My day at the Bell's. Bad luck or par for the course - long post / No pics

I arrived in Aspen too late the previous evening to scout my location. Even though exhausted I set the alarm for 4:30am to ensure I'm at the Bell's well before daylight in case there was an army of photogs.

I arrive at the parking lot and there's about 10-15 cars parked already. I'm thinking that there must be some very serious photogs to be out this early, or those like me who didn't get to scout their location in advance. I set out and the snow is illuminating the darkness enough for navigation without the need for my headlamp.

I walk along the shoreline looking for a place to set up in complete awe to the magnificent view before me. The Bell's are much better in person than in any photo I have ever viewed. Not only am I awe struck at their beauty, but also by the fact that there was no one else present was really extremely sweet. I guess those vehicles in the parking lot still had their occupants in them asleep.

I find myself a decent comp. and begin to set up my camera and focus. After everything was set up I still had 15 minutes in the darkness to myself. Up to this point all is going smoothly and though it's a little chilly out I still have a huge grin on my face. It was one of them peaceful mornings that one could only think how fortunate they are to be alive.

The gates open and one after another the photogs arrive. No problem I'm thinking since I already have my place, I'm all set up, and there's still plenty of room. Well, it doesn't quite work this way I suppose. One guy stops five feet away and places not one, but two tripods. One had a LF camera the other a Nikon digital. We make a little small talk then he says "if you don't mind I'm going to move a little closer" five feet becomes three, three feet becomes two, and then our tripods are a foot away. OK, I'm thinking no problem surely he'll be careful.

First light is approaching and all I have to do is remove the dark slide to get my image. Well, I guess a couple photogs are running a little late since they also pile in on me and slap down their tripods. They are so close that one of them had their tripod in my frame. I'm also sure there is an elbow in one of my images of that morning. What I'm starting to not understand is how there is plenty of places to set up, but the three feet of real estate I'm in is prime. I noticed nothing special about my comp. that I didn't see in a dozen different comps. I looked at that morning.

The hint of light is striking the peaks and I'm interrupted by a guy directly behind me, maybe two feet away, as he trips over a shoe box size boulder and does a face plant onto the ground. There really was no break in his fall at all - he fell pretty much face flat. One of them kinda falls that you know hurt. I look at the firing line of photogs all holding their releases in hand as many of them glance at the poor guy laying on the ground and then go back to looking at the Bell's. I step over and ask the guy if he's OK; he replies "yes" though I felt he wasn't being honest. He gets up and walks maybe twenty yards down closer to the Bell's doubles over and moans. I keep one eye on him for a few and he seems to be feeling better. At this point I'm a little disgusted at the fact no one seemed to really care if the sixty plus year old man was OK. After all walking over to the man would require one to remove their hand from the release. I didn't expect anyone to come running down the lake to see if he was OK, but damn at least ask if your standing right there.

OK, now it's time to take my photo. Meter says I need about four seconds of exposure. Well, that was too easy since the photog with the two pods is still fumbling with his gear and stumbles into my tripod two seconds into my four-second exposure. He apologizes and offers to pay for the film. I reply not to worry about it since I had plenty of film. I wasn't really upset over that incident though I'd rather it not happened ,and felt that it shouldn't have.

Thirty minutes after that the same guy with the two pods barely places one foot into the water by accident and breaks the reflection for maybe two feet from the waters edge and only for maybe five seconds then it was calm again. O' my one guy walked right over and let him know it too - in a polite manner.

Next year one day will be spent photographing the Bell's and one morning will be spent videoing a bloopers tape since I can only imagine what one would see by standing behind all us photogs.

Regardless,I had an exceptional time and will return either in the spring or next fall. A time at which I would love to see some guard rails placed along the scenic road, 92 I believe, heading towards the Black Canyon

Thanks to those of you who helped me with my trip and a special thanks to DK for linking me up with maps and replying to my several questions.

That sounds ridiculous. That's why I've never had the desire to shoot there, despite the obvious beauty. A couple times before I've been somewhere when a bunch more photographers show up at the last second and start clicking away "chchchchchchchchchch", then leave right away. It makes me feel ridiculous and embarrassed for everyone, including myself. Oh well, as long as everyone's having fun it's fine I guess. It's just not my style.

I've had that same experience at the dyke on Kebler, not much fun.

Yeah, standing on the shore of Maroon Lake in the fall isn't going to be without its misadventures. I can't even do it anymore. But you're right, the Bells in person make the trip worthwhile, photos or not.

BTW, that highway along the Curecanti rim leading to the north approach to Black Canyon? Last winter I had the brilliant idea of going down there to shoot during a snowstorm. It cleared the next day and that entire highway was a sheet of ice. Talk about pucker factor!

Sounds like I shot par for the course. I feel I'm very courteous towards others and I expected many people to be there, but I didn't expect some of the actions I witnessed. Of course nothing could've ruined that morning since I've dreamed about seeing the Bell's for several years.

Todd, you are insane. The sun was setting in a nice location during my drive, but after having two mule deer decide to take up half the road, on one of the many curves, I wouldn't even stop to take a picture. If the forecast says anything about snow you have to be really gutsy to even consider going near those roads.

It's a very weird feeling being the only one on the road, reading signs that mention icy conditions may exist, looking out the passenger window and seeing nothing but a drop off, the drive over Monarch Pass a few days earlier fresh in my mind, I decided to just keep driving. I would like to drive it again, but I will never do it without knowing for certain that there is zero chance of ice or snow. Ice was the only thing I could think of.

However, is a different feature of Colorado that I am glad I had the opportunity to view, even if it was with a little tremble.


Everyone enjoy the remainder of your fall.

I feel the same way about shooting the bells as I do delicate arch, mesa arch etc. I really get tired of seeing the same images redone over and over again. (even though they are still cool places to visit).

Onto highway 92:

A few years back on that same highway 92 I had my only encounter with a mountain lion as it lept over the road in front of me and disappeared into the canyon. I told the ranger when I eventually got to the south side about the sighting and he informed me that they have been known to "hang out" around there.

Todd --> have you ever been able to make a winter trip over to the north side of BC Gunisson?


RichieV

Richard, the mountain lion is a feature of Colorado that I have no desire to see. They were on my mind as well when I was struggling through the snow and then under the dark cloth. Especially, when I was up on a hillside along Kebler. I kept scanning because the area just looked like a prime hang out for one.

Thankfully the only thing that pounced on me was ten lb/s of snow that fell from the trees above. I had to laugh at my luck when that happened.

You can pretty much expect this kind of a setting at the Bells. I had a similar experience at Artist Point in Yellowstone. One minute I was alone. The next, I was fighting for a shot as not one, but two Japanese tour busses unloaded about 100 passengers. Glad you had fun anyway- you're a more patient person than I am.

I was there this weekend at the Bells and was beautiful. I flew from Washington St. just to see the Bells and I wasnt disappointed, but wow was there a lot of photogs. It seemed 90% of the photogs go in the one area at the beginning which is sounds like you started. But it is hard when you sleep in a car overnight in the parking lot to make sure you get a good spot only to have someone step in the water and ruin the reflection or all the late comers setting up in your shot down either in front of you or down at the end where the reflection of the color is - anyways I am sorry for that day and I can understand what you went through being there this weekend. It is really true what Darren recommends about shooting later in the morning - what a difference !

I too was at the Bells today. I arrived around 8:30, which seemed to mark a shift change between the crack o' dawn club and us semi-early risers. I went to Maroon Lake first, naturally, but I didn't stay long. It's a fairly barren, sterile environment there, with a world-class background but little foreground detail to match. The reflection looked especially magnificent through the finder of my new Pentax 645, but after I few shots of the mirrored mountain, I felt the urge to move on. The scenery only begins at the lake, I found. The trail to Crater Lake kept giving me new perspectives. Although the Bells themselves were usually out of sight, the trail puts you up close and personal with the flanks of Pyramid Peak, half a vertical mile of rock and snow tinted blue in the morning shade. Most of the aspen leaves had fallen, but those remaining were plugged in and blazing. An old song from Bruce Cockburn surfaced in my conscioness, "Incandescent Blue." The sky was so clear I didn't miss the sunglasses I left at the car. When I tested various filters by eye, I usually rejected them as too much of a good thing. Leave that Singh-Ray yellow-blue polarizer for some day with little authentic color, I thought. I didn't quite make it to Crater Lake. My film was almost exhausted, and so was I. But I was so deeply happy I'd hiked that extra mile. Funny to think that of two dozen hikers I saw there, none looked like the deep-vested pros by the lakeside. All were lightfooted dayhikers with point 'n-shoots.

I regard places like the Maroon Bells, the Crystal River Mill, and Piles Peak from Garden of the Gods, as our top three Stations of the Holy Tripod. We go there trying to be worthy of the places. The presence of other photographers rarely adds to that vision. They get in the way, visual evidence that we're not the first, or the last, here. And pilgrims typically don't notice physical pain, especially the pain of others.

Almost 30 years living in Colorado, and I'd never seen more of the bells than what you glimpse on the top chairlift at Aspen Highlands (incidentally, wouldn't it be nice if they ran that all summer to give easy access to the ridgetop?) I had plenty of reasons to stay away. It was touristy (true), it was expensive (with a national-park-sized entry fee) and, worst of all, it was photographed to death. In figure skating, they call it "Compulsory Figures." How well can you do the drill? Here's where you find out, knowing that your pictures will be judged against so many, many others of the same subject. How many times have we scene this scene staring up at us from a placemat?

I doubt my lake photo added much to the sum total photo documentation of the Maroon Bells. I'm just glad I didn't make a fool of myself. But up on the Crater Trail, I could easily convince myself that I was seeing compostions that were original, new to this world, and entirely mine.

As a side note- maybe the lakeside is so crowded because it's the only front row seating in the house? Move back in search of a different composition, and all you can find is a photo of photographers standing around a lake.

John, my urge to move back in my comp. was great and just as you mentioned all I would've gotten then was a group of photogs. As I stood there I kept wondering what a longer focal length shot from further back would look like.

Kevin, I started about half way down the lake towards the Bell's. I had no desire to get an original image of them and though I wanted to be there on the weekend when the snow was fresh I elected for a Monday instead. My primary goal was just to witness them. As is the case in a lot mountain images, photographs just never give justice to their magnificent beauty.

I kinda wish it was a two mile hike to get to the Bell's though. Not in order to limit their access, but a two mile hike would keep the morning army of photogs at bay. Anything that has easy access and is that darn beautiful will be shot over and over. I wanted an image of them for my wall and hopefully I got it - even if there is an elbow in the frame. I did walk a bit towards Crater Lake, but ended up giving one of the guys who were working on the trail a ride back into Aspen.

Same thing happened in Kebler as well. Mostly out of state drivers, which is what I happened to be, however, I do not act like these people. One guy pretty much stopped in the middle of the road to walk over and see what shot I was settting up. His first words "I figure if you were taking the time to set that thing up there must be something here." SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP. All while those passing grew angry at where he had parked his vehicle

Thats when it was time to park the vehicle and just walk. I didn't even take the shot of Marcellina with the very nice color in the foreground along Kebler road. Though I wished I had as I sat there waiting for the clouds to give me a little better view a workshop stopped to take in the view as well. I'm sure that shot is quite popular and for good reason since I found it to be a beautifully rugged mountain


One really either needs to shoot solo or with very like minded individuals and away from the roads -not as if that's new information. I'm very serious about videotaping the action at the Bell's next year. From just before sunrise til the area thins out.

At least my day was a normal one and regardless of these incidents I spoke to many very nice people during my visit.

Scott, the several hour drive to get to Colorado requires that one relax a little. The tourist bus you mentioned may have been enough to put me to the edge, but when I'm out in nature it really takes a lot to get under my skin.

I just would've liked to see a little more respect for each other on that morning.

Wow - that is a crazy story Robert. I was at Dallas Divide on Sat, and there must have been a dozen or so photogs there (including Rick D and his wife). Thankfully everyopne was being mindful of each others space from what I saw.

Being close is one thing, but the scene at the Bells that morning must have been something else. People bumping into your tripod - I would have lost it. More so because of the sizeable investment on TOP of that tripod that could have ended up in the lake!

Crazy. It reminds me of why the last time I put myself in that type of situation was 3-4 years ago shooting at Keys View in Joshua Tree National Park. It's bad enough to have people following you, but when they set up their tripod and large rear-end right in front of my lens that will set me off. Disrespectful.

I was shooting the Louisville skyline a month or two ago at night, and this couple was practically filling every tripod hole I had made. Once they realized that I noticed, they apologized for it and said, "Oh, we're just trying to find the best views. I hope you don't mind." I was fine with it, but my thought was how do they know what I was shooting? And what if what I was shooting wasn't good?

I guess I'll have to skip on the classic Maroon Bells comp at first light and look for other spots.

I guess stories such as mine are not uncommon - just a first for me. One would think there would be a certain level of professionalism when shooting these types of icon images.

Michael - had my tripod gotten knocked over I'm quite certain that would've pushed me over the edge since I would consider it a little more than an accident.

Richard - even through all that I would still recommend the Bell's at first light. They truly are magnificent, however, if I got my shot I will not be shooting them again unless there is a good chance of clouds being present. My next visit will be an overnight to Crater Lake.

Even though I shoot wildlife, I know what you guys mean, especially shooting elk in the park. Luckily, most of the tourists do the roadside photography. They get out of the car, shoot a few frames, and are one there way. My sunrise shot of the elk was along on road, I admit, but that was the best vantage point. And being that early, and on a Monday, there was not alot of people.

My second one, where he is doing the flehmen behavior, I actually hiked a lttle bit to see this one. I was the only one there watching this guy. This was nice and made for a memorable experience. He did not think of me as a threat and the cows pretty much ingnored me. Of course I had a 500mm on and kept a respectful distance.

Anyway, just thought I would throw my two cents in there.

Jeesh. I was searching out great photo ops in the hills east of Pagosa Springs this past weekend (no more specific than that unless you email me and I recog you) and I was the only one. other than a few folks with POS cams, I was the only photographer. The PS area may not be in the class of the MBs but there ARE scenes to be captured here. I just wish I did not have to work for a living.

As a side bar to the continuing color change, there are very few orange to reds showing up in the area surrounding Pagosa Springs. I remeber one stand that was somewhat beautiful from a microcosm point of view. When ever the breeze blew - it was like a snow storm of aspen leaves floating down. I fear it will be over way to soon.

Scott's experience at Yellowstone reminds me of my first visit to the Grand Canyon. It was in winter a few years ago and I was around the corner from Mather Point way before sunrise and 15 degrees out. Then magically about 100 asian tourists surrounded me before I even realized it, and I had no idea where they came from. Almost as quickly as they arrived, they magically vanished. I'm still wondering if I imagined them or not.

Yep - sound about right, Robert!

Two weekends ago was my first trip to the Bells, and I was VERY fortunate. I met up with Tony L., Dave R., Brent D. and Darren. Saturday the 23rd was practically photographer-free. The big snows on Friday kept a lot of people from making it up there. Although it was cloudy, the photography was great and there were maybe only 10 or so other photogs. Bliss!

The next day was quite a bit different - sunny, clear, and the snow on the roads was gone. There must have been 80 or so other people, crossed tripods, etc. As described in Robbie's post, I left after about 2 hours of that (I couldn't take it any more), and, of course, 15 minutes later the wind died down, the lake calmed and the reflection revealed itself. Can't say I'm too disappointed. It was a zoo, as expected. I was glad that I got there once - it deserves to be seen in person - but I won't be at all surprised if I never go back (at least during fall colors). A nice long snowshoe on a crisp winter day might be a worthwile effort, though!

Darren - I just got my last slides back today and I'll start scanning on Thursday. I didn't get near as many as I would've liked, but I feel I met my goal of two. Also, somehow I even bombed a couple exposures; not quite sure what happened there.

When I would notice people going to one spot I decided to go the other. I just wouldn't feel good about shooting the same spots I seen everyone else shooting, maybe because where I live there is no one else . The only exception was the Bells. I wish I had gotten an image of Marcellina though. That is one photo everyone was taking that I'm kicking myself for not joining in. Funny thing is since I've been home I've flipped my calendar to the month of Oct. and there Marcellina is. . It doesn't mention who the photographer is though.

The snow was extremely beautiful and winter would be my favorite time to photograph if I lived in Colorado. I just loved watching the light strike the snow capped mountains in the morning. I'll be back next year for certain. The snow held me back a little this year, but now that I'm familiar with the area a bit I'll be there and with snow shoes just in case you have a repeat with the weather. Lots of hiking to do and since the snow was over my hiking boots I would only venture a few hundred yards here and there,but enough to notice some places that I really want to check out, if for nothing more than the anticipation of whats there.

I do think you and I passed each other on the 23rd or 24th if you were on Ohio Pass either of them days. I'd swear it was you coming out of Ohio as I was going along Kebler. I would've flagged down the Toyota, had there not been vehicles behind me, and found out for certain if it was you.

Thanks again for your help and your too modest. Your site alone gave me several pages of print outs that in itself was a big help. I'll post something maybe this weekend.