Platte River, March 2026: Sunrise and Sunset

Groups of Sandhill Cranes in flight can best be seen around sunrise and sunset each day, as the birds head from their overnight roosting sites in the river to their feeding sites in the nearby fields and vice versa.  And if you don't get views of the cranes, you still get a sunrise or sunset out of the deal. :)

My first night I tried the CPNRD Alda Viewing Deck.  Cranes and humans were gathering well before the sunset, and the cranes were unfortunately choosing to roost quite a ways upriver.  So I shifted my attention from the water to the skies, looking for silhouettes of birds in flight against the colorful sky.

I love how sometimes shooting at a 90-degree angle to the setting sun can give you beautiful gradients of brightness and color.

I was so focused on the river that I almost missed the show just slightly to the north, where the sky was really ablaze and a small pond offered a brilliant reflection.

The next morning I tried the CPNRD Plautz Viewing Deck.  I was glad for some advice I received to get there 90-75 minutes before sunrise, because there was still one parking spot left when I arrived.

After a chilly wait while the sounds of the cranes grew louder, the light revealed that they were also roosting a good distance away from the deck.  So back to silhouettes against the sky it was.

Fortunately, silhouettes are cool.

Eventually I was able to capture some of the late departers still in the water.

I like the leading line provided by the river channel toward the rising sun.

That evening I tried the Fort Kearny Hike/Bike Trail Bridge.  The cranes decided to roost elsewhere, but a couple of crossing deer were a nice consolation.

Like I mentioned, even when the cranes don't cooperate you still get the sun on the horizon. Some days that's all I go out to shoot for anyway.

Back to the bridge for my final morning.  Birds had indeed roosted nearby overnight, but only close enough to hear rather than see especially well.  The sky and landscape again came to my photographic rescue.

If I want close-up shots of cranes in their roosting spots, I'm going to need to spring for a "tour."  That's just a euphemism for paying for access to a blind.  Something to consider if I decide to return in the future!

Related Links:

• Platte River, March 2026: Cranes in Flight
• Platte River, March 2026: Cranes in Corn

Bora Bora

After years of planning, we got to take a very special vacation earlier this month -- nearly two weeks in French Polynesia! 

We started with a few nights in an overwater bungalow at the St. Regis Bora Bora Resort.  Two of Danelle's favorite YouTubers -- Kara and Nate -- made it look and sound like an amazing experience.  And they weren't wrong.

Sunsets from our own Colorado backyard are pretty incredible.  These give them a run for their money.

The sunrises are also pretty stunning.  I went to this spot the morning before -- I mean, it's an overwater hammock -- but it was completely overcast.  Undeterred, I returned the next morning and was rewarded with these gorgeous colors in the predawn sky.

I arrived early enough to take my time recomposing...

...and recomposing.

The the moment was upon me, and I got to experience the thrill that never grows old of watching the sun slowly break the horizon.

One final shot, and I knew I'd already gotten to see something special in this magical place.

Related Links:

• Raʻiātea
• Mo'orea
• Tahiti

Crested Butte Wildflowers 2024

Wildflower season in Crested Butte is always amazing.  This year I made reservations to camp near Gunnison for a couple of nights and capture what I could.

The great views started on my drive into town, with a variety of wildflowers blooming in the foreground and Mount Crested Butte looking fine in the background.

After dinner in town I headed toward Snodgrass Mountain hoping for a nice sunset shot.  I found what I was looking for.

Then I had nice warm light on Mount Crested Butte as I was heading out, so why not?

I hoped for some color in the clouds that never materialized.  Not that the view was bad.

The next morning it was up before sunrise to hike the Woods Walk.  I loved the fog in the valley.

Speaking of fog.  I like the aspens flanking the trail here, too.

Once the sun was up I had great light on wildflowers like these Owlsclaws...

... this Silvery Lupine...

... and this Fireweed.

This American Robin was EXTREMELY proud of whatever he had in his beak.  I thought it was a worm, but looking at the image it seems more like nest material.

I took this shot almost entirely so I could caption it "Attempted Murder."  Thank you very much. :)

More Owlsclaws, this time spotlighted nicely.

I turned around here and headed back, feeling like I'd seen most everything I needed to see.

Gothic Mountain was reflecting nicely in Peanut Lake, and I thought this setting would be a good place to return to for sunset.  So I went into town and bummed around for about 10 hours, enjoying a very lazy summer day.

Again, I didn't get the color I was hoping for at sunset.  But Mount Crested Butte still looked pretty.

One final shot, then into town for some ice cream before driving back to my campsite.  This was my last photo outing for the summer, and a great way to end the season!

Related Links:

• Trail 403
• Snodgrass Mountain, July 2015: Part I
• Snodgrass Mountain, July 2015: Part II
• Scarp Ridge, Part II
• Brush Creek Trail, July 2015
• Brush Creek Trail, July 2014: Part II
• Brush Creek Trail, July 2014: Part I

Trail Ridge Road Sunset

I had plans to shoot sunset on my overnight camping trip to Rocky Mountain National Park.  But storm clouds rolled in, and I wasn't sure there would even be a sunset to sea.  I started driving from Glacier Basin to Trail Ridge Road late afternoon with my fingers crossed. 

Things looked promising as I headed past one of my favorite overlooks, with the sun bursting through the clouds and casting deep shadows across the landscape.

The Gore Range Overlook was where I set up shop, first using my telephoto to capture lenticular clouds over Longs Peak.

The shadows up here were even longer as sunset approached.

The sun was slowly headed towards a great notch between two peaks, putting on an early show as it emerged briefly from behind a low cloud.

"God rays" are always neat to see.

The view to the south was also stunning, with the developing contrast to the east and west.

I can't decide if I like the fence in the foreground or not.

The sun eventually hit that notch it was headed for, giving a bit of an Eye of Sauron vibe before slipping below the horizon and out of sight.

Needless to say, I'm glad I took the chance to see what the sunset had to offer!

Arches National Park 2024: Evening

After Lower Calf Creek Falls in the morning and Goblin Valley in the afternoon, I reached Moab in time to make a foray into Arches National Park in the evening. 

The cloudy skies overhead provided a dramatic backdrop to features like The Organ...

...and Balanced Rock.

The park was surprisingly uncrowded, so I was able to take a leisurely stroll around the formation and shoot it in different light.

I can't find a name for this formation right next to Balanced Rock, but it certainly seems to deserve one.

I decided to set up shop in the Windows Section and wait for sunset.  But I did wait patiently for a clear shot of Turret Arch first.

I got nice golden hour light on the North and South Windows.

There were a decent number of other people here, but not many walked over to take in the South Window up close.

Hanging out in the North Window, I was fortunate to catch a rainbow in the distance.

Unfortunately, by the time sunset came clouds had rolled back in.  So the view to the west wasn't what I'd hoped.  But even without the planned "payoff," the visit was worth it.  There's a reason I've been to Arches three times!

Related Links:

• Arches National Park 2013, Part I
• Arches National Park 2013, Part II
• Arches National Park 2013, Part III
• Arches National Park 2011, Part I
• Arches National Park 2011, Part II
• Arches National Park 2011, Part III