Yesterday I ran up to one of my favorite locations in RMNP, the Upper East Inlet. I shot sunset at a tarn up above Fifth Lake. On my way back to the truck I ran into more animal eyes than I ever have. There were a two tense encounters. One of them may have been two lions on the trail at the appropriately named area called "Lion's Lair". They stayed ahead of me for a while and then went up to a cliff just above me. Then I had a big moose on my trail blocking the way at about 1am. I had to chase him off so I could get back to my truck. Despite the distance involved, I really love this area. (Hmm? It seems that this first one looks a bit too dark here. Sorry!)
Remarkable in their quality and variety. Talk about productive! Too many great ones to pick just one.
Posted by Jack Garrett on July 20, 2010 at 6:54 PM
What an amazing series! Every one of them is to die for Erik
Posted by Pam Colander on July 20, 2010 at 6:56 PM
All are gorgeous Erik! My favs are 1, 2, 5 and 7. So tell me, which ones did you take with the "load" in your britches from the Lions Lair encounter??? If I saw lions going to a place *above* me I'd be saying my prayers and hope I looked unappetizing. Lions are sneaky and scare me more than any other wild beast.
A really fantastic series!
Love the first two sunset images, the second wildflowers image and Long's Peak.
Aside from the slight darkness of #1, your 'development' of all of these is just spot on.
Posted by Jeff Hackett on July 20, 2010 at 9:05 PM
I like every one of these! I know the first one is a bit dark, but it doesn't really bother me, and Changing Light is excellent with great foreground flowers. In Andrew's Peak I noticed some funny lighiting around the tree on the left that juts into the sky... that is my only minor nit with any of these.
Posted by Paul Wegemann on July 20, 2010 at 11:01 PM
You make this look so easy, Erik. Fabulous work all around, although I do agree the first one is a bit dark.
Posted by Kalin Wilson on July 20, 2010 at 11:57 PM
Beautiful series, Erik. Very productive. Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by Brett Deacon on July 21, 2010 at 12:58 AM
Wow, what an amazing photo shoot! Great work!
The first two are my favorite, and the first could be one of your best images ever (in my opinion) if you can lighten it a bit. Everything about it is perfect.
Excellent all around! Love #1 & #2 the most - the warm light is stunning.
As for your wildlife adventure, glad you survived (even if your undershorts didn't ) My husband commented while we hiked in this area that it looked like good mountain lion territory. Something to definitely keep in mind while hiking.
Posted by Dan Baumbach on July 21, 2010 at 8:12 PM
That was some productive evening. Beautiful work. My faves are 1,2,3,6,7.
This quite possibly could be the strongest collection of images you've ever shared here, Erik. I'm gobsmacked. And I've never even used that word before! Funny thing is, I'm looking at these while sitting atop Paradise Divide and I STILL can't stop looking at them!
P.S. Apparently if you park high enough above Paradise Divide, you can pick up a fairly decent signal from way down in Crested Butte.
Posted by Art Escobado on July 21, 2010 at 10:41 PM
You just rocked out a series excellent pics...damn. After comparing version #1 light and dark I think the darker version works better it just needs the pine trees in the middle ground to be less dark.
Posted by John De Bord on July 22, 2010 at 12:12 AM
Erik,
Please be careful out there, that sounds like a little to close an encounter with possible Mountain Lions. Do you take Bear Spray with you at all? I am hoping yes?
John
Discussion
32 repliesLove the first two sunset images, the second wildflowers image and Long's Peak.
Aside from the slight darkness of #1, your 'development' of all of these is just spot on.
Rob
The first two are my favorite, and the first could be one of your best images ever (in my opinion) if you can lighten it a bit. Everything about it is perfect.
As for your wildlife adventure, glad you survived (even if your undershorts didn't
- Dan.
P.S. Apparently if you park high enough above Paradise Divide, you can pick up a fairly decent signal from way down in Crested Butte.
Please be careful out there, that sounds like a little to close an encounter with possible Mountain Lions. Do you take Bear Spray with you at all? I am hoping yes?
John