Some Summertime Scenes

The last few posts were about very specific themes … trees, water, mountains and then wildflowers. These subjects are common in my portfolio. In this set I’ve combined subjects, while considering how the elements come together to provide a sense of place. I want my photographs to portray a feeling of being there. Ideally it’s great when viewers see what I thought was special enough to capture, process and show. After looking at a series of my landscapes, a friend recently wrote, ‘each and every one is like a journey’. That comment made me feel I had met my goal … at least with that friend and set of images!

A little pond offers a pretty reflection as a mountain is illuminated with morning light.
‘Little Pond Reflection’ © Denise Bush
Red Mountain is lit up under a dramatic sky as seen through beautiful spruce trees in summer.
‘A View Through Spruce’ © Denise Bush
Clouds roll in to create a beautifully reflected scene in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado.
‘Cloudy Reflection’ © Denise Bush
King's Crown and other wildflowers grow on a sunny slope in the mountains of Colorado's San Juans.
‘King’s Crown On A Hill’ © Denise Bush
Fireweed grows in August along the shore of this mountain lake in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado.
‘Fireweed Along The Shore’ © Denise Bush
Water from the mountain peaks falls down the mountain in a series of cascades and falls, like this one.
‘Lower Basin Falls’ © Denise Bush
Flowers, trees, mountains and puffy clouds ... who could ask for more?
‘Summer Mountain Scene’ © Denise Bush
Beautiful clouds light up at sunrise in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado.
‘Summer Sunrise’ © Denise Bush
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Where The Wildflowers Grow

Wildflower landscapes are by far the most challenging assignment I give myself each summer! High up in the mountain basins, slopes and gulches, is where you go to find columbine, paintbrush, king’s and queen’s crown and more. Getting to them, finding a good patch with minimal distractions, and that then align with an interesting background, is most of the challenge! Combining the wildflowers and landscapes together helps viewers experience a better sense of place. The daisies in this set are more accessible since they grow a little lower.

Ideally my goal is to get wildflowers prominent in the foreground, and a mountain feature in the background. In order to get everything sharp close and far, I always use a tripod. My Canon 16-35mm is my usual lens of choice for wildflower landscapes. I focus-stack, taking exposures at select focal points (close to far) in the scene. I bring the frames into Photoshop using ‘load files into stack’ and check attempt to align. The files with different focal points come in as layers and I use masks to blend them according to sharpness. Using a tilt-shift lens is another way to get this desired affect. I need to consider the pros and cons of an investment in one as they are quite expensive.

First light light up a peak across a lake while daisies line the shore.
‘Daisy Delight!’ © Denise Bush
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Daisies grow wild near the Red Mountains in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado.
‘Daisies Below Red Mountains’ © Denise Bush
Sneezeweed makes a bright appearance in summer alpine meadows in Colorado.
‘Sunny Sneezeweed Meadow’ © Denise Bush
Queen's Crown and other wildflowers soak up a morning rain in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado.
‘After A Rain’ © Denise Bush
Boulders and wildflowers are the subject of this scene just below a high mountain pass.
‘Three Boulders & Wildflowers’ © Denise Bush
Pink paintbrush takes a staring role in this summer, apline scene.
‘Paintbrush Below Cloudy Ridge’ © Denise Bush
Pink paintbrush create a beautiful scene in the high elevations of Colorado.
‘Pink Paintbrush Paradise’ © Denise Bush
Pink and white paintbrush make ahappy home on the slope, in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado.
‘Paintbrush On A Slope’ © Denise Bush
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King's Crown is upfront in this summer wildflower scene, shot in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado.
‘King’s Crown & A View’ © Denise Bush

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