Biedenharn Candy Co., Vicksburg, Mississippi

A few weekends ago my friend Allen was in a “Get Out Of Town” mood, so she asked if I’d like to ride over to Vicksburg with her for the afternoon.  Since I live in a “Get Out Of Town” mood, I was all for it.  We piled in the car with Everest and hit the road.

The plan was to go to some galleries in the old downtown section of Vicksburg so Allen could shop for a painting, then head out to the Vicksburg National Military Park so I could take some pictures.  However, the late afternoon sun was providing such wonderfully warm light on the west facing brick buildings that I just had to start shooting.

There was a small logistical problem with this, though – a small problem named Everest.  He’s a Shih Tzu and not very fond of the oppressive Mississippi heat.   He had to stay in the car with the air conditioner going, which meant one of us had to stay with him; so we took turns.  Allen would go in a gallery and do her shopping while I scoped out anything I wanted to shoot.  When she got through, she’d get back in the car; and I’d jump out and do my thing as quickly as possible.  Then we’d drive down the street to the next gallery and repeat the process.

I particularly wanted to get some pictures of Biedenharn Candy Co., famous for being the first place Coca-Cola was bottled.  Naturally, I didn’t want cars covering up the front of the building, so I worked hard to find angles that had the most aesthetic appeal with the least automotive distraction.  I thought I managed to get some fairly decent ones, so I headed to the car.  On the way, I glanced back and noticed a motorcycle parked on my side of the street and immediately thought of my friend Marvin, who loves to ride.  I decided I’d get a shot of Biedenharn’s with the motorcycle in front of it as a nod to him.  I took the picture, jumped back in the car, and off we went.

Well, the picture that was really an afterthought turned out to be the best one of the day!  That’s the way it goes sometimes, though; your instinct takes over without bothering to tell your brain why.  So here’s to Allen and Marvin, my two friends who made this shot possible.

If you are interested in purchasing this photograph, click here.

The story behind this photo is a little long, so please bear with me.  You won’t find the picture in my portfolio on Nature’s Drama, nor will there be a link at the end to purchase it.  When you read the story, you’ll understand why.

I love Rocky Mountain National Park more than any other place on earth.  It’s as simple as that.  By all accounts, Jeff Christensen loved Rocky Mountain National Park, too.  In fact, he had the job I’ve always wished I could have ended up in – he was a Rocky Mountain National Park Ranger.  The very thought of getting to spend all summer in RMNP – and get paid to do it – sounded like paradise.  I hope that’s how Jeff saw it; I expect it is.

On Friday, July 29, 2005, Jeff set out on foot patrol.  He was headed to the Mummy Range area of the park.  As it so happens, the very next day I arrived at Rocky Mountain National Park.  I was there to meet 20+ friends from RMNP Forums, a website I help administer.  We had a pretty full week planned – a group hike on the Ute Trail from the Alpine Visitors Center to Milner Pass, a get together picnic, and a work project in conjunction with the National Parks Service.  I was looking forward to the week with great anticipation, but that all changed even before I arrived.  By then I knew that Ranger Jeff Christensen had not returned from his Friday patrol.  A massive search was launched, but so far he had not been found.

The search continued throughout the week.  We all wished we could do something to help; but short of praying, it seemed out of our hands.  That being the case, we carried on with our plans.  The group hike was a great success; the fellowship at the picnic was wonderful.  Unfortunately, our work day got rained out.  (We showed up but were not surprised when the NPS didn’t; no doubt they were busy with a more important issue than revegitation at Sprague Lake.)  Everywhere we went, we saw signs of the search that dragged on and on – helicopters flying overhead, media trailers at the Beaver Meadows Visitors Center, solemn faces all around.  Hope faded as our group broke up and headed on our different ways.

Saturday, August 6 was my last full day in the park.    I went to the annual Rocky Mountain Nature Association Picnic that morning.  Park Superintendent Baker spoke to us briefly before rejoining the search efforts.  I  stopped by the Longs Peak Trailhead to leave a note for Aaron, the Forums’ founder, and his friend John and then headed out for a hike up Lily Mountain.  It was late in the day, so I turned around before making it to the top.  That worked out well, because I had a voice mail from Aaron suggesting I meet them for supper.  I freshened up and went to meet them.

The first thing Aaron told me was the news we were all dreading but had come to realize was inevitable – the body of Ranger Jeff Christensen had been found by a hiker that afternoon in the Mt. Ypsilon area.  Eventually, we learned that he had fallen sometime the afternoon he set out, suffered serious head wounds and died shortly thereafter.

The members of RMNP Forums wanted to do something to honor Jeff, so we raised money to donate in his memory for search and rescue equipment.  That just didn’t seem like enough, though.  Marv, our other administrator, came up with an additional idea.  He suggested we observe July 29, the day Jeff died, as “Thank a Ranger Day.”  Each year, members send cards to the rangers at Rocky Mountain National Park thanking them for all they do, in memory of Ranger Jeff Christensen.  This year, we have begun the process of expanding “Thank a Ranger Day” nationwide, suggesting that anyone who loves a national park take this opportunity to let its rangers know how much they are appreciated.  Hopefully, as the years go by, this idea will catch on and grow as it deserves to.

I’ve already mailed my card for this year.  Nonetheless, I want to say a public “Thank You” to all the rangers out there.  Most especially, thank you, Ranger Jeff Christensen.  Every time I go to Rocky Mountain National Park, I will think of you.

Aspen Trunks on Fall River Road

Everybody’s sure to have seen those commercials where the tag line is to declare something “priceless.” You probably have some experience you feel that way about, possibly even several.  For me, high on the list is spending time in Rocky Mountain National Park during the fall.  There’s just so much to savor there during September and October.  For one thing, the weather cools off; and snow is always a possibility.  Another draw is elk bugling.  You have never lived until you experience the spectacle of a huge, manly elk raising his head and emitting a screech that puts a traffic cop’s whistling to shame!  Trust me, there’s nothing to match it!

Then there are the aspens.  They begin changing colors at the higher elevations; then, like a golden flame marching down the mountainside, the show migrates slowly to the lower areas.  While it’s difficult to predict “Peak Week,” any time during the last two weeks in September through the first week in October should provide outstanding color somewhere.  This grove, on Fall River Road, is one of the best spots to catch the fall foliage in all its glory.

Yes, autumn in Rocky Mountain National Park is priceless, indeed!

To purchase this photograph, click here.

I’ll admit up front, this is one of my favorite photographs. The contrast of the colors, the beads of water, the vivid purple – I just love it all. The best part about it, though, is that I took this right in my own back yard. No expensive travel was involved, no scouting for locations; I just walked right out my back door, camera in hand, and started shooting whatever took my fancy. Needless to say, I was thrilled with the results.

Sometimes I think we forget there’s beauty all around us, even right where we live. All we have to do is open our eyes to find it. It may takes a bit of intentionality to discover it, but it’s out there waiting for you. When was the last time you walked out into your back yard on a safari for the sublime? What are you missing that’s right under your nose? I challenge you to go on a photo scavenger hunt this very weekend. You may be amazed at what you’re missing! Happy hunting!

If you hare interested in purchasing this photograph, click here.

Grand Canyon Rainstorm

This could also just as easily have been titled “The Photograph That Almost Wasn’t.” A couple of years ago, my best friend and I decided to go on a trip to Arizona together. We started out in Scottsdale and then shifted up to Sedona for a few days. As it happens, you can drive to the Grand Canyon and back in a day from Sedona, but it makes for a long day. We decided that if we got motivated to get on the road really early one morning we’d go; but if not, we’d skip it since we’d both been there before. Needless to say, the urge to get up at the crack of dawn never struck. On our last morning in Sedona, we talked it over and decided it was too late for a Grand Canyon run but that we’d head up Oak Creek Canyon and then figure out what we wanted to do after that.

Eventually, we made our way up to the top of the canyon. By that time we were hungry, so we decided to drive on to Flagstaff for lunch. Once we’d eaten, we weren’t really ready to head back, so we said we’d drive up Highway 180, a scenic route that takes you past Humphreys Peak, until we felt like turning around. I made note that if we got to the end of Highway 180, we could always loop back down Highway 64 to the interstate.

Here’s the thing – if you get to the end of Highway 180, you’re only about 30 miles south of the Grand Canyon. We both knew that, just like we’d both secretly known for several hours that we were going to the Grand Canyon. I don’t remember which of us finally stated what was by now quite obvious. It really doesn’t matter. Around 3:00 pm, we arrived at the one place we had said we were not going that day.

Photographing the Grand Canyon in the middle of the day is very tricky. The sun really washes out the beautiful colors, and any scattered clouds floating overhead cast shadows that detract from the scenery. In an incredible stroke of luck for me, though, a rainstorm passed over the canyon just as we were arriving. The overcast skies made a stark contrast to the red of the canyon walls, and the rain falling in the distance added drama to the setting. It was a photographer’s paradise.

When I got back home, everybody who saw the photographs I took that day urged me to offer them for sale. In fact, a 16 X 20 of this very picture was the first one someone ordered. Thus was born Nature’s Drama Photography!

If you are interested in purchasing this photograph, click here.

Welcome to Nature’s Drama Photography. Through these posts, you’ll learn the stories behind the photographs that are available for purchase at Nature’s Drama. You’ll also get a chance to give your feedback on your likes and dislikes, your preferences and what you’d like to see added or changed.

I would also like to draw your attention to an affiliated website, MountainDrama, which is specifically about Rocky Mountain National Park. If you happen to see a photograph on MountainDrama that you would like to purchase but can’t find on Nature’s Drama, please feel free to email me. If at all possible, I’ll add it to Nature’s Drama.

I look forward to hearing from you.