When I was setting up and shooting the bubbles in the sub-freezing weather recently, it was amazing to watch the frost patterns develop and grow up from the base of the bubble to eventually fill the entire bubble in a matter of seconds. So, I created a short animation to give just a small hint of what it was like.
freezing bubbles
I love Colorado. It is my ideal state. Because I love the rise from the plains heading west to the Rocky Mountains that are as beautiful in the summer as they are in the winter. I love the fall season. Anywhere. That cool nip that is in the air just after months of hot weather and the color changes that come with it are invigorating to me.
But I live in Alabama. I don’t get to Colorado often at all. Last year, my online friend and fellow photographer Ron Azevedo posted some amazing images of Colorado he shot in the fall around the Aspen area and surrounding towns. I was blown away! It really fueled my enthusiasm for the area and made me want to go back and see some of the same sites and shoot them myself. I hoped I could meetup with Ron out there, but he had other plans come up and was headed elsewhere.
So, at the last minute almost I made plans to take a road trip out there. I took some time off from work and packed my car and at 4 am on September 21 I set off for Colorado. I did make some plans to see a few friends along the way. And they were gracious to host me overnight or for a couple of days.
I can drive a long way when by myself. I don’t need to stop except to get gas or something to eat and occasionally stretch my legs and take a break. So, in 15 hours I was in Manhattan, KS at the home of my college friends, Rodney and Susie Stanfield. I didn’t get to see Rodney since he was away at work. Susie did tell me of a couple of things I might be interested in shooting as I was to make my way across Kansas the next day. And I did take her advice.
I skipped seeing the world’s largest prairie dog. I was tipped off that it is only a…aww, I won’t give it away! 🙂
I made it to Denver and my friend Lucie’s place the next afternoon. I had some time to relax and enjoy catching up with her. We had a nice drive into the mountains to Kenosha Pass where I was looking forward to seeing some golden aspens, and we saw plenty along the way and up at the Pass. A beautiful sight. But, nothing compared to what I would see the rest of the week.
Since I was leaving the next morning, on my birthday, Lucie treated me to dinner out in Denver. It was very good!
So, on my birthday I drove through Boulder and up to Rocky Mountain National Park, a place I have always claimed as one of my favorites because I worked there after college in 1983. It has so many great trails to hike and exciting wildlife to see in and around the park. I went straight to where I knew I could enjoy a brisk hike and beautiful scenery, Bear Lake. That trail also leads to a few other lakes up to the base of Hallets Peak.
That was a good reintroduction to my old stomping grounds and the altitude. Afterward, I drove up Trail Ridge Road to see the views and visit the Trail Ridge Store where I worked for the ’83 season.
After a night at the Rocky Mountain Park Inn in Estes Park, I left for another drive up Trail Ridge Road and over to Grand Lake Lodge where I had lived most of the season of 1983. The first pic below is the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, the inspiration for Stephen King’s ‘The Shining.’
I then drove southwest toward Aspen. I had never been to Aspen and was anxious to see the ski town where I once considered interviewing for a magazine art director job. I had some locations in mind to shoot in the area and I wasn’t disappointed at all! The Maroon Bells and Crystal Mill and the road up Independence Pass were awesome!
These were indeed the yellow/gold aspens I was looking for! And I really like Aspen the town!
I spent a few nights in Aspen before driving over Independence Pass again and south near Leadville and to the Great Sand Dunes National Park, my final stop before driving back to Alabama.
Here’s a few images from a recent senior portraits shoot with Jessica.
I recently received an image showing my cave photo as used on a book published by Random House in Spain. This was pretty exciting to have a foreign published image.
In honor of the event, here is what it is likely to find…a very, very angry martian.
By some good fortune and awesome friends I was able to go to Las Vegas and attend Photoshop World earlier this month. It is always great to see my friend Scott Kelby. Added to his team this year is my friend Pete Collins. I roomed with Pete while there and he was his usual funny and outgoing self. I could tell the attendees all like him. He fits right in with the other Photoshop Guys. I had a good time, as expected. My first time to be in Vegas. The conference can really hog all of your time there and I didn’t have an extended stay in order to see any shows or other attractions. I did walk down the strip on a bit of a photowalk and did some people watching. It’s a pretty friendly environment, but it’s sad that on every corner people are trying to handout flyers and cards for 1-800-HOT-BABES and billboard-size truck trailers with the same graphic messages are towed up and down the strip constantly in full view of children. But, it is sin-city.
I attended several sessions everyday and learned more about Photoshop again, because who REALLY knows all there is to know about the program? Awesome photographers and designers filled my mind with new tricks and techniques and ideas. I look forward to trying them. Light painting is something I’m very excited to try after watching photographer Dave Black demonstrate it.
Here are some of my photos from the trip. Enjoy.
It’s about time I did something new for my website. I have been planning to change it for a couple of years, but only made little stabs at it and never devoted much time to the task. I had a vision for what I wanted, but I also wanted something I can easily edit. And along came the awesome photography site 500px.com showcasing some beautiful photography by some amazing talent worldwide. I joined that site and added images and a portfolio. After a couple of months I finally paid to become a premium ‘awesome’ member and updated my portfolio. I liked the look of it so much I simply forward my domain URL to the 500px portfolio. Now I can quickly and easily change the site from anywhere, much like I can this blog. And I really think it looks cool! So, please check it out if you haven’t already.
Today, I had the privilege to give a tiny bit of assistance to an event created by Miller Mobley, a New York City photographer and native of Tuscaloosa, AL along with his lovely wife Jana and much of their families and friends, right there in Tuscaloosa. Just blocks away from the horrible devastation of the tornado on April 27. American Christian Academy was the site, allowing us to use their gymnasium for Relief Portraits, a cause where families who had lost all or most of their belongings, particularly photographs and portraits that meant so much to them, could be brought in (many living in hotels or with friends or relatives) and have nice new portraits made and provided for them for free. Not only that, there was lots of clothes and food donated by local businesses, makeup artists were on hand to help make the women look their best (they did a wonderful job), and children had plenty to keep them busy and entertained while parents browsed the clothes. I was amazed to see the amount of donated time, talent and items for this event! I didn’t stay for the whole day, but I know there were over 50 portrait sittings while I was there.
Before I left Tuscaloosa, I drove further down 15th Street just blocks away to see the hardest hit area that is somewhat accessible, though I could see debris and downed trees everywhere I went..even at the school where the Relief Portraits event was held. I had only seen it previously on television and in online images. It is literally rubble as far as you can see from some areas. Like images of bombed out cities I’ve seen from WWII. But, it is clear that people are coming together to help each other and are optimistic about rebuilding. I’m sure there some very sad stories among the people who came in for the Relief Portraits event, but I didn’t see defeated faces there. I think what Miller set out to do was accomplished. Provide some hope. Some relief. Some smiles. Kudos to all who gave.
Brittany is my senior rep for a high school in the area and the daughter of an old friend. We did her photo shoot downtown. She is so easy to shoot with, and just an awesome girl. Very active in her school and other activities, she made a great makes a great model and spokesperson for my work among her friends and contacts.
Jeffrey S. Rease Photography & Design 
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