Photography – Denise Bush's Photo Blog

I Made The Switch

I’ve been dreading the day I would have to change my comfortable, old theme … ever since the first little kinks appeared. WordPress Support has been very helpful, while encouraging me to update. I watched a video but that was intimidating as I was immediately confused by the terms and customization options! (Classic, Legacy, Customizable, Block, CSS and others?) I had been shopping themes and decided to go for it. This theme is simple and not too different from my beloved! I didn’t want to go too large since early images were sized quite small. With dragging and right click copying possible here on WordPress, my reasoning was that I didn’t want to give away large images. This blog is an addition to my main website and online store where images can be viewed larger and copying isn’t so easy. Blogging remains a valuable, chronological archive for me. I think I still prefer the look of my old theme … maybe it will take some getting used to. Just so there is a piece of the past here, the following are the beginnings of posts from earlier years (2009-2019)!

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Road Trip Relics

On a recent overnight road trip, Brent and I discovered some fascinating relics. I enjoyed exploring to find and shoot them! Each one has its own imagined story, since there is little to no information about why the inhabitants vanished. I hope you enjoy seeing my latest captures below. These relics may not be around much longer!

And speaking of relics, it’s come to my attention that the theme used for this blog is no longer supported and needs updating to a ‘responsive’ theme (template). I will be studying the best way to do this and am hoping there won’t be too many kinks. I am concerned images uploaded before August 2021 may not look acceptable as they were sized very small. I’ve been sharing my images and thoughts about photography since 2009 and this theme has served me well. Blogging is a wonderful way to archive work and including this entry I’ve posted 452 times. Most often posts display several photos following a topic of my choosing, and I’ve posted 3,121 images to date. Thanks very much for following along … and please stay tuned!

UPDATE: I pulled the switch and this is my new theme. I chose something similar and think it worked out well, and without any apparent glitches … yay!

An old brick house glows in the golden hour sun below beautiful clouds. — ‘The Brick House’ © Denise Bush

Barns and sheds part to reveal a mound in the distance. — ‘A Distant Mound’ © Denise Bush

The sky blue color and unusual siding call attention to this little relic. — ‘Diamond Sided’ © Denise Bush

An old Dodge sits on top of a foundation providing a covered storage space. — ‘Storage Solutions’ © Denise Bush

A little house sits abandoned long ago on the plains of the west. — ‘Little House On The Plains’ © Denise Bush

A shelter built from adobe bricks and mud holds onto history with a weathered patina. — ‘Adobe Shelter’ © Denise Bush

A little house, quaint adn new at one time, weathers with age. — ‘Gone’ © Denise Bush

Old weathered buildings are in a perfect setting below Colorado's beautiful mountains. — ‘Relics Below’ © Denise Bush

An old barn stands out with its red weathered siding. — ‘Red Barn & Silo’ © Denise Bush

A windmill and some old tractor wheels make an intriguing rural scene under ominous looking storm clouds. — ‘Windmill & Wheels’ © Denise Bush

Everything Is Black & White

I love winter imagery in black & white. Early in the season my dream was to create a bigger collection of monochrome photos, but after looking back have only a modest offering. There were several trials that when viewed objectively, looked best in color. Black & white can be tricky and only a small percentage of images work to my satisfaction. If I don’t see something special in an image, whatever it might be, I prefer to keep them to myself, or better yet, toss them! The images below range from the first dramatic scenes, to the more intimate, such as the slope-side tree surrounded by trails from descending snowballs. And last are some even more intimate nature studies, shot earlier in the season when there was only a dusting of snow. I hope you enjoy seeing everything here in black & white!

A mountain spire reaches to the heavens dressed in a new coat of snow. — ‘Winter Steeple’ © Denise Bush

Clouds clear after a snow storm, leaving the mountains a brilliant white. — ‘Clearing Over Coated Peaks’ © Denise Bush

Last light appears on a mountain peak above spruce, aspen and snow. — ‘Winter’s Last Light’ © Denise Bush

A tree on a steep slope is surrounded by trails from descending snowballs. — ‘Slope-side Slide’ © Denise Bush

A light snow coats some pine cones and sticks for an intimate nature study in black and white. — ‘Pine Cones & Sticks One’ © Denise Bush

WordPress Reader/Retina Display Viewers: Please click on ‘Visit’, ‘Visit Site’, ‘View Full Site’ or the title of the post for the sharpest viewing experience. Images are optimized in the WordPress Reader, and will not look sharp using a Retina Display screen. denisebushphoto.wordpress.com

Spring In Motion

I’ve been a bit slow adding to this blog lately but I can explain! My usual pattern is; shooting mode, processing mode and then blogging. With spring finally here I have been getting out and shooting more often. Like any other season it has its rewards and being outside in the warm sun feels so good! Adding to several different themes at the same time I hardly know where to start. So, I’ll begin with one of my favorite signs of spring … water in motion! Rivers, cascades and waterfalls I’ve had the pleasure to spend time with, are the theme for this post. Relax, breathe deeply, and imagine the sound of the rushing spring melt as it travels down from the mountains!

The San Miguel River merrily rushes along the spring green banks near Telluride. — ‘Merrily Rushing Along’ © Denise Bush

A spring stream flows from the mountains near Silverton, Colorado. Kendall Mountain is featured in the distance. — ‘Flowing To The Animas’ © Denise Bush

The greens are saturated and vibrant on a rainy spring day. — ‘Rainy Day River’ © Denise Bush

A fast moving stream rushes water from the mountains near Silverton, Colorado to meet up with a river below. — ‘Flowing Through A Forest’ © Denise Bush

Spring melt travels down the mountainside with tremendous volume. — ‘From The Top’ © Denise Bush

A mountain waterfall flows in the spring, fed from snow melt above. — ‘Springtime Plunge’ © Denise Bush

A brave little evergreen hangs on to the rugged cliff for dear life! — ‘Waterfall Companion’ © Denise Bush

Rushing along in spring, a mountain river is a wonderful sound and sight of nature! — ‘Raging River & Rocks’ © Denise Bush

A river rushes along due to the volume of water melting in the spring mountains. — ‘In A Rush’ © Denise Bush

Wonderful Weathered Woodgrain

On a recent visit to nearby Silverton I decided to explore the train yard and back alleys with my camera. Among the mountain recreation opportunities like hiking, jeeping and camping, Silverton is known for its rich railroad and mining history. The quaint town is a midway point along the Million Dollar Highway between Ouray to the north, and Durango to the south. Many tourists come for a day trip back in time, to ride the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Train through the scenic San Juan Mountains. On this visit I started in the train yard, walking along the tracks to photograph some of the stationary relics laid here to rest. Afterwards I explored the back alleys where shacks leftover from mining days still stand and are now used for storage. For this set I limited my selections to one of my ongoing themes … windows and doors. Combined with the wonderful textures of rusting metal and weathered wood I found some subjects I thought were interesting, and hope you think so too!

An old rail car with a window creates an image full of texture and nostalgia. — ‘Number 04965’ © Denise Bush
*click here to view larger or order a print*

A number of bent over nails assure a sturdy connection. — ‘Bent Nails’ © Denise Bush

A rusty hinge accents weathered wood in this close-up of an abandoned building. — ‘Hinged’ © Denise Bush

The side of an old rail car creates an image rich in texture and nostalgia. — ‘Railroad Relic’ © Denise Bush

A weathered and contrasting in white shutter provides an image rich in geometry, texture and history. — ‘Shuttered Portal’ © Denise Bush

To see more images in my growing ‘Windows & Doors’ collection, CLICK HERE!

Just Peachy

In need of a spring fix I recently headed north to Palisade Colorado, where they grow the biggest, juiciest and most delicious peaches in the world! Accompanied by my husband Brent, it was just a day trip, 2 hours there, 1 hour of looking and shooting and 2 hours back … give or take. I could have spent more time there but you know how it is when you are with a non-photographer … you have to compromise! We found the area to be quite charming with houses nestled among the orchards, and I got the dose of spring I needed.

Here’s a little history: The first settler began raising fruit and vegetables here in 1882. Protection from the Palisade Cliffs, and morning winds from DeBeque Canyon, meant the orchards were better able to survive spring frosts. Diverting water from the Colorado River with a series of canals and dams transformed the dry desert into a bountiful land of orchards and vineyards.

Mount Garfield makes a striking background for a peach orchard in bloom in Palisade. — ‘Palisade Peach Blossoms’ © Denise Bush

Rows of peach trees look beautiful with their bright spring blossoms. — ‘Peach Blossom Row’ © Denise Bush

Peach blossoms against the sky create a striking design. — ‘Blossoms & Blue Sky’ © Denise Bush

A peach orchard glows bright pink in spring. — ‘Blossoms Below The Mesa’ © Denise Bush

Wintry Mix

This post is an assortment … an array, medley, potpourri, etcetera, of recent images I decided to process! It includes some that didn’t fit into previous post themes, and others that I found reviewing folders from the past 2 months. Spring arrived on the calendar but it doesn’t feel like it here in Colorado. March is typically our snowiest month and it’s no surprise to us if we get some in April. We’ve learned to hold off putting our shovels away until late May! It’s all good … we just need to be a little more patient and appreciate what the snow brings to our forests and rivers. It’s a gift that will slowly melt off the peaks now through summer. Although ready for a change, once gone I will undoubtedly miss the unique photo opportunities the snow creates.

A fresh coating of snow coats a mountain in Ouray County, Colorado. — ‘Frozen Landscape’ © Denise Bush

Three gambel oaks are a frequent subject for this photographer ... in all kinds of seasons and at sunset and sunrise. — ‘Tree Trio’ © Denise Bush

An old fashioned barn graces the mountainside in a nostalgic winter scene. — ‘Picturesque Barn In Winter’ © Denise Bush
*click here to view larger or order a print*

In the mountains of Colorado one of the first signs of spring is the willows waking up with vibrant yellow, orange and red. — ‘Vibrant Willows’ © Denise Bush

A stand of aspen trees stand out in in a winter scene of white — ‘Aspen Row In Winter’ © Denise Bush

A line of bare aspen trees with only sky behind them creates a beautiful winter statement. — ‘Wintry Row’ © Denise Bush

The day comes to a close with its last light upon the north end of Cimarron Ridge, near Ridgway Colorado. — ‘Days End Over Ridge’ © Denise Bush

A barn in the mountains makes an idyllic winter scene. — ‘Serene Scene’ © Denise Bush

The Turrets are a ridge of smaller pinnacles and spires in the Cimarron Range, a subset of the San Juan Mountains and Rocky Mountains. — ‘Turrets To The East’ © Denise Bush

A line of trees on a distant hillside stand in mornings warm light while the mountains remain in cloudy shadow. — ‘Morning Line-up’ © Denise Bush

A ranch gate acts as a frame for the distant mountain in this winter scene. — ‘Gated Sunset’ © Denise Bush

More Winter Relics

There’s no hope and no changing me now … I can’t stop … finding new stories in old relics that is! Always loving the country and tales of a simpler time in American History I recall being attracted to like treasures at an early age. When traveling I’m always looking, and scanning the views left and right. Discovering new relics, or having a successful photo shoot with one is my kind of fun! Usually more selective, I was surprised by how many I had for this set. Since my blog also serves as a way to document current work I decided to include all the candidates this time. Some of the images were shot in cloudy conditions and others when it was sunny or during the golden hour. In this larger set we can again see how much the temperature of the light affects the scene. In cloudy weather the mood is cold, serious and sometimes sullen. And it’s quite the opposite when sunny. That isn’t to say I think one is better than another … they just convey different moods. With snow scenes even more of a difference can be noticed in the hue of the snow reflecting the color of the sky, time of day and quality of the light. I hope you’ll have fun looking and using your imagination. I wonder, if these relics could talk about what they have seen, what would they say?

An old log farm building is a reminder of the past as it survives another snowstorm. — ‘Where The Willows Grow’ © Denise Bush

Some aspen trees grow right up alongside and old cabin ... perhaps helping to hold it up! — ‘Close Companions’ © Denise Bush

An old rusty car from the past isn't going anywhere soon, content to sit in the sun and snow. — ‘Rusting In The Snow’ © Denise Bush

Chicken wire and a piece of metal are past attempts on discouraging rodents like marmots, opossums and squirels from entering this abandoned building. — ‘Critters Keep Out!’ © Denise Bush

An old log barn displays a lot of character in warm, late day light! — ‘Log Leaner’ © Denise Bush

Winter conjurs up the images of Courier & Ives in the snowy countryside. — ‘Winter Ranch Nostalgia’ © Denise Bush
*click here to view larger or order a print*

A small house and barn remind of how it was on the ranch in the old days! — ‘Ranch House & Barn’ © Denise Bush

A barn that was featured in the original True Grit movie, starring John Wayne still stands, surrounded by a new fence and snow. — ‘Old Barn With New Fence’ © Denise Bush

An old shed leaning to the right has seen better days. We can only guess what is inside ... violaters will be prosecuted! — ‘Posted Private Property’ © Denise Bush

An old cabin located on a Colorado ranch soaks up some warm winter sun. — ‘Cowboy Cabin’ © Denise Bush

What this shed was used for in the past is unknown. Now it has become a place to pile used tires. — ‘The Tire Shed’ © Denise Bush

Photos look sharpest when viewed within my actual site which features a black top bar and sidebar menu. For the best experience, click on ‘visit’ or ‘visit site’ in the blue reader and emails, or ‘view full site’ below the comments. Thanks!

Tree Groupings In B&W

Back in January my post ‘Alone’ featured the solitary trees I am always on the lookout for. I mentioned that I also keep an eye out for groups of trees … groups that make an artistic impression. My attraction might include pattern, repetition, arrangement and/or placement. When a couple of my selections for this set looked good in black & white, I decided to convert them all. I especially like monochrome winter landscapes, so now is the time! I saw something special in each of these scenes and hope you enjoy viewing them. And, as an avid tree lover I am always adding to my ‘Tremendous Trees’ store gallery. Your favorites sometimes help me decide what to add to that larger collection.

Just over the hill, a line of spruce trees look lovely in the fresh snow. — ‘Just Over The Hill’ © Denise Bush
*click here to view larger or order a print*

The bare branches of winter allows a beautiful group of healthy, young aspens a chance to show off their design and structure. — ‘Delicate Aspens In Winter’ © Denise Bush

A mature aspen and offspring shoots sparkle with a frosty coating. — ‘Aspen Family In The Snow’ © Denise Bush

A group of very tall aspen trees creates an interesting visual on a cloudy winter afternoon. — ‘Slender Aspens’ © Denise Bush
*notecards, unframed, framed, canvas, acrylic & metal prints available*

Some young aspens collect snow on their branches to create a wintry pattern in B&W. — ‘Snowy Branches’ © Denise Bush

The fresh fallen snow clings to branches and needles of a beautiful stand of spruce trees. — ‘Frosted Forest’ © Denise Bush

Everyone loves the aspens for their beautiful bark among other qualities. — ‘Aspen Trunks In B&W’ © Denise Bush

If you like winter images in b&w you might like to see my blog post, ‘WINTER SCENES IN B&W’, added at the beginning of the year. See more ‘TREMENDOUS TREES’ here!

Winter Relics

While making my rounds close to home, I couldn’t resist stopping to capture some familiar relics, now resting in the snow. In my view there is always a new image to be made when the subject has character and can tell a story. I also enjoyed stopping to photograph a couple of other subjects that have caught my eye, more than once while wandering. Looking at these together I am reminded how much the cloudy-cool or sunny-warm color of the light affects a snowy scene. The lighting influences the mood … cheerful and bright, or calm and peaceful. Adding to the stories, these the relics seem all the more vulnerable in the snow, making me wonder … how many winters they have sat in the harsh elements and yet survived.

A little log cabin completes the picture to make a quaint winter scene. — ‘Log Cabin Between Trees’ © Denise Bush

A weathered shack, surrounded by farm equipment makes a fun subject in the snow. — ‘Shack & Relics In Winter’ © Denise Bush

An old log cabin, weathered by the elements reminds us of a day gone by. — ‘Cabin Remains’ © Denise Bush

An old style barn lights up in the late day sun on a cold winter day. — ‘Barn On Winter Slope’ © Denise Bush
*click here to view larger or order a print*

Old cabin remains hang on by a thread in the winter elements. — ‘Weathered Remains’ © Denise Bush

I started out with more images in this post but even while I liked all of the images, something was bothering me. I ended up deciding to delete a couple of them, and in doing so I realized the group then made a stronger set. For me, sometimes less is more!