Colorado: A Genuine Cattle Drive

I've been to a few cattle drives over the years, and they're always fun to watch and photograph. Grizzled old cowboys donned in chaps, shirts, and weather-beaten Stetson hats usher cattle up the main street of a town toward a corral. They call out soothingly to the cows. "On, Bess." "Turn around, lady." On an intelligent level, I know that it's done for the tourists. It's a thrill. It speaks of a time when man grappled with nature, struggling to…

Colorado: thinking about a trip to Steamboat Springs?

I have a love-hate relationship with Steamboat Springs. Or maybe it's more accurately described as love-meh relationship. I've been to the town several times over the years. I remember it as a sleepy town that ski bums filled to the brim in winters. It was the sort of town that "real" outdoor athletes and outdoorsmen flocked to, eschewing the other more popular, touristy ski towns like Vail and Aspen. When I was young, it was both fun and boring. Fun…

An autumn hike in Colorado mountains

There’s nothing like the first fall photography hike in Colorado’s mountains when the air is cool and fresh. The meadows filled with sweet-smelling wild grass have transformed from lush green to tawny gold with shimmers of silver. The smell of junipers and pines wafts through the air. Trails are sun-warmed and dry. Miles flow by effortlessly. The Colorado sky is a bold, striking blue with a few fluffy clouds sailing across.When I write “sailing across,” I mean: at Mach 4…

Seven landscape photographers you definitely should follow

As a hobby landscape photographer, I enjoy watching other photographers and seeing their works evolve and grow over time. They can be a source of inspiration. And if nothing else, it's fascinating to see photographs of faraway places. They're simultaneously foreign and familiar and are bound to set your imagination ablazing. Side note: With the recent passage of Article 13 in European Union (which I support; more on this later) and the copyright protection laws here in USA potentially being…

5 Tips for Jaw-Dropping Landscapes

To get great landscapes, you need more than just a pretty world. You might be in a scenic location, but that doesn't mean it'll always translate well to a 2D image. Landscape photography advice can be contradictory, at times. Sometimes landscapes will look great at a certain time of day or year, but drab at others. Sometimes it'll look better with a long lens, and other times, it's better to use a wide lens. Take this article -- and any…