Avalanche Trail

Avalanche Trail

I am still working on aperature and it takes a 1 hour hiking trip and turns it into a 4 hour trip.  Everyone was pretty tolerant and just hiked on ahead of me, found a great spot to rest, then waited for the "photog-wanna-be".  But I think I got some great shots and it IS all about me..., isn't it??!!??

Rifle Falls Shoot Out

Today I had a real western shoot out and went head to head with a Nikon Camera.  I have a Canon Rebel and a friend of my sister, Sonny, has a Nikon.  His Nikon out shot my Canon.  We were at Rifle Falls and we stood side by side and took the same shot of the stream in a forested setting.  His Nikon picked up truer colors and my Canon shots were washed out.  I am not discounting the fact that I just don't get aperature settings yet, but we even made our settings the same and his came out more vibrant in color. If I don't "get it" after a year on this project I may want a Nikon and the Canon that I haven't even paid for completely may be up for sale soon....

Lliberty Walk



Independence Rock



Liberty Trail



I worked on aperature again and I still don't get it!  We went to the Colorado National Monument and it was a Two Part Grand Day.  The first part was the setting.  Back in 1911 John Otto worked tirelessly with the towns of Grand Junction and Fruita for the creation and preservation of this park.  It is 32 miles of rugged up and down, brilliantly colored terrain and what a grand spectacle is is!  The second part of this grand day is it was the final day of my Julie/Nancy Exercise project.  My 365th day of  exercising at least 30 minutes everyday for a full year!  What fitting end to take a hike on the Liberty Trail!   Lesley and Bob didn't know it, but they picked the perfect trail.  It was liberty from my unhealthy, over weight, exercise hating life.

Double Shoshone

Today we went on a River rafting trip down the Colorado river with the World's Greatest River Rafting Guide Bob Morse!  He skilfully led us through a series of rapids called the "Shoshone". In order they are called, The Baptism (Bob calls it the Entrance Exam), Tombstone, The Wall (of Death and Dismemberment), Taco Hole (where the raft could fold in half and you are the meat) and the Man Eater!  These are class III - IV rapids and just when you think you made it through alive... he pulls over to the side of the river and you get out, pull out the raft, cart it up to the waiting vehicle, drive back to the top and do it all again!!!  What a thrill!  After a long day, all I had strength to do was read about photography for 30 minutes and fall asleep.

Fairy Cave and Aperature

What a challenge aperature has been... but, I am determined to master it!  I want to be able to chose the correct aperature opening to reflect the true lighting situation.  I want you to see what I see... So, I spend alot of time snapping and adjusting, and then I get lucky.

Aperature at Applebees

One great thing about having your camera in your purse, or your purse in your camera bag is you can entertain yourself while people are into their conversations...

Observe

Urban Nature

Learning to see is dangerous and takes lots of work.  I often drive with a destination in mind but I am constanly looking at my surroundings.  I remember when I was growing up my Mom would constantly scold my Dad to keep his eyes on the road ahead, as he was constantly looking off to the sides of the road for something interesting.  He was observing his surroundings, scanning off in the distance, cultivating his observation skills.  I understand now what intrigued him, the world.  I have the same facination for everything, and I want to observe the world from every possible vantage point.  In Chris Orwigs book Visual Poetry he writes about learning to see the world with the fresh eyes of a child, be mindful of your surroundings, carry your camera everywhere you go and compose pictures that tell a story about your life.