Denver, the Garden of the Gods and the Rocky Mountain National Park
Denver, the Garden of the Gods and the Rocky Mountain National Park
I love to travel! I think that it's a wonderful thing to be a photographer who's blessed with the opportunity to work with clients all over the United States! Recently I had the opportunity to check out the city of Denver and explore the surrounding areas such as the the Garden of the Gods Park and the mighty Rocky Mountain National Park.
Denver Colorado skyline looking westDowntown in the city of Denver Colorado.
Denver is such a beautiful metro area!
I can say that the food is ridiculously good and the people are very, very nice in the Mile High City. My Uber drivers were top notch and Denver is an incredibly easy town to fall in love with. It kind of reminds me of Raleigh but a bit more laid back :)
Denver ColoradoDowntown in the city of Denver Colorado.
Denver ColoradoDowntown in the city of Denver Colorado.
Denver ColoradoDowntown in the city of Denver Colorado.
Denver City ParkA view from the shores of Denver City Park in Colorado.
Comorats
Denver City ParkA view from the shores of Denver City Park in Colorado.
Below is a 360 view of the location where I took the photo above. It's called City Park Pavilion in downtown Denver.
Denver was in hard party mode this weekend as the Monday night football bus arrived downtown for the opening night of the NFL season matchup between the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos.
Oceanaire Restaurant, Denver ColoradoDowntown in the city of Denver Colorado.
Watching the Broncos play the Panthers on opening day at the Oceanaire Restaurant in Denver was pretty cool.
Denver ColoradoDowntown in the city of Denver Colorado.
If your visiting Denver and want to enjoy some people watching to go make sure that you check out the shopping district on 16th street downtown.
16th Street downtown Denver COThe view on 16th St. in Denver Colorado.
16th Street downtown Denver COThe view on 16th St. in Denver Colorado.
This 360 panorama below was taken from the center of the street at night.
16th Street downtown Denver COThe view on 16th St. in Denver Colorado.
Caught this quick pic from my hotel room of the sunset over the Rockies. What a view !
Rocky Mountain sunset view from my hotel
After a few days in the city I pointed my rental car south and headed out to the Garden of the Gods Park near Colorado Springs. This place is unbelievable beautiful.
I was in awe of this location. The combination of the blue skies, green fields and orange/gold rocks glowing in the late afternoon light was breathtaking.
Garden of the Gods Park, ColoradoA walk through the Garden of the Gods Park near Denver and Colorado Springs.
Garden of the Gods Park, ColoradoA walk through the Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado.
Rock Doves in flight Garden of the Gods Park, ColoradoA walk through the Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado.
Mule deer doe's on the run in the Garden of the Gods Park, ColoradoA walk through the Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado.
Garden of the Gods Park, ColoradoA walk through the Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado.
Stellars Blue Jay
Garden of the Gods Park, ColoradoA walk through the Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado.
Here is a 360 view of some of the huge rock formations found throughout the Garden of the Gods Park.
Found this young Mule Deer buck on my way out of the park!
MuleDeer buck in the Garden of the Gods Park, ColoradoA walk through the Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado.
Garden of the Gods Park, ColoradoA walk through the Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado.
I even got a chance to snap a few pictures of some bird species that I haven't seen before since I'm an East Coaster. I am a bird geek and couldn't have been happier to be able to take a photo of a common Magpie.
One of my favorite parts of the trip was visiting the Rocky Mountain National Park.
What a surreal moment it is to see the Rocky Mountains in person for the first time! Growing up in V.A. I am used to the gentle rolling blue slopes of the Appalachian chain, not these HUGE indescribably beautiful multicolored mountains that soar over 12,000 ft into the sky.
I took the quick video posted below with my iPhone so that you could see how massive this view is.
Posted below is a 360 panoramic view of one of my favorite spots for viewing wildlife located near the entrance of the park.
Right after I took that pano a little chipmunk hopped onto a rock at my feet. I think he wanted me to feed him some lunch :)
I have always wanted to get a photo of an Elk and boy oh boy was I not disappointed!
Choosing to use my zoom lens to take these photos of the Bull Elk was probably a good idea. He was enormous and was quite intimidating as he circled around me while I was taking these shots. I'm pretty sure he knew the the was the one in charge here in these woods.
This bull Elk was feeling amorous and was constantly in hot pursuit of various members of his herd of cows.
Bull Elk in Rocky Mountain National Park, ColoradoA bull Elk and his harem in the Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.
Bull Elk in Rocky Mountain National Park, ColoradoA bull Elk and his harem in the Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.
Look at that tongue , omg haha!!
One night I even hiked up a mountain to get some photos under the stars..
Driving throughout the park is a trip!
No guardrails and tons of distracting incredible views everywhere. The roads are pretty scary if your afraid of heights ...
Driving through the Rocky Mountain National park on the way to the Alpine Visitors Center
Just focus on that yellow line and mind the hairpins...haha!
One afternoon I took a short hike up the staircase at the Alpine Visitors center.
At an elevation of 12,005 ft this climb up the peak is no joke! No doubt it was a very good workout with a sweet view as a payoff upon reaching the summit.
The steps up to the summit at the Alpine Visitors Center
Heres a 360 view from the top.
12,500 elevation at the Alpine Visitors Center trail
Glacier pond in the Rocky Mountains
Just WOW!!
This a Marmot. I almost ran him over as he was sunning himself on a gravelly side road. It seems that he is the Honey Badger of the Rockies since he didn't care one little bit that he was almost squished and thus wouldn't move out of the way resulting gin ME having to drive around HIM. The little fur ball made weird noises of grumpy derision while I got out of the car to get this shot.
Marmot chilling by the side of the road in the Rocky Mountain National Park
I was so excited because I just happened to visit the area during the beginning of the Aspen Gold rush.
The trees were just beginning to change for the colorful fall season and I was in heaven taking photos of all of the bright colors.
Aspen Gold, Fall Color in Rocky Mountain National Park ColoradoAutumn Aspen leaves changing to golden hues in the Rocky Mountain National Park. Fall color in CO is amazing!
Birch trees
Even the grass on the tundra turns red!
Waterfalls abound here throughout the park and it was great fun for me to mess around with different shooting speeds of my camera trying to capture just the right effect I was looking for in my photos.
waterfall long exposure
waterfall quick exposure
After an incredible week in Colorado I am eager to return someday soon. This is a wonderful State to visit and I look forward to finding may way around the winding roads of the Rockies on another adventure!
Lava fields on a mountain peak are crazy to see!
Lava fields in Rocky Mountain National Park
Too see more from this trip check out the slideshow below, thanks for taking the time to check out my work!
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