Brian-Bigelow

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2020-02-16T08:37:00.001-08:00

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2727 N Nevada Ave

Colorado Springs, CO

Pleasures

2020-02-13T16:30:00.001-08:00

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2727 N Nevada

719-375-3088

Geneology

2016-12-12T05:14:00.001-08:00

I've been doing a bunch of my family tree recently. Especially my fathers side which I didn't know anything about before recently so it's pretty fascinating. James Hill to the top right is kind of iffy at present though I am thinking he's William Hills father. I just don't know for a fact yet.

In the next day, or so, I should be uploading some more pictures to the blog.

Snow, snow, snow

2016-12-03T05:30:00.001-08:00

We got our first snowfall here yesterday. Apparently the latest first snow in history. Normally it would be around October 19th.

I had to get a couple of frames of snow. Here they are.

It was far too cold to stay out very long or I would have probably gotten more. In the coming weeks I'll get some more and I'll be happy to share them here on the blog. And Viewbug of course.

Have a great day and try to enjoy your life.

Finches

2016-11-26T05:43:00.000-08:00

On Thanksgiving Day we went through the nursing home and I got a chance to photograph some of the birds in the finch habitat on the second floor.
At first I was just using the shorter telephoto but had to get too close to the glass. It was obvious the birds were a little upset. I also wasn't able to zero in on any of the birds like I wanted too. So, I grabbed my longer zoom so I could put a little more distance between myself and the birds.
Here are my results. Most of these will be going up on Viewbug Monday.

I hope you enjoyed these images. Have a great day.

Thanksgiving

2016-11-24T14:51:00.002-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving Day to all of my readers.
We went to spend some time at the nursing home with Susan's mother. There was also a dinner via the nursing home kitchen.

Here is Susan and her mother before we went down to the dinner.

I decided to photograph some of the others who were in dining room.

What Thanksgiving dinner is complete without pumpkin pie? This frame I could almost use as an advertising image.

This was dinner.

I hope you're having a wonderful day.

Framing the mountain

2016-11-21T05:14:00.000-08:00

We were early for Susan's physical therapy so we went over to the nearby park and wanted to capture a few images. After looking around a few minutes I liked the idea of using tree branches to frame Pikes Peak. It was really cold out there though so I didn't shoot too many frames to be honest. The wind was rather biting.

Here are the results. The bottom one I just uploaded to Viewbug.

I hope you enjoyed these, have a great day.

Snow

2016-11-18T07:46:00.002-08:00

It's been a couple of weeks since I posted here on the blog last. In some ways the weather hasn't entirely cooperated. It's been very warm. A lot of trees still have leaves on them and a lot of others are completely bare which is rare for this time of year here in Colorado.
One of the things I've been looking forward to photographing is snow. It's almost a month late but we finally got some yesterday. It wasn't very much however, just a light dusting that didn't really stick anywhere.
I didn't spend much time outside as it was very cold but here are the images I captured.

The last two weeks I've been going through various picture folders looking for decent images that I hadn't posted on Viewbug yet. I think I've gotten to my October 1st images and will be going back further in coming weeks.

Even better I'm hoping to get some more snow images in the coming weeks.

Until next time have a great day.

Magpie

2016-10-31T05:58:00.000-07:00

We went up to Monument Lake on Friday. Unfortunately I wasn't able to hike all of the places I wanted to. They managed to build up some of the weirs at one end of the lake which has expanded the wetlands. Now the wetlands covers some of the trails that I used to walk on. Guess I'd have to walk quite a ways around now.

While on my way to discovering all of this I spotted a magpie in a tree. I began to follow it with the camera as it went up higher in the tree, and then, came back down to the lower branches.

A couple of these I will be uploading to Viewbug.

Soon, I'll be sharing some of the Coot images too. I sincerely hope you're enjoying the photography. I'm going to try to get even more wildlife images.

Have a great day and enjoy life.

Reflections

2016-10-29T05:27:00.000-07:00

One of the things I like capturing is reflections in water along with the subject. We were a little early for one of Susan's doctors appointments on Thursday. The weather was perfect and Prospect lake was nearby.
Happily, since there was no wind I began shooting a few frames with the Canadian geese. Out of those here are some of the better results. I'm thinking I'll use the first one on Viewbug.

This, I think, is probably the next best frame.

I'd like this one better if the goose hadn't been looking away from the camera.

Great reflections but unfortunately a bit too cluttered I think.

Not too bad. But, not exactly the best either.

I also managed to catch a little boy on one of the playground jungle gyms. He was kind of pensively standing there looking at his grandmother sitting at a picnic table who I also captured an image of. This shot will definitely be up on Viewbug.

In the next day I should be posting some I captured at Monument Lake.

Have a great day.

Water

2016-10-27T05:17:00.001-07:00

One of the things I've been wanting to get is leaves moving. Especially leaves in water. The other day I got my opportunity in a stream along Highway 24.

I think this is the best of them. It is up on Viewbug.

This is I think a close second. It has a very surrealistic look.

Of the area I shot the leaves this scene is what I seen first. I managed to capture it pretty well but I think it's a little over contrasty.

I zeroed in a little bit on part of the frame. This one I really like and it is up on Viewbug.

I refocused a bit on the water fall, and rapids. This one is a bit better I think and now that I'm looking at it again I'll probably be uploading it to Viewbug on Monday.

This is another one of the close ups of the rapids. I'll probably be uploading it to Viewbug on Monday too.

I think there's a few more frames available from the most recent Cripple Creek shoot. Much of the rest I've gotten up here on the blog.

For now have a great day.

Life is meant to be experienced.

Enjoy it.

Revel in it.

Cripple Creek and Victor mine.

2016-10-26T06:14:00.000-07:00

Along one of the roads from Cripple Creek to Victor there's this cool observation area where you can look into part of the mine that's there. You get to stand on the bed of one of the dump trucks they use in the mine. They are huge, I think three of my minivan could be parked side by side. Sorry, I didn't get any pictures of it. The mine was my focus on this set of pictures.
Millions of years ago there was a huge volcano that went extinct. The present mine is in the center of that extinct volcano. Lot's of gold became infused in the rock surrounding the lava dome which has been mined for over 100 years. In the first picture you can see part of that lava dome.

I was going to do a panorama with the first three images. However, I can't easily do that with the computer, and the photo software, that I have available. Of course, my Canon SLR doesn't have that nice panorama setting the Fuji had.

The colors of the rock is quite beautiful in this image. I'll be uploading this one to Viewbug soon. All of the holes will be filled with explosives which will be set off. The rock will be taken away, and crushed. The gold within will be extracted.

This image I did upload to Viewbug. The rock is quite beautiful. Without the destruction of mining it wouldn't have every been seen.

This is a slightly wider angle of the same scene.

The next three images are rather blah I'll admit.

That's it for now. Have a great day.

Derelict mining equipment

2016-10-25T04:47:00.000-07:00

On Thursday we were a little too early to check into the hotel. We drove through to Victor as a result. I wanted to get some preliminary images of mining equipment, or maybe the mines. The first two images are parts of what had been the Stratton Independence mine and I did upload those images to Viewbug.
You can see a line in the upper right corner. Apparently, when I was cleaning the camera body I had one of the brush fibers get caught in the focal plane shutter. Yesterday, I finally managed to get it out with a needle nose pliers.

At one place just outside of Victor, CO there's an accumulation of old mining equipment that's spread out over the mountainside. Kind of open air museum. I got to wander among all of the equipment while trying to see them in an artistic manner.
The old rock crushers, and mining cars was fascinating. Some of the equipment almost looked like what you would expect to see on a steam train.

I'm thinking the next image I'll be uploading to Viewbug. I like it.

This one is also a possibility for Viewbug.

I kind of like this one too.

Tomorrow I should be adding some more to the blog. Until then, have a great day.

Look through the past

2016-10-24T05:31:00.001-07:00

One of the concepts I've started to develop is one of looking through a doorway, or a window of a derelict building, and capture an image. It's kind of like looking through the past. The first use of the concept I used on our last trip to Cripple Creek. This house, and it's all the same house is up on the mountainside above Cripple Creek.

No, I didn't go inside. That would be a good way to find out if the house had a basement, or not.
I posted a couple of these on Facebook. One of the responses was that they're a bit eerie. And, I guess they are though they really didn't strike me that way.

This is from the front door.

I really like this one. Probably my favorite of these.

Through both windows you can see the door to another derelict.

Nice view of the nearby forest.

I'll probably start posting some of the images from the mines tomorrow. Soon will be coming some of the mine equipment too. I really managed to capture a lot of great images while on this trip. It's really hard to pick the best ones.

Have a great day.

Stratton Mine Victor

2016-10-23T04:23:00.002-07:00

This derelict mine is just outside of Victor. Back in the day a lot of gold came out of the mine which made Stratton a rich man. Now, all there is left is remnants of the past. Part of a chute in one place, a framework in another, and an empty derelict building that extends over the shaft which has usually been filled in.

This is likely to be one of the images I'll upload to Viewbug tomorrow. Apparently the chute in the fourth, and fifth images, extended across the present road.

Here's the main mine building. Below that tower is where the shaft would have been.

This is the first composition of this chute that extended down the mountainside.

After looking at the resulting image on the camera I decided to go for a slightly different composition which I like better. This one I'll probably be uploading to Viewbug.

So I can remember later what it is I photographed I'll normally capture an image of the associated historical marker or sign.

That's it for now. Have a great and try to enjoy your life.

Big Horned Sheep

2016-10-21T07:28:00.001-07:00

While heading to Cripple Creek we came across this group of Big Horned Sheep just off the road. I, of course, stopped the car and got out the camera. Here are the images.

Have a great day.

Foot bridge

2016-10-18T05:59:00.001-07:00

Every morning on my way to work I pass under a foot bridge that extends over I-25. I've been wanting to photograph it but never took the time to do so until three days ago. Here are the images I captured.

On the ramp leading up to the bridge itself there are these neat frames. I thought it would look really cool with the fall colors showing through.

Near the bridge is a park where I also decided to capture a few frames. This bench over looking the lake looks to inviting. I could see myself spending some time sitting on the bench watching the lake.

Adjoining the park is a heirloom garden. This guy is guarding it. I thought he deserved an image.

On Thursday we're headed up to Cripple Creek once more. We'll be spending the night in this nice hotel up there that over looks the entire town. If you do get into Cripple Creek you might want to stay at the Gold King Mountain Inn. So far, this year, out of the hotels, and motels, we've stayed at it's one of the few I can heartily recommend.

While we're in the vicinity we're probably going to go over to Victor, CO which is only a few miles from Cripple Creek. The last time I was there was when I was a teenager and my grandparents went through the town. It'll be interesting to see it once more after close to 40 years. Even better I'll have a camera this time. I should be able to make up for the one short memory from back then.

Probably the best memory I have from Cripple Creek from back then was panning for gold one time. As I recall I don't think I managed to find any gold in the pan but do remember doing it. It's funny the things you remember.

I'm done with my reminiscing for now. Have a great day and I'll be posting again soon.

The Gardens botanical garden #2

2016-10-09T05:24:00.000-07:00

The botanical garden in Fort Collins, CO was such a beautiful place to see. Such an amazing profusion of flowers in one place.

I'd like to visit it again next year some time. Maybe we'll stop there on our way Yellowstone National Park which I've never been to. Got close when I was a truck driver but never got to stop there. I'd also like to visit Craters of the Moon National Park in Idaho once again too.

Now, onto the flowers...

Thank you so much for sharing these moments in time with me. It's been a great journey so far and there's so much more to discover.
Have a great day and try to enjoy your life a bit.

The Gardens botanical garden

2016-10-08T05:03:00.001-07:00

On our return from our vacation we needed to take a break and stretch our legs a bit. Luckily, in a Google search, I found out about "The Gardens on Spring Creek" botanical garden in Ft. Collins, CO. Having been there I can tell you it's quite a beautiful place. If you get a chance you should go visit.

Here's part of the shoot of the day and I do hope you enjoy the images. Tomorrow I'll post the rest.

Thank you so much for allowing me to share my images with you. I do appreciate it.

Until next time get out there and try to enjoy your life too.

On the way

2016-10-05T05:50:00.000-07:00

After we left Deadwood, SD I managed to get us lost. Even worse, I was completely out of roaming internet on my phone so my GPS wouldn't work. The only reason I know the name of the creek in the next three images is because I took a picture of the highway sign at the bridge. The highway number is 14A, and creek is Spearfish Creek.
As I was driving down the highway I noticed several pro photographers who were shooting images. Why I think they were pros is the $1500+ lenses they were using. I think one was using a pretty expensive Manfrotto tripod too. The equipment is the ones you see advertised in Outdoor Photographer which I subscribe to.
About a mile from where I seen the pros all set up I pulled at what seemed to be a good spot for capturing a few images. The middle one is usable for Viewbug I think.

Later on I got us on the right road which was US 85 S. After a while I needed to take a break and stretch my legs so I pulled over at this roadside table. Then, I noticed this old road. After studying it a few moments I realized it's the former US 85 from before the section I was driving on. This was what you would have driven on in the 1940's. Rather narrow compared to today's road standards.

The next image after I panned right to capture some of the adjoining scenery.

That's it for now. Have a great day and try to enjoy your life.

Deadwood, SD

2016-10-04T05:57:00.000-07:00

After visiting the Crazy Horse, and Mt Rushmore monuments we went up to Deadwood, South Dakota. It's gambling, and tourist town. While Susan was doing a bit of gambling I went wandering to capture a few images. In the first image I'm posting here is one of the first views I'd seen. Since there was little traffic, as you can see, I got into the middle of the road where I stood to capture this image.

While walking I noticed this staircase inside of one of the casinos. I kind of wanted to go inside to get slightly different framing, but casinos are usually rather averse to your bringing a camera inside the casino and start snapping pictures.

This one was kind of cool. I got the motorcycle, and rider, sharp and clear as I panned, and the surroundings are blurred a bit. All in all rather nice, and I think next week I'll upload it to Viewbug.

While I was walking down the street I noticed this tower. It caught my eye. As I got closer this particular framing I thought would be interesting, and it is to me. This image I did upload on Viewbug a little bit ago.

After capturing the image of the tower I began walking back to where I started explorations down the street. Each street I passed I looked down it. Down this little street to my surprise it was only a block long, and there were stairs at the end of it.

Here's a closer look at the stairs which I did climb.

At the top of the stairs this is what I seen. The victorian houses, and the changing trees nicely worked together in an artistic sense. This image also ended up on Viewbug.

Looking into casino windows I noticed this huge slot machine that's facing the window. I decided it might make a nice frame, and for me, the reflections adds to the image. After waiting a few moments to observe the reflections, and frame accordingly, I pushed the shutter button. This picture I also uploaded to Viewbug this morning.

That's all for now. Tomorrow I think I'll post some more from another one of the spots we went to in our recent vacation travels.

Have a great day, and try to enjoy your life a bit.

Mt Rushmore #3

2016-10-02T06:23:00.003-07:00

We went to Mt. Rushmore on the 29th also a bit after we stopped at the Crazy Horse. Of course I captured some images from the monument.

This image turns out to be pretty similar to several post cards. Great minds think alike I suppose.

I got closer and decided to try the composition again. This one I like better.

Then I tried to get the people walking into the monument along with the flags.

It's not too often I get into the frame but this time I did.

Here are the four faces. It isn't often I use the 75-300 mm zoom but this time I did.

Close ups of the four faces.

We went through a museum at the monument. Here are some of the clay model outtakes. I really like the last one I'm posting here. It kind of has a surrealistic quality to it.

It was an enjoyable visit. Years ago I was a truck driver and I was routed near the monument. It was the middle of the night. I couldn't stop because I was on a tight schedule as always when you drive a truck for a living. I think the monument was probably closed too. The thing I remember most is they had the monument lit up.
Tomorrow I should be posting some images from Deadwood, SD which is where we stopped next.

Have a great day and try to enjoy your life a bit.

Mt Rushmore #2

2016-10-02T06:23:00.002-07:00

We went to Mt. Rushmore on the 29th also a bit after we stopped at the Crazy Horse. Of course I captured some images from the monument.

This image turns out to be pretty similar to several post cards. Great minds think alike I suppose.

I got closer and decided to try the composition again. This one I like better.

Then I tried to get the people walking into the monument along with the flags.

It's not too often I get into the frame but this time I did.

Here are the four faces. It isn't often I use the 75-300 mm zoom but this time I did.

Close ups of the four faces.

We went through a museum at the monument. Here are some of the clay model outtakes. I really like the last one I'm posting here. It kind of has a surrealistic quality to it.

Have a great day and try to enjoy your life a bit.

Mt Rushmore #1

2016-10-02T06:23:00.001-07:00

We went to Mt. Rushmore on the 29th also a bit after we stopped at the Crazy Horse. Of course I captured some images from the monument.

This image turns out to be pretty similar to several post cards. Great minds think alike I suppose.

I got closer and decided to try the composition again. This one I like better.

Then I tried to get the people walking into the monument along with the flags.

It's not too often I get into the frame but this time I did.

Here are the four faces. It isn't often I use the 75-300 mm zoom but this time I did.

Close ups of the four faces.

We went through a museum at the monument. Here are some of the clay model outtakes. I really like the last one I'm posting here. It kind of has a surrealistic quality to it.

Have a great day and try to enjoy your life a bit.

Crazy Horse day 2

2016-10-01T05:22:00.003-07:00

We went back to the Crazyhorse monument on the morning of the 29th. Of course I captured some images while there. Some of these I think I will be uploading on Viewbug in the coming weeks.

Of these two I like the first one better than the second though I did a good job on both. If you have a preference please make a comment.

Here's Susan in front of the monument.

I decided to zoom in on the face a bit. One of the lenses I normally carry though I don't use much is my 75-300 mm zoom. For this image I took it out and used it.

I think this image is on my short list for Viewbug uploads.

The platform is poised on what will be the tip of the finger.

Here's the entire top of the monument.

Here are some of the surrounding trees and scenery. Quite lovely with the fall colors.

This is where the prospector that used to own the property used to live. Unfortunately for me I wasn't allowed to get closer.

That's it for the Crazy Horse monument. Our next stop was Mt Rushmore and I'll post pictures from it tomorrow. And I think the day after tomorrow will be the Deadwood, SD images.
Right now as I'm writing this I'm in Cheyenne, Wy. I'm thinking a bit later today we'll go to a museum downtown. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end so tomorrow morning I'll be back at work.

Have a great day and try to enjoy your life a bit.