Small Footsteps

There is, perhaps, nothing so incredible for a parent than to see their little one take their first footsteps. And, perhaps, there is nothing so incredible for the little one as taking that first footstep into the world and the adventures that lie ahead of them.

In Yellowstone National Park, during the month of June, this tiny vignette is repeated across the park every day by all manner of creatures, from the smallest to the largest inhabitants. Mothers everywhere watch their young find their feet, gather them up, and stand for the first time. From there it quickly progresses to walking, running and then keeping up with their parents.

This particular photo to me is exceptionally poignant. Taken extremely early in the day, it is a small moment in a baby elk calf’s life… he is clearly so proud, so happy and so eager to climb the mountainside to see what wonders await him at the top. His mother, meanwhile, just looked up from her grazing to carefully and proudly watch her youngster, exactly in the manner that all mothers carefully and proudly watch their young depart on their first adventure. It matters not who you are, for all parents experience that moment and it reinforces how wonderful, how incredible and how awesome our world is. Proud footsteps!

Telluride Peak

Fall Foretold

You know it is about to happen, even without looking at the calendar. There is a certain–something–in the air that tells you; perhaps it is the quickening of days, perhaps it is that slight cooler evening, or perhaps, just perhaps, it is the unmistakable signs that nature herself provides.

For example, you might be walking in the mountains next to a clear blue stream. Rounding the bend you see it: the bright red leaves among the otherwise lush and green foliage. Surely, you are seeing things, but as you walk closer you realize it is not an illusion, for the red leaves remain red leaves, and the foretelling is unmistakable.

Fall is coming. Fall is coming. The summer will be departing, but still, one magical time of the year merely gives way to another magical time of the year, and the progression continues.

Infernally Yours

The sun was just in a cranky mood. It had been a long day, what with the rain and all, and it had spent the entire day trying to fight through the rain clouds. Every time it thought it saw an opening, and tried to provide a bit of warmth and cheer, the rain clouds scuttled back in, thwarting every effort. In the end, it was just one of those days.

At the very end of the day, though, the rain clouds decided to pack it in a bit early (their day had been a darn good one, after all, and they figured they would reward themselves just a bit), leaving the sun just the barest of all opportunities. And it took that… with a vengeance! It was really quite mad at this point and as it slipped below the horizon its full rage could be seen by all. The colors were absolutely amazing and staggering and the rain clouds quickly regretted the decision to block the sun that day.

This image was taken from the top of Sandia Crest in Sandia Mountains in New Mexico. Truly, the entire sunset was beyond compare, and the reds and yellows in it were intense, to say the least. The clouds reflected the dying sun’s light in every direction and for a moment–just a brief moment–this is what it looked like. And before you knew it, the sun slipped fully below the horizon leaving all in darkness.

Copper Sunset

Every now and then in the desert southwest a magical sunset will happen. You’ll know it when you see it, too, for it is completely unlike any other sunset. Take this sunset, for example.

One moment the sun is heading below the horizon, just as normal as you please. And the very next moment the sky itself is breathtaking. The copper and golden colors appeared in the blink of an eye; and for an all too brief moment the sky deepened and took on even more copper.

But the moment was just that: a moment. For the darkness stole the color and the sunset was just a sunset. Luckily, the moment was captured and the Copper Sunset shall live on.

There are different sizes of this photo available at our portfolio. Copper Sunset is available for purchase, as well, and you can have this print framed and delivered right to your door.