Backdrop: Sawtooth Mountains

I mean really, it's a roadside tree. Not sure how much other detail to go into, I just saw it, and shot it out the window going 75 (I wasn't driving).

The grass was so incredibly golden. It was like living through a sepia filter. I snapped 40 or so shots, and this one was the closest I came to rendering the grass correctly. Really just goes and puts a damper on my excitement over the already incredible dynamic range of the D810's sensor.

And as the dying rays of the golden sun alighted upon the noble lichen, steadfastly clinging to the rock upon which it had sat for aeons, I snapped a picture, and kept climbing. I was pleasantly surprised when I got back to the hotel for review, really thought nothing of the shot when I took it.

Just turning around from the lichen.

Another lesson from nature about how sometimes colors just don't want to be reproduced. Image still came out swimmingly though.

I returned to Chautaqua park later in the evening to get some long exposure shots of the Flatirons. Absolutely beautiful, but cold as the deepest circle of hell. Car traffic was unfortunately low on Flagstaff and Baseline roads, else there could have been some real pretty shots of head and tail light streaks serpentineing up the mountainside.

Now with plane and/or satellite trails.

Bear Lake Rd. in Rocky Mountain National Park. Thankfully a low traffic area.

Mt. Chapin, and Sundance Mountain dominate the background.
 Really could not have asked for more perfect weather. I'm a big fan of the dimensionality that having light, broken up clouds brings to an image like this one.

Now with less foreground rocks. You know, if that's your preference.

Hi.

A tad more sky now.

Actually decided to come by the same spot a bit later; I like how the mountain top shadows give a bit more depth now.

More colors that I just can't nail down. However, I think this photo really showcases the dynamic range of the D810. the clouds still have a decent amount of definition in them, and look at that tree bark! It still looks bark-y!

Rocks From the Roaring River area of Rocky Mountains National Park. It was a tad difficult to do much climbing with all of my kit, but i managed to get a bit up river. The views weren't spectacular, but satellite analysis says that I probably should have gone farther up river. Also, more neutral density filters next time, because I was using my N.D. 400, ISO 60, f/22, and still having exposure times around 1/10s, which really isn't enough for the type of water smoothness I prefer.

A merge of five photos taken knee deep in a river. Worth it.

ELK! I had heard rumors that they might exist when we would be in the park, and had spent most of the rest of the time not ogling the various beautiful scenery wishing for elk.

So my coworker is driving, and we came upon this guy. We stop 80 or so feet away, and I open the car door, and hang out of the car by the seat belt. I tell my coworker to keep the car in reverse, and to just hit the gas if this guy decides to do anything stupid, but he ambles slowly up to within about 20 feet before deciding to split. At least he split at a good pace; the body mechanics are really interesting.

But the highlights of the sunset on the snow blowing off the peak really work for me.

Honestly, I don't think I would if I could.

These guys were part of a group of eight elk; the second of three groups of elk we encountered in numbers of successive powers of of eight. They just hung out until it got too dark for me to shoot them.

It's a good thing I was walking, not driving, else I might have rear ended someone. Pun very much intended.

Almost back to the airport now. I regret not getting a picture of the demon bronco thing.

I wanted them to circle back for another shot, but they were having none of it.

A stitched panorama from the Rocky Mountain State Park. Likely would have been nicer in the daytime, but I'll take it.