While it's pretty easy to make gorgeous, wilderness-looking images of mountains soaring over lakes while in the S. Colony Lakes region, it's impossible to ignore the price of over-crowding. Toilet paper stuck to bushes, begging bighorn sheep, and live trees chopped up for fire... what is the obsession with campfires? I watched people whacking away at live trees in maniacal fashion to get their fire roaring. We witnessed another pair that left a fire burning in the morning while they went to climb. WTF? The throngs of both day users and over-nighters is staggering, and the complete diregard of LNT wilderness ethics is appalling. I took this picture of a typical camp, the live tree chopped to a remanant of its former self.
The USFS has made improvements to the road and trail, lengthened the approach, and added a bridge near the upper lot that's by the gate. They're also considering a fee system to invest in further improvements. While I think mountains should be free and would be concerned about fees in many more places after a precedent is set, something has to change. Certainly fires should be banned immediately, today. I think a permit system would help some - at least adding another step to using the area. But there's no money to really patrol the area and the most egregious offenders get away with unethical behavior that they will repeat elsewhere. It seems to me there's no way to avoid a fee in order to take a step towards a return to wilderness. What do you folks think?
That's disappointing to hear, Dave. I wish people would at least try and make their presence temporary. I think they made a mistake improving the road. I think it just opens the place up to a different section of the population and making it easier to get to a wilderness area never leads to it being in better condition. If there were a patrol cabin up there and a ranger presence, then maybe it would work. Right now the best solution might be closing the road further down and making people invest the time and effort to make a long hike in there. Having just gotten back from the Winds, I think making it more difficult (or at least something that requires more effort) would protect it better than fee would. Unless the fees go directly to hiring rangers to staff the area. If anything, would paying an addition fee make people feel like they have paid for the right to trash the place -- maybe not. Beautiful image, by the way...
I agree. The land around the Crestones has suffered for the popularity of the climb. That was already starting 15 years ago when I last visited the basin. Its a shame that people don't care for public land as if it were their own and follow the stewardship paradigm of leaving the outdoors cleaner than you found it.
I like your shot, but a slightly darker exposure might bring out a more striking color on the needle promised in the reflection below. Pretty sweet conditions you got there.
Yep that looks like a typical S. Colony campspot. I agree that that basin is used and abused. The 14ers tend to do that. They're like the sacrificial lambs for the Colorado masses. I bet the next basin over is as pristine as can be.
I have mixed emotions about places like that... on one hand it is obvious that the basin is no longer pristine, and there are signs of human campers everywhere. On the other hand, in the broader perspective, this kind of abuse is nothing compared to what a mining or forestry operation can do to a wild basin and its rivers. And having all those people enjoy the basin helps to ensure that it (and hopefully by extension other mountain basins) will be protected from the more destructive industrial uses. If nobody used the mountains for recreation, then nobody would care about them either.
It's just too bad that people don't treat it better. Cutting live trees/limbs for a fire is ridiculous. I've got nothing against campfires in the wilderness when there's lots of dry dead wood around (in fact it's probably good for the forest in that case), but not at places like this where all the dry wood is long gone.
Your wild view photo has potential, but I am dying to see the whole reflection! It's like a teaser right now!
Dave, I would be for fees if they were used properly. A few years ago they increased all the fees in Yellowstone for fishing, camping and entrance fees, but none of that went to improving the Park. It went to Washington into some deep dark hole. Right now a U.S. audit has found that the Pentagon cannot account for over 95 percent of $9.1 billion in Iraq reconstruction money. I think your photographs are some of the best empowerment methods there are. We just have to get them out there and demand that something be done with accountability, but we can't rely on the government IMO.
That is very sad Dave. Part of the reason I love taking photographs of beautiful areas is to hopefully stir some emotions in people to care a little more about the beauty of nature, and as a result take better care of it. One can always hope right? =)
That wild view shot is really nice, but I agree with Jack, it would have been incredible if we could see the whole reflection. Although it may have been too wide for the lens. Cheers!
Thanks for weighing in folks. Proper use of fees is the BIG question, isn't it? And Jack, your points are right on the money. I often wonder if we need to step back, understand that things are complicated, and let some places be sacrificial landscapes - whether for recreation or energy development or whatever? But there's no reason for fires to be allowed in THAT basin. It's just ridiculous.
So the reflection was right at my toes - unless I were to stand in the water somewhere. I shot it vertical, horizontal and multi-verticals for stitching. Acting on Jack's teaser comment, I stitched 6 images, played with a square crop, then cropped to this sort of vertical version. And because I couldn't stand it, I removed a rusty can. Comments appreciated.
Posted by Pam Colander on July 28, 2010 at 6:58 PM
AHHHHH! That last shot is incredible Dave. Raise the shadows some, knock back the highlights a bit, do that unsharp mask 20, 50, 0 trick and it leaps into another stratosphere! Whew, so nice!
Ah, that's it!!! The whole reflection is incredible! And the cloud shadow is great in there.
Posted by Dan Baumbach on July 28, 2010 at 7:04 PM
I'm to new to this area to have an opinion but I hate to see nature defiled unnecessarily by humans. I do like your reflection photos. I'd like to see the horizontal as dark as the vertical.
One more time with Pam's suggestions. At what point in the workflow is 20, 50, 0 best applied? It's kind of crazy what it does for contrast and rich colors.
Thanks!
Posted by Jeff Hackett on July 28, 2010 at 9:12 PM
My wife is tired of hearing me complain about the exact things you mentioned. Sometimes I just can't believe the things people do.
I am really loving the horizontal. Man, I love that area!
At what point in the workflow is 20, 50, 0 best applied?
I use it right at the beginning, Dave..even before a Levels adjustment.
That's because even though this method works quite well (as eveidenced here), if any areas of your image verge on overexposure, this method can push those areas right off the cliff.
I really like the second reworked version of this scene.
Yep, thats why ive only visited Crestone in May-June, and Sept-November (im still planning on a mid winter trip sometime...) If i went in mid summer id get nauseous. And people whined when they closed off the last couple miles. Id dynamite the whole road and a good portion of the approach too, personally. Maybe no one else would care about the mountains if they weren't being "used" for recreation--but myself and a small group of photographers would--so we could band together and club the miners with our tripods
Awesome shots of the Needle, BTW
Posted by Paul Martin on July 29, 2010 at 10:08 AM
Even though the clouds might be just a bit better in the horizontal, I really love seeing the whole scene in the vertical rendition. Maybe darken the whole thing above the reflection just a little? Great environmental PJ work with the campsites too. I also don't understand the need for fires at all there much less cutting live trees to create them.
Posted by Kurt Bowman on July 30, 2010 at 11:40 AM
Dave, first, absolutely LOVE the reflection and colors i the shot...WOW!
As far as the other stuff, I am not big on fees. I think we collect enough money from places like the lottery...according to lottery officials, I thought the money was supposed to go directly to "parks and recreation, and open-space preservation."? I just don't think they spend it wisely. I wish they would patrol these sites more often and actually fine people for cutting down trees and leaving fires burning. I have no issue with fires while camping and think taking them away would take something away from camping for me...but I also understand most people don't know how to properly have a fire. I have seen too many times ignorant people having huge bon fires (completely unnecessary) or leaving them burning with no one at camp, etc. But on the other hand, I am tired of our government passing a law to remove freedoms from others every time a few idiots do something wrong. So for me, patrolling and handing out fines to the idiots that violate the law and rules is more of the answer.
Posted by Art Escobado on July 30, 2010 at 6:32 PM
Awesome last repost-the image takes life under the processing.
Discussion
19 repliesThe USFS has made improvements to the road and trail, lengthened the approach, and added a bridge near the upper lot that's by the gate. They're also considering a fee system to invest in further improvements. While I think mountains should be free and would be concerned about fees in many more places after a precedent is set, something has to change. Certainly fires should be banned immediately, today. I think a permit system would help some - at least adding another step to using the area. But there's no money to really patrol the area and the most egregious offenders get away with unethical behavior that they will repeat elsewhere. It seems to me there's no way to avoid a fee in order to take a step towards a return to wilderness. What do you folks think?
I like your shot, but a slightly darker exposure might bring out a more striking color on the needle promised in the reflection below. Pretty sweet conditions you got there.
I have mixed emotions about places like that... on one hand it is obvious that the basin is no longer pristine, and there are signs of human campers everywhere. On the other hand, in the broader perspective, this kind of abuse is nothing compared to what a mining or forestry operation can do to a wild basin and its rivers. And having all those people enjoy the basin helps to ensure that it (and hopefully by extension other mountain basins) will be protected from the more destructive industrial uses. If nobody used the mountains for recreation, then nobody would care about them either.
It's just too bad that people don't treat it better. Cutting live trees/limbs for a fire is ridiculous. I've got nothing against campfires in the wilderness when there's lots of dry dead wood around (in fact it's probably good for the forest in that case), but not at places like this where all the dry wood is long gone.
Your wild view photo has potential, but I am dying to see the whole reflection! It's like a teaser right now!
Beautiful lake image BTW.
That wild view shot is really nice, but I agree with Jack, it would have been incredible if we could see the whole reflection. Although it may have been too wide for the lens. Cheers!
So the reflection was right at my toes - unless I were to stand in the water somewhere. I shot it vertical, horizontal and multi-verticals for stitching. Acting on Jack's teaser comment, I stitched 6 images, played with a square crop, then cropped to this sort of vertical version. And because I couldn't stand it, I removed a rusty can.
- Dan
Thanks!
I am really loving the horizontal. Man, I love that area!
That's because even though this method works quite well (as eveidenced here), if any areas of your image verge on overexposure, this method can push those areas right off the cliff.
I really like the second reworked version of this scene.
Awesome shots of the Needle, BTW
As far as the other stuff, I am not big on fees. I think we collect enough money from places like the lottery...according to lottery officials, I thought the money was supposed to go directly to "parks and recreation, and open-space preservation."? I just don't think they spend it wisely. I wish they would patrol these sites more often and actually fine people for cutting down trees and leaving fires burning. I have no issue with fires while camping and think taking them away would take something away from camping for me...but I also understand most people don't know how to properly have a fire. I have seen too many times ignorant people having huge bon fires (completely unnecessary) or leaving them burning with no one at camp, etc. But on the other hand, I am tired of our government passing a law to remove freedoms from others every time a few idiots do something wrong. So for me, patrolling and handing out fines to the idiots that violate the law and rules is more of the answer.