant fall color of the aspen leaves is a bright golden yellow.  In a couple of weeks whole panoramas of the color will be visible but I was quite content with small, closeup areas for now.

Raindrops

Sometimes the strangest things catch my eye.  I try to walk every morning and a few days ago after some heavy rain I noticed water drops hanging out on a fence.  I thought it made an interesting texture, I liked the color and it's not every day that one can photograph rain.  It makes my day when I can take a photo of something unusual on my walk.  And the chance to listen to music on my iPhone is pretty great, too.

Multiple Vision

Yes, more sunflowers.  This time I cropped close and then applied three different filters to change the lighting.  Then it was a matter of adding various brushes for the background elements.

Summer is definitely waning and the days are growing cooler.  We hear that the trees in the mountains are just beginning to change color.  We're still getting a lot of moisture and wondering what winter will bring.

Gotta love four definite seasons.

More Photography Fun

I took this photo at the Denver Botanical Gardens and used a "stained glass" technique to change it up a bit.  It's a different and I thought it fit this particular photo quite well.  But it's not something I'd like with every photo.  It was nice that I had a fun photo to start with.