RMNP Meandering (w/new B&W version)

It's been a while since I've posted something. Really haven't been out shooting for some time since I've been busy designing courses for The Fort Collins Digital Workshop. I'll be teaching a course in Capturing Scenic/Nature Photography tonight from 6-9pm and again on June 21.

I did get a chance to get to Rocky Mountain NP last Friday afternoon. The conditions were quite dynamic, moving from driving snow/rain storms to partly cloudy with some sunlight then back again to the storms. The park has some pockets of green vegetation getting started in the lower elevation meadows but the higher elevations continue to be getting fresh snow and it appears like it's still winter up there.

The first image is of the Fall River meanders in Horseshoe Park as viewed from above at a plowed-but-still-closed section of Trail Ridge Road above Many Parks Curve.

A second, cloudy image from about the same location on Trail Ridge but looking toward Mummy Mountain and the edge of the the flood slide area above Alluvial Fan. The snow at least helps a little to minimize the color of the beetle-affected pines.

About an hour later, with an opening of blue sky looking again toward Mummy Mountain.

A final image I took on my way back down, but still above Beaver Meadows. It was getting close to sunset and the light lit up Twin Sisters Peak nicely making it look more like one of the mighty Cascade volcanoes in the northwest than a small mountain in the Rockies. A dark, new snowstorm was quickly moving in behind me. The wind was picking up and blowing the snow in streaks across the frame making the photo look like it was made with brushstrokes - kind of a cool effect. I only had a couple of minutes to set up and get this shot before it got too foggy, the snow became too thick and the light was lost on the mountain.

That is all for now. Thanks for your comments!

Josh, that first one of Horseshoe Park is fabulous! The others are very nice as well.

Great stuff Josh. I agree with Erik, I got lost in the first one! Some really cool curves throughout that image and the snow adds some great contrast.

Josh, I agree with Erik and Koveh on the first one and would try messing around with B&W on the last one to see what you get.

First and last shots are terrific. Great light in #4. I like it in color but maybe B&W would be nice too.

Thanks for the comments. I hadn't thought of a B&W version on #4 so I gave it a try here. I probably still prefer the color one personally, but some added contrast on B&W brought out the snow streaks even more which is interesting. Let me know your thoughts!