Advice for a traveler to Colorado

My friends and I are going on a two week trip to Colorado. The goal is start at Estes Park and then travel to Garden of the Gods, Royal Gorge train, Gunnison, Ouray, Silverton, Grand Junction, Aspen, Breckenridge and finally Golden and Boulder. The trip is in a couple of weeks so we hope to see some leaves too.

I have a brand new Canon XSi with a 18 to 200mm lens to replace my Elan film SLR. I have a good amount of film experience but the DSLR is new to me and I have never been in mountanous areas for phototography. I just picked up the Ultimate Guide to Digital Nature Photography and it is a great book. I also grabbed two filters; UV and graduated neutral.

I apologize for the broad question but as people who are experienced in the area, can anyone offer either photography or traveling advice I would greatly appreciate it.

Hi, Jill, and welcome to the forum.
It certainly looks like you're planning quite a trip!
I'm in Colorado Springs, just a few minutes of Garden of the Gods. By far the best time (but not the only time) to shoot it is at sunrise. Sunrise and the early morning hours provide the best light. There are quite a number of places to shoot the Garden of the Gods from, ranging from the visitors center across the street to some of the (easy) trails in the park.

As for foliage, you're trip sounds like it's well timed for some very good color!

There are many on here who are intimately familiar with many of the areas you want to visit, and you're going to get some very good advice. Enjoy your trip!

Hi,

You might consider picking up a copy of 'A Guide to Colorado's Best Photography Locations' , which includes a section on autumn 'hotspots'. Forewarned is forearmed....

Be sure to keep an eye on the 'Fall Foliage Reports 2009' thread here where you'll pick up some great tips as the days progress.
Actually, any thread requesting info. on prime shooting areas will be worth checking, as well.
Also, get yourself a circular polarizing filter...a must for shooting out here, IMO.

Second on the polarizer filter. The UV doesn't do much for you other then protect your glass IMO. Also as mentioned, the sunlight can be quite harsh here. This means two things..first is to make sure you are wearing some sun screen running around the mountains all day. =) Second though, try to get good pics at sunrise as suggested above. This does not mean you can't shoot at other times, just don't expect any stellar shots.

Enjoy your trip!

Sounds like a good trip, and doable in 2 weeks. If you're heading to Breckenridge after Aspen, be sure to drive Independence Pass (Hwy 82). Also drive through Colorado National Monument on your way to Grand Junction (can avoid I-70). Just so you know, even though it is fun to see, the Royal Gorge is a tourist trap.

You probably already know this but Maroon Bells outside Aspen is an early sunrise shot...and during fall you want to be there really early to get a spot (and a parking spot) along with 100 other photographers. During a weekday it might not be as bad, but don't show up right at sunrise expecting to have a good place to stand. Also, if you like to hike I would take the 4 mile round trip hike up to Crater Lake above Maroon Lake. If you're not from a higher altitude, beware...take lots of water, advil, and don't go hungry.

If I had time I would drive to Durango down one side of the San Juan Byway Loop and then up the other to Telluride and over the Dallas Divide into Ridgeway...this is prime autumn color area...old growth aspens...a true Colorado experience.

I almost forgot...if you really want to see some fall color...drive Kebler Pass (wide, good dirt road) from Crested Butte and then over McClure Pass into Carbondale. Have a good trip.

Given the time of year, I'd suggest that you might want to plan more time around Gunnison/Crested Butte and less in the Front Range. No offense intended to the Front Range, but the Elks and San Juans are where I'd want to linger in the fall. Also recommend the polarizer, but take care with it: it's easy to overdo it on a clear day.

I did pick up a circular polarizing filter. Thanks for all the advice. I wanted to ask if people felt the Rifle Falls, Ashcroft Ghost Town and the Grottos of Lincoln Creek are each good visiting places. I think something will have to come off these two days and I am not sure which is most worth it or which we shoud drop first.

Also we had intended to go on the North Rim of the Black Canyon of Gunnison. How long do people feel that would take to do it justice. Thanks again for all the great advice. I am really looking forward to the visit.

The North Rim is great and needn't take very long at all if you're driving the West Elk Loop (highly recommended in fall). The drive from Gunnison is gorgeous, full of aspens though slow and very curvy (pic). The North Rim is only about twenty minutes off the highway. You can do the rim drive, walk around and enjoy the views in under an hour if you want, though how long you'll spend photographing is another question. Hiking into the canyon, on the other hand, is a stout hike. The routes are just that: routes, not trails. That would take at least half a day.

If you're in that area, Needle Rock outside of Crawford is an awesome, under-photographed location.

What kind of a graduated neutral density filter did you get Jill? If you got a screw on one, you may want to consider a different kind. The type to get is one that is rectangular that you can hold in front of the lens (this is what I do) or that you can use with adapter and a filter holder (like Cokin P series). If you have a screw on one, you will be forced to compose with the darker half always at the same point in the frame. Also, since it is mountainous out here, get on with a soft edge, instead of a hard edge.

HiTech is a good brand (at a good price) to look for. Singh Ray makes good ones too, but they are a lot more expensive.

Have a good trip!

Nathan

I did buy a screw on type. Thanks for the advice. I will consider what to do next.