Tag: Nikon 6.7-13mm

Through the Window

Through the Window

This is a glimpse through one of the windows in the wall of the Sun Temple, found in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado.  According to the National Park Service:

According to modern Pueblo Indians, Sun Temple’s features classify it as a ceremonial structure. Because neither household goods nor roof beams were found by archeologists at Sun Temple, some believe the symmetrically planned “D” shaped building was never completed. Yet its size alone points to the amount of labor that went into its construction. The stones in the fine masonry walls were shaped and given a “dimpled” flat surface by the builders of the structure. Based upon the amount of fallen stone removed during excavation, the walls probably were between 11 and 14 feet high. The thick walls were double coursed and filled with a rubble core. Today, modern concrete covers the top of the walls to prevent moisture from going into the rubble placed between the walls.

 

Spring Evening

Anyone living in an arid climate longs for rain.  With the rain comes new growth and pungent smells.  Little flowers, clusters of flowers, big flowers, grasses, vines, new leaves, flowering trees.  This greenery lasts for a very short period, and then fades away to browns, beiges, and greys, and you wait for the next rainy season – if it comes – when it comes.

Josh, Puppies, Poppies

Puppies in tow, we set out for the open space around Newbury Park, in Ventura County, California.  It is part of the Santa Monica mountain range, and there are trails you can hike, up and down, to the beach.

Early Evening, ii

We got here about a little after 5 p.m. – the night of the daylight savings change – and hiking in, the sun was in our eyes. At times, the glare of the sun blinded us on the trail, and I had to shade my eyes to even see. The light through the trees was really lovely, with streaks of light through the foliage.

Grassy Hillside-2

Once through the little oak groves, we moved onto the grassy flats. In summer, the grasses are dry and brown, and while beautiful, the abundance of green, and the blooming spring flowers, is a balm for the beige-weary soul.

Poppies at Sunset

California poppies were out, in small clumps.

Wild Pea

Wild pea, too. (I always think of Mendel when I see these!)

Early Evening

To the side of the trail, rocks and lichens, along with clumps of brush and scrub. Everything in the sunset had a glow to it, as only the low angle of the sun can give.

Spring Evening

At some point, we had to turn around, or stumble home in the dark. Looking back as we began our final leg, the sun, as they say, slowly sank in the west.

Postcard from the Garden of the Gods

Post Card from Garden of the Gods

This is another photo, taken last year at the Garden of the Gods Park outside of Colorado Springs. The rock formations are wonderful; at times, the drama of the sky is amazing as the Garden abut the Rocky Mountains. The day I took this picture, though, the sky was flat and colorless. Thus . . . I used a sky out of extras in PPS9, and refined the edges using the Perfect Brush, the Refine Brush, and the Chisel tool. Once done, back to LR and a VSCO preset with adjustments to reduce color and work until the colors worked together. For me, the best results were somewhat odd, but in looking at them, they became to resemble post cards from the 50s and 60s because of the colors – not quite right, but expressive of the environment. Rather pleased with this one.