“Autumn Colors & Early Snow”

On By Mike U.In Photography
Autumn Colors & Early Snow, near Groundhog Reservoir, SW Colorado (c) Mike Utley

FC4-1(S)—Autumn Colors & Early Snow, near Groundhog Reservoir, SW Colorado. Groundhog Reservoir is one of my favorite locations. You can achieve perfect mirror-image reflections of the Lone Cone on its surface at times. Most people go there to fish, hunt or camp, but I always went there to work on photography. The roads are not maintained in the winter months, so it’s only accessible during the summer and fall. This image was made on the way to the reservoir and gives a good idea of what it’s like in my general area. (Canon gear, Fuji Velvia ISO 50)

40 thoughts on ““Autumn Colors & Early Snow””

    1. Thanks, Xenia. I have a lot of images from years ago when I was actively pursuing nature photography and I figured I might share them here. My area has mountains, forests, lakes rivers, and the vast red rock desert of the Colorado Plateau. So many place to wander about and admire. Glad you liked this one. More shall follow (as soon as I figure out how to set up a gallery on my Nature Photography page!). 🙂

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    1. Thanks, Reena. Yes, this area is known for those quaking iaspens tghat turn canary yellow in the fall, as well as cottonwoods that turn a brilliant orange. The bright yellow goes well with the dark greens of the conifers. 🙂

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    1. Thanks, Scarlett! I’m still figuring out some of the WordPress stuff in order to set up a proper gallery but I wanted to start posting some nature photos. It brightens my mood and brings back a lot of good memories. Glad you liked this one. 🙂

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    1. Hey, Mark. Yeah, the light was literally changing by the second. I shot a series of images and each one looked different. That patch of sunlight on the rocks, as well as the bold lighting on the yellow trees really made this one stand out. Thanks for the nice comment, good sir! 🙂

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    1. Thanks, Grace! Figured I can supplement my writing with some photography posts since I’m in a slump at the moment. This will keep me active until my muse (who, as you know, is still stuck in the snow somewhere!) shows up. 🙂

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    1. Thanks, Terveen, and you know what? You’ve reinforced my belief regarding nature photography. I always considered my images a form of poetry. I was in a twenty-year fallow period where I couldn’t write anything, but I spent a few of those years involved in nature photography to feed that creative drive. As I went through many of my images last night, it reminded me of how nature is the most basic form of poetry we have. I consider my landscape shots as larger poems, and my close-ups of wild flowers to be haiku, if that makes sense. Thanks for the kind words. Much appreciated. 🙂

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    1. Thanks, Kirsten. As I was telling Mark above, the lighting was changing by the second and I had several images that all looked different because of it. This one stood out. I was shooting Fuji Velvia ISO 50 slide film (this image was made in the late-’90s before digital really took off), and Velvia has a reputation for really making colors pop, especially reds and blues. No color manipulation on this shot or on any of my images. Just natural lighting and good film. Man, I miss this stuff… Thanks for the super-kind comment! 🙂

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    1. Thanks, Jaya. It was an almost surreal scene with the changing lighting and the spitting snow. The trees stand out so dramatically against the brooding sky and the brightly illuminated snowy ridges. It’s a dynamic scene and it illustrates how quickly the weather conditions can change in this part of the world. 🙂

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    1. Glad to hear you enjoyed your holiday here in Colorado, Juliette. There are so many winter sports opportunities here. I never learned to ski but always wanted to. World-class ski resorts call Colorado home, and the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee is located in Colorado Springs, CO. Here’s hoping you can visit the state again sometime! 🙂

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    1. Thanks so much. I remember it was snowing lightly at the time I made this image–just spitting a few flakes. It was chilly and definitely quiet and peaceful. Those clouds were certainly laden with portent–weather in the mountains can change by the minute and I was almost two hours from home at this point, so I had to keep an eye open for snowstorms on the way back. The lighting makes this shot work. I made a series of images and each looked different from the rest due to the shifting lighting. It really was magical. 🙂

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  15. You can’t rush through beautiful photography, art or poetry as it is to be savored. What a magnificent photograph and I will make my way through your gallery as time permits. Thank you for sharing these with us. Blessings, Joni

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    1. Thanks a bunch, Joni. I’m glad this image spoke to you. It means so much to me when that connection is made, when someone understands what I meant to say. I hope you enjoy the other images in the galleries. Much appreciated, my friend! 🙂

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  16. rajkkhoja

    Hi My dear friend.
    Today i visite you photography gallery..
    Excellent photography. Amazing green yellow colour trees around mountain. I like.
    You are had mountains, forests, lake river and red rock desert. Iam so glad you live in arounded nature are. I love nature .
    Where you live in state & City?
    Thanks!
    God bless you 🤠

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    1. Thanks so much for visiting my photo gallery. I’m delighted to read your kind words. 🙂 I’m fortunate that I live in a beautiful area with so many different kinds of landscapes, from mountains to deserts, lakes, rivers, wild animals and farmland. I live in a little town called Cortez in southwest Colorado. The photo above was made about an hour from where I live. I had been driving to visit Groundhog Reservoir that afternoon many years ago when it began to snow, so I stopped and made some images while the lighting was changing by the second. It’s one of my favorite photos and it’s a good example of what this area looks like. I must say nature is my first love. I grew up on a farm not too far from where I live now and I learned to appreciate the natural world in my youth. I wish I could live in the countryside again. Even though my town is small, it’s just not the same as having a home surrounded by nature. Thanks as always for your warm and thoughtful words, my friend! 🙂

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      1. rajkkhoja

        Thank you so much my dear friend i inspired to responsable , polite, humble and kindly you reply me. You are so sweet. You have good knowledge for nature love. Very enjoyable you details your living life area. you are so lucky.
        God bless 😂!

        Liked by 1 person

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