I am very fortunate to live in the beautiful state of Colorado where nature has provided me an awesome and diverse backdrop for my photography work. There is never a shortage of subject matter here, especially given that I live within minutes of Rocky Mountain National Park, a favorite photography location of mine.
Colorado is home to more than 50 fourteeners. A fourteener is alpine jargon for a mountain peak that climbs to or extends beyond 14,000 ft. above sea level. Therefore, anyone wishing to capture the true essence of Colorado will undoubtedly have to spend some time in the higher elevations.
Cameras, like other sophisticated electronic devices, can be temperamental. All electronic devices have an elevation threshold past which their operation is not guaranteed or recommended. Thus, it’s essential that you thoroughly read your instruction manual and know your camera’s operating limits before you go trekking into the mountains for photo ops.
If you’ve taken any photos on ski slopes or in other alpine environments, you may have noticed that your pictures tend to have a bluish tint to them. This is actually normal and can easily be corrected. To remove the bluish cast, try using a skylight filter (1A), which is lightly coated with magenta coloration. Adding magenta will remove the blue cast restoring proper skin tones and colors of your subject. If you find that the blue cast is still too prevalent, you may need to use a stronger magenta filter (81A).
Some of Colorado’s more elusive creatures make their homes at extreme elevations. Big horn sheep, for example, thrive in areas of Rocky Mountain National Park that are difficult and sometimes dangerous to navigate. If you are up to the challenge of a steep hike, you will certainly be rewarded with spectacular mountain views and may be lucky enough to glimpse and photograph the bighorns. Take care, however, to watch your footing at all times. Some of the trails can be quite treacherous. You may be tempted to go off trail to try and get a better vantage point for your photographs. If so, exercise extreme caution, as the terrain is precarious.
Remember that Colorado is bear and mountain lion country. The last thing you want to do is encounter a hungry mountain lion or startle a foraging bear in your haste to get the perfect shot. Make lots of noise while on the trails, and keep to the trails for your safety and the preservation of the fragile alpine environment. There are several schools of thought as far as what a person should or should not do if they happen to encounter a bear. I am not an expert on bears or bear behavior. Therefore, I will not purport to instruct you on the correct course of action. I suggest that you discuss this possibility with one of the park rangers before embarking on your journey and ask them for the proper methods for dealing with such an encounter. They are, indeed, the experts on the subject. The same logic applies to encounters with mountain lions. In any event, educate yourself prior to entering any wild animal domain.
If you decide to visit Rocky Mountain National Park, you will likely not have to venture far beyond the limits of the scenic town of Estes Park to see herds of elk moving about. Estes Park is located just before the East entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park. I once photographed a rather large herd of elk meandering about the golf course, much to the dismay of the golfers attempting to play.
Drastic changes in weather can occur at any time, during any season, here in Colorado. This is especially true in the higher elevations. Storms typically develop in mid to late afternoon without warning and can produce sudden downbursts of rain and dangerous lightning. Hikers have died from lightning strikes before they even realized they were in trouble. So, I recommend that you get an early start if you plan to hike into the higher elevations for both your safety and for artistic reasons. Early morning light (at sunrise) and late afternoon, early evening light (at sunset) offer the best lighting opportunities for your photographs. This is especially true for portraits. The midday sun tends to cast harsh shadows on your potential subject matter. Unless you are striving for dramatic shadows, it’s best to shoot early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
Be sure to dress appropriately and be prepared for inclement weather. Likewise, make sure your camera gear is protected. Invest in a good all-weather camera bag (I use Lowepro bags with good results) or be sure to bring trash bags or grocery bags to protect your valuable equipment from damaging rain. Important note: most cameras have far more operational latitude for cold weather than they do for extremely warm weather. So, if the thermometer reads 100 degrees outside, you may want to consider scrapping your photography plans for the day or at least taking care to stay in shaded areas to protect yourself and your gear.
So, if you are fortunate enough to call Colorado home or will soon be visiting, keep these tips in mind. I hope they will yield you better results for your Rocky Mountain photography adventures.
© Balsman Photography, LLC
