A Tree Falling: Photos

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Monday, October 26, 2026

Eastern Europe 2026, Istanbul, Asian Side

Our magical trip to Eastern Europe concluded with a day spent on the Asian side of Istanbul, my first trip to that continent.

Our guide and driver from Brit & Berat took us first to the Grand Camlica Mosque, the largest mosque in Turkey capable of holding up to 63,000 worshippers.

The mosque has six minarets which represent the six articles of Islamic faith. Four of the six minarets feature three balconies that stand 107.1 meters high in recognition of the Seljuk Victory at Manzikert in 1071.

The interior of the mosque was reportedly designed with a "more minimalist approach," but that's not the word I would use to describe it. "Breathtaking" seems more appropriate. The instructions on the sign in the lower right interject a little harsh reality, though.

I'm a sucker for a hypnotic ceiling pattern. This absolutely qualifies.

The lone visitor gives a little sense of just how cavernous the mosque's interior is.

Even in a building this large, some spaces for quiet contemplation still exist.

Next up: Beylerbeyi Palace, with its terraced gardens and beautiful location on the shores of the Bosphorous.

The Sea Pavilions flanking the palace were designed to impress visitors arriving by boat. I also rather liked the wrought iron seats.

We took a ferry back to the European side of the city, which gave me an opportunity for something resembling street photography when I noticed this gentleman in a contemplative moment.

The Maiden's Tower in the lower right has several legends associated with it, and this view of the Istanbul skyline was one of our final sights of this wonderful city.

A tremendous trip to a region I really hadn't thought much about. Goes to show that the world is full of wonder, and having an open mind about where you travel can lead to unexpected and unforgettable memories!

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Saturday, October 17, 2026

Fall Foliage Road Trip 2026

Danelle, Lucy, and I took a one-night foliage road trip earlier this week. State Forest State Park was our main destination, in one final attempt to see some moose in Colorado this year. Brainard Lake had been a surprising shutout over the summer, so I had to go to Wyoming to see some moose in Grand Teton National Park. Walden and the surrounding North Park region bills itself as "The Moose Capital of Colorado," so I had high hopes.

Cute, right?

Fall was in full effect north of Silverthorne, with these fly fishermen in Pebble Creek also enjoying the beautiful day.

After talking to a ranger in State Forest State Park, we decided to hike Ranger Lakes. The Canada Jay on duty greeted us hospitably, but was disappointed when we failed to provide them with any handouts.

Beautiful blue skies with puffy white clouds and not a trace of a breeze result in lovely reflections.

Double the lakes means double the pretty views!

STOP THE CAR! I THINK I SAW A MOO... Oh, nope. It's a little group of grazing Mule Deer. In fact, we saw no moose. It was suggested that they might be a little shy right now because it's hunting season. Whatever the case, 2026 may go down as the most fruitless moose search of my life. At least, I hope it does!

Poudre Canyon Road, State Forest State Park

On our drive back home we were pleasantly surprised to see our first snow of the season!

We drove back along the Cache la Poudre River, and the fall foliage grew more and more vibrant as we descended to the east.

I had never heard of the Gateway Natural Area, but made a point of stopping to check it out. There's a great view down to the river from the entrance...

...but I wanted to get right down to the riverbank for a picture. So I did. :)

Not an abundance of foliage, and zero moose. But it was still fall in Colorado, so it was still time well spent!

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Sunday, October 11, 2026

Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR, October 2026

I was reminded of two truisms about wildlife photography on Saturday. First, golden hour light is the best light. Otherwise uninteresting scenes become something magical right after sunrise and right before sunset. Second, animals are also more active during those times. I can gripe about why it's inconvenient to shoot at those times, but that won't make more animals appear or the light better outside those times.

The Mile High Wildlife Photo Club knows these things. That's why when we planned an outing to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge yesterday, we met at 6:40 a.m.

And I'm glad we did. :)

Nine of us gathered and split into different vehicles. I hopped into the back of one, which afforded me the opportunity to move from the left to the right side of the car depending on where the shots were. Like this little White-tailed Deer lady having some breakfast...

White-tailed Deer, Rocky Mountain Arsenal

...and this other doe doing the same.

The American Bison were out in force, although a good distance away and not in great light.

The deer, while far fewer in number, were closer and bathed in golden sunshine.

Black-tailed Prairie Dog, Rocky Mountain Arsenal

Prairie dogs are always plentiful. On my visits now I'm mainly looking for group shots or cute behavior. This trio gave me both.

I'm not exactly sure what the birds are on the back of this lone bison. I suspect Brown-headed Cowbirds.

Red-winged Blackbird, Rocky Mountain Arsenal

The light on this Red-winged Blackbird revealed some stunning colors and textures.

I love how there's just enough texture in the clouds to add a little extra visual interest to this otherwise stark scene.

We got an unexpected sight when a group of bison passed running full tilt. The dust they were kicking up works well with the backlight.

Ferruginous Hawk, Rocky Mountain Arsenal

This Ferruginous Hawk had attracted quite a bit of attention, as we had only seen one other raptor on two circuits around the Wildlife Drive. Three cars had stopped to take its picture, which not surprisingly it eventually tired of and flew off.

By 9 a.m. the sun was high, the light harsh, and we'd seen about everything we felt likely to see. Two hours at the right time of day sure presented more quality sights than we would have probably seen in significantly more time later in the day. So a great visit!

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Saturday, September 5, 2026

Eastern Europe 2026, Istanbul, European Side, Part II

Istanbul is an amazing city. We only scratched the surface in our few days there, and still experienced enough that Danelle called it the place on our entire trip that she would most want to return to.

The Grand Bazaar was a must. I expected something more out of Raiders of the Lost Ark, but got something a lot shinier. Like an American mall, but with tapestries and dried fruit.

Tea was on my must list, and Danelle got us several different kinds. I'm almost looking forward to my first cold so I can try the Eucalyptus Tea.

I'm not much of a fragrance guy, so as cool as these decanters look I didn't partake or purchase.

Lamps were on Danelle's wish list, and there were a number of beautiful options. One now graces her desk.

The Blue Mosque kept calling me back for another look. First at sunset from the roof our hotel...

...then before sunrise the next day, when the normally bustling grounds were all but deserted.

Blue Hour at the Blue Mosque? Yes, please.

The courtyard was beautifully lit up. Serious Arabian Nights vibes.

Back to the rooftop for one last shot with the polarizing filter on...

...and another with it off. Time for some breakfast, and then a trip to the Asian side of the city!

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Sunday, August 23, 2026

Eastern Europe 2026: Istanbul, European Side, Part I

Danelle and I ended our Eastern Europe trip with a short flight from Bucharest to Istanbul (not Constantinople). We booked three nights at a hotel in Old Town, so just a sampling as opposed to a deep dive. First up: the city's European side.

Our hotel was less than a five-minute walk from the city's ancient Roman Hippodrome which features the Obelisk of Theodosius, an ancient Egyptian obelisk originally carved in the 15th century BC and set up at the Temple of Karnak in Egypt. The pink granite pillar was transported to Alexandria in the 4th century, then brought to Constantinople in 390 AD by Theodosius I.

The Sphendone Remains are the only surviving remnants of the Hippodrome' original walls and arches.

Sultan Ahmed (Blue) Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey

Bordering the plaza is the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque. Although we arrived shortly after it opened to the public for the day, crowds already filled the site to marvel at its domes and columns.

The mosque's interior features over 20,000 handmade blue İznik ceramic tiles, featuring flowers like tulips and lilies that cover the upper levels and glow blue in the natural light.

The structure features a grand central dome supported by four cascading semi-domes and large decorated pillars., with more than 200 small stained-glass windows at the base of the domes to filter natural light into the prayer hall.

The mosque's marble courtyard is a popular location for photos, for obvious reasons.

The historic Hagia Sophia is a unique mix of a 6th-century Byzantine dome, grand arches, and massive Islamic calligraphic roundels. Originally constructed as a Christian basilica between 532 and 537 under the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, it was converted to a mosque following the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453.

Southwest Vestibule Mosaic, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey

The southwest vestibule exit gateway inside the Hagia Sophia features a 10th-century mosaic of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus flanked by Emperors Justinian I and Constantine the Great. I love that the Ottomans kept so many of the Christian elements; it's a rare conqueror who shows so much respect for the conquered.

The Basilica Cistern is a massive 6th-century underground water reservoir designed to hold up to 100,000 tons of water that was also built during the reign of Justinian I.

The space features 336 massive marble columns, and was very challenging to shoot in without a tripod. I'm not unhappy with the results, though.

Our tour guide took us to a rooftop restaurant to get this view of the Blue Mosque, and a seagull thoughtfully decided to add a little something special to the scene.

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