Tag Archives: nature

The Living Dead

By rick.louie | Published June 4, 2012

Here in the Rockies trees are blown over by the elements, sometimes by lighting or by high wind and many times with age trees will snap. This particular tree stump still had life. The evergreen like moss has taken over on a tree that no longer has life. It gives it life and color and continues to multiply along the ridges and crevices of the tree that was once there.

This particular tree stump intrigued me. Looking deep into the texture it almost appears as if it’s a scene from one of the Lord of the Ring movies. This is just one of the scenes from my hike last week into Rocky Mountain National Park.

Tree Stump that has moss growing on it in Rocky Mountain National Park

Click to Enlarge - The Living Dead

Posted in Canon 5D Mk II, Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L USM, Color Efex Pro 4, foliage, macro, Rocky Mountain National Park | Also tagged dead, macro, moss, National Park, Rocky Mountain, tree 6 Comments

The Path

By rick.louie | Published May 28, 2012

I hope everyone enjoyed the Memorial Day Holiday weekend (at least those here in the United States). My wife, one of my daughters and I ventured up to Rocky Mountain National Park this weekend and did a moderate hike up to Bierstadt Lake. It was a nice way to get away from town and start the summer off enjoying one the four national parks here in Colorado.

There is a little stream along the trail right before Bierstadt Lake with a wooden bridge path leading over the stream. It was a welcome sign along the journey letting us know we were close to our destination. This hike was a nice way to kick off the summer hiking season.

The Path - A walking path on the trail to and from Bierstadt Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Click to Enlarge - The Path

Posted in Canon 5D Mk II, Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L USM, Color Efex Pro 4, Colorado, HDR, Nik Software, Rocky Mountain National Park, trail | Also tagged Bierstadt Lake, forest, HDR, HDR Efex Pro, logs, National, Nik Software, Park, path, pine, Rocky Mountain, trail, trailhead, trees, wood 11 Comments

Lone Bison

By rick.louie | Published May 8, 2012

I’m changing it up a bit and bringing you some wildlife today. This image is so simplistic, but an image that could be interpreted to say so many things depending on the perspective. I really like the compression brought to this image by the long lens and the layers it created.

My 70-200mm lens (and in this image used with a 2x Extender) has become one of my favorite lenses. It so versatile from capturing sports and action as well as being used for portraits. I love the fall off of the lens and the why it compresses images to isolate the subject. Here it is the Lone Bison from one of my favorite places, an open field near Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park.

Lone Bison in an open field in Grand Teton National Park

Click to Enlarge or Purchase - Lone Bison

Posted in bison, bull, Canon 5D Mk II, Canon EF 2X Extender II, Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM, Grand Teton National Park, nature, wildlife | Also tagged bison, bull, field, Grand Teton National Park, prairie, simplistic, wildlife 11 Comments

Full Moon Rising

By rick.louie | Published April 9, 2012

This past weekend Justin Balog and I met up with John De Bord up at Lookout Mountain to capture the full moon rising up off the horizon here in Denver. Lookout Mountain is a Denver Mountain Park about 20 minutes west of Denver overlooking Golden, Colorado. It was a favorite lookout point for the Ute Indians and is the burial site for “Buffalo Bill” Cody.

Today, Lookout Mountain is a great place to get a view of the Front Range and a great location for cyclists to challenge their riding skills. This past year Lookout Mountain was part of the US Pro Cycling Championships. Funny thing that night I think we were the only ones there to view the full moon and the city. I also think the others weren’t having issues staying warm, if you know what I mean.

Full Moon over Golden viewed from Lookout Moutain, Colorado

Click to Enlarge or Purchase - Full Moon Rising

Posted in Canon 5D Mk II, Canon EF 2X Extender II, Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM, full moon, long exposure, moon | Also tagged city light, cityscape, Colorado, Denver, full, golden, long exposure, Lookout, moon, mountain, nature photography, night photography, Rising 17 Comments

Moraine Lake Waterfall

By rick.louie | Published January 24, 2012

It’s Wednesday and it just feels like we need something to relax and carry us through the rest of the week so today I’m bringing you a Waterfall Wednesday! There is something relaxing about a small hillside waterfall. This waterfall area was on the way to Moraine Lake in Banff, Alberta, Canada. If you take the Moraine Lake Road there is a large waterfall at the first hairpin turn that is fairly visible from the road, but further up you have to look for a small opening, you will see an inset bank of waterfalls. When you hike in through the opening it seems like another world, away from the traffic and the outside elements. You are just surrounded by lush green forest, moss and an incredible bank of continuous little waterfalls all the way up the hillside into the forest.

Have a great Wednesday! Relax, it’s downhill from here!