Are you Ready for Some Wildflowers? The Season kicks off soon on RMNP!

I'm messing a round with some files from last year's trip that I took in the San Juans. I know American Basin is cliche and overdone, but I've not had as much fun photographing anywhere as I did last July there. I can't wait for this middle to end of July this year. I know there won't be the snow that was still present last year, but I'm not sure it matters up there as it's so beautiful.

Anyway, this is one of my favorite wildflower shots, and I've tried practicing some photoshop techniques on to improve it even more. I'm going to have it printed at 20 x 30 just for the heck of it, and to really see how things turned out with the techniques. The green and gold reminds me of football, and my favorite team, the Green Bay Packers (thus the football-based title of this thread). As always, any tips/comments appreciated.

Hope to see all my rowdy friends in the San Juans soon! (OT: What the heck did the NFL do to my MNF this year?)

Brian, that is a great shot. I remember during my visit there last year the "floor" was mostly red with the paintbrush bloom. I gotta say that your statement about "cliche and overdone" should not be measured against what others have done there. Its all beautiful, the captures are beautiful, and if there is a wee bit of overlap - repetition, who cares. We all get to look and catch it. Ok, I'll shut up now. Again great shot. I was in American Basin two weeks ago and there was only a wee bit of color showing (and the road was blocked by a BIG freakin snow drift about 400 yards in. My battle weary American Basin whistle pig friend from last year. There is a whole community in the rocks, there.

oops I forgot. He is the same guy as my avatar, or is he a she?

oops I foprgot he is the same guy as myu avatar

Don't you mean 'she'?

Man that's a nasty looking wound on her.

Double oops, yes, she has those female indicators

Jeesh, does that mean I've unknowningly been cross-dress...nah.

Ken,

That's really great marmot shot, no matter what the sex! I agree about American Basin. I don't care if it's cliche or not, I intend to go back there every wildflower season so long as I live within 500 miles of that place. I also found a few other "quieter" spots to go back to as well! Thanks for the comments!

You are certainly welcome, Brian.

BTW, I'm living half time at the Santa Fe Skies RV park (599 and I-25) consulting at LANL and the other half time in Pagosa Springs, which is MUCH closer to AB.

Wow! Brian, this really looks great. Sorry I didn't comment earlier, I got a little side-tracked.

Absolutely beautiful shot Brian, I love it! Am also planning 7-8 days in that area around the 3rd week of July. Have never shot wildflowers before. Am hoping to hit all the spots; American, Yankee Boy, Ice Lake, etc.

On the map it looks like American Basin is less than a mile hike, right?

Thanks,

Jim

American Basin really requires no hike, or as much of hike as you want. The flowers begin (at least when I was there last year) almost immediately after the parking area, and continue up for at least a mile on both sides of the creek. The Trail to Handies and the Lake goes off to the left, and you can take that a couple of miles up and rap around back on top of the left ridge (which is 14,000+ Handies Peak, but you can't really see the peak from the Basin, just a long ridge line). But when I was there, I found the main action to the right of the stream, about 300-400 yards in.

Thanks Brian. I think I know where you mean. From the TH it looks like Handies is off to the East and AB is South towards Sloans Lake.

Jim

Sweet shot, Brian. I'm hoping to make my first San Juan wildflower trip this season, just not sure if it's in the cards given my travel schedule for work. Can't believe I've lived here for 10 years and haven't made it down there for the wildflowers... Anyway - nice shooting!