Impression Evergreen

A relaxed atmosphere On a lazy, summer day at the Denver Zoo, we trekked across the grounds observing animals during their afternoon slumber. Too hot to engage in activity, most of the creatures we saw slept innocently in their comfortable confines. It always makes me feel bad to see wild animals held captive but in many cases it’s an unfortunate but necessary circumstance. The enclosures’s exotic inhabitants were well cared for and appeared content as they exhibited a friendly, playful attitude. I enjoyed roaming around the gardens because I could practice taking pictures in a more controlled environment. I was intent on capturing portraits and usually a theme develops which in this case was sleeping animals. After a busy morning rooting in the mud, red river hogs slept as hard as they live and the king of beasts looked vulnerable as he was laid out casually on a bed of lush grass. In a more touching display, two, tired otters were curled up quietly in a circular position. Whi...

Horses Out in the panhandle of western Nebraska, where the desolate Sandhills assimilate into the North Platte River Valley, horses seem to outnumber the sparse human population. Circles of corn are scattered throughout the fertile basin but the rugged highlands are reserved as pastureland for cattle and horses. Sometimes I see them as a solitary creature lost in a vast sea of prairie grasses but usually these social animals are observed in small herds. Horses are curious by nature so sometimes they approach the fence line in order to investigate strange visitors. Horses spend most of their time grazing contentedly in their idyllic environment but sometimes they become quite playful as they run, buck and roll with enthusiastic delight. Horses are an indisputable symbol of the Great Plains and a beautiful reminder of their importance in how the West was won. Small herds Horses outnumber people North Platte River Valley Lost in a sea of grass Symbol of the Great Plains Grazing contente...

Delicate Arch The Delicate Arch is tucked away in an eroded, natural amphitheater that includes sweeping views across a vast expanse to the La Salle Mountains. Reaching Utah’s most iconic landmark requires strenuous effort as the two mile trek to the spectacular location is almost entirely uphill. With a shape more sturdy than delicate, the heavy set vault is truly a masterpiece of nature’s erosional engineering. The rigid, orange rock contrasts sharply with the soft, blue sky, creating artistic compositions from every available angle. Reaching the summit of this unique environment is worth the effort because the difficult journey through time instills appreciation for the desert’s beauty. Hordes of hikers stream through this area but not even the enthusiastic crowds can diminish the enlightenment achieved by attaining this Mecca on the Mesa. A strenuous effort A two mile trek A journey through time Desert beauty Mecca on the Mesa Erosional engineering A natural amphitheater Hordes o...

The Utah desert Eastern Utah’s vast desert country is a lonely landscape that appears to be devoid of any type of life. The treeless terrain is tinted yellow as the otherworldly environment of rock and dirt exhibits a certain stark beauty. Forming a rigid backdrop, a range of striated book cliffs punches into a boundless, blue sky. Anything but flat, the trails are a rollercoaster of ups and downs, offering panoramic views from the summits of sandy overlooks. Utah is an absolutely gorgeous state with some of its most spectaculars places preserved as National Parks. Passing through this arid backcountry may seem dull at first but if you look closely, there is an understated charm in the vast expanse of hazy buttes painted with colors of soft pastel. A lonely landscape Treeless terrain Panoramic views Stark beauty Understated charm

"Canyon of Fire" Colored Pencil It’s summer on the desert plateau and an acid-green river slices through a blazing gorge. The ecosystem is an unbearable furnace where frustrated flora somehow survives the fierce environment. A sweeping arrangement of enigmatic shapes is smudged into the picture’s foreground. The intentional smear inspires experimental effects that become contagious to the rest of the composition. A garish-yellow sky radiates sour light that flashes through the infernal chasm. The sulfur peaks in the distance are softened by a subtle wash of smoky-violet haze. Engraved into sandstone, the Canyon of Fire can only be conjured by a violent color fusion of ochre, mineral and tuscan. The Devil’s Abode dares the visitor to venture ever deeper into dangerous territory. This rugged Ravine of No Return is riddled with a hostile array of yucca, cholla and prickly pear. Trapped in a boiling abyss of vertical walls, a steep slide of saffron offers a glimmer of hope...

Abert's Squirrel Some years I barely see them at all but this summer the Abert’s Squirrel has been unusually conspicuous. They have allowed me to document, through photography, their delightful behavior.  The younger ones are especially curious and playful as they scurry down within arm’s length, taunting me to come closer. If I resist the dare, they continue to close the gap but if I make the slightest twitch, they rocket back to the tree trunk. Exhibiting no fear of heights, the mature adults perch safely on tree limbs high above the forest floor. Early mornings are spent on the ground cautiously collecting pinecones for breakfast. The large, bushy tail and long ear tufts are the distinctive features of this endearing creature. Compared to the rowdy, little red squirrel, who thinks it owns the forest, the Abert's is quite charming. A story about the simple life of a squirrel may seem tedious but we can learn much from its interesting and complex partnership with the p...