Alpine Morning, Desert Afternoon

Last week I woke up early to drive about 35 minutes to a spot I have been wanting to get to for first light. The most photographed mountain in the area, Mount Sneffels is our local ‘Fourteener’ at 14,157 feet. It’s peak can be seen from many vantage points and seasonal light changes make spring one of the best times to capture both early morning and late day light on its craggy and impressive peak. A big puddle added a reflection and that ‘something extra’ to the scene. A tree set off by itself got my attention as it provided a nice foreground element for what was happening in the distance. With fair weather and feeling pretty good about the morning I decided to go out again in the afternoon. I drove about 45 minutes to Montrose and an area the locals refer to as the ‘Adobes’ or ‘Dobies’ (short for Adobe Hills, Adobe Badlands or Dobie Badlands). Within the Gunnison Gorge Recreation Area, this is a popular spot for ATV and dirt bike riders with plentiful roads and trails. Attracted to the hills and formations I enjoyed the contrast between this area and my morning location. The day emphasized the diversity of terrain my home has to offer, for which I am most grateful. I am looking forward to revisiting both of these close-by locations in the near future.

'Sneffels Reflected' © Denise Bush
‘Sneffels Reflected’ © Denise Bush
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'Morning Moon' © Denise Bush
‘Morning Moon’ © Denise Bush
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'Gunnison Gorge Afternoon' © Denise Bush
‘Gunnison Gorge Afternoon’ © Denise Bush
'Near and Far' © Denise Bush
‘Near and Far’ © Denise Bush

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denisebushphoto

My passion for photography has rewarded me with the opportunity to examine the world carefully. My approach is intuitive and I choose to impose no constraints – leaving myself open only to possibilities. As a professional designer I am drawn to images that offer a strong composition, pattern and rhythm. Creating images with a unique perspective while sometimes pushing the limits of traditional composition 'rules' excites me. Landscapes, nature subjects and things from the past are common themes in my work.

42 thoughts on “Alpine Morning, Desert Afternoon”

      1. I live in North Las Vegas, which is about 25 minutes from all the hotels and casinos on the strip. But really, out here it’s just like any other suburban area in any city. Except, in the summer it can get as high as 120. In the shade!

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  4. D, that first image is fantastic (first word that popped into my head when I saw it.) Then I came to the cloud caught on the mountain top and being dragged out in Morning Moon. Looks as though it’s trying to form a landing platform for the descending moon. Wonderful.

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    1. Thank you for your ‘fantastic’ and ‘wonderful’ comment. I was happy with the more intimate ‘Morning Moon’ shot… it’s the kind of thing I need to do more of.

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  6. I always like to identify my favorite but this time I have failed. They are all breathtaking. With each image, I feel like I am actually standing where you were standing. I am hungry for more!

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    1. Thanks Eliza but you should not be envious with your impressive portfolio and New England landscapes. I am looking forward to exploring the ‘Adobes’ some more!

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  11. Great shots as usual Denise. My favorites are the Morning shots. Love the contrasting colors and sharpness

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    1. Hey Michael… I guess the grass always looks greener on the other side! If it makes you feel any better, there are photo obstacles here just like anywhere else! Places can be tough to get to, there are a lot of fences and now ranchers are putting white PVC irrigation pipes everywhere! Yuck!

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  15. Magnificent, Denise. The first Sneffels reflection is so crisp and I love the foreground in your last image. I want to call them alluvial fans but that’s most likely not the name… 🙂 Beautiful work!

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    1. Thanks Jane! An endorsement from an awesome photog and blogger such as yourself is much appreciated! (Perhaps you are thinking of ‘arroyo’ a steep-sided gully cut by running water in an arid or semiarid region.)

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