It is hard to describe, exactly, how this scene affected me as I made this photograph. I was in the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge near Socorro, New Mexico, one of my very favorite places to photograph. I find the entire refuge to have a large and diverse range of wildlife in it, and as you are there you never know quite what you will see.

This day, however, the refuge was fairly quiet. The inhabitants who were there preferred to stay hidden, which was a pity. It was early fall, too early yet for the majority of migratory birds to arrive, so seeing any bird this trip was something of a rarity. Still, there was plenty to see and I enjoyed myself thoroughly.

My trip that day was done, and I decided to sit by the shore of a pond and enjoy the last of the day, for it would be dusk soon. As I sat, I simply relaxed, enjoying the sun, enjoying the day, and mostly, enjoying the few canada geese who were at the far side of pond. It was a time of peace, solitude and reflection; the rest of the day began slipping away even quicker than before. When I look at this photograph I am reminded of that time; of that peace and quietude, that perfect afternoon in the bosque. I hope that you feel much the same, and may the peace of the bosque be with you.

Alpine Quietude

Hidden Deer

The wind barely has enough life in it to gently rustle the brush, but that’s OK. It has been a long day, and the afternoon grows late, meaning it is almost time for the wind to be done for the day. It is still wintertime, too, and although the sun is providing a most wonderful afternoon, the night will be cold, and one is best bundled up. That, of course, includes the wind. With a last half-hearted gesture, the wind puffed once, and then packed it in for the evening.

The sun wasn’t ready to give up the day just yet, though, and continued its slow journey to the horizon, bringing the most wonderful hues of gold everywhere.

The sun wasn’t the only one out enjoying the afternoon, either. This hidden deer was quite at peace in the golden field; she was still as all can be, not moving an inch, but yet… there was this complete sense of serenity. She was well hidden, and knew it, and was safe, comfortable and very much enjoying the last of the day.

With a gentle click the camera’s shutter closed, and the hidden deer was left to enjoy the rest of her golden afternoon.

Aspen Wood

The Aspens in fall. What an incredible sight!

And the aspens in the fall in Colorado are an even more spectacular sight! Everywhere one looks the colors of the leaves are bright and vivid; vibrant and in every hue of yellow and orange one can imagine. As far as the eye can see the scene before you is just intense.

Yet, this particular shot is one of my very favorites. Taken along the Million Dollar Highway (as near to Telluride as this highway gets, which in this case is about five miles. Still, it is the closest town, even if the road doesn’t even pass through there.) in September, it caught me completely off guard. I was, frankly, looking up at the leaves, and pondering their colors when I looked off to my left. And then…

… this. I was taken by the way the strong sunlight filtered down below to where I was. I loved the shadows that played along the aspen trunks. I adored the hint of fall colors in the background, yet also the greens of summer still hanging on in the foreground. And as I look back on this, the memories of that perfect fall day come flooding back to me as I stood there, deep in the Aspen Wood.