Tag: Tree

March 2024 iPhone Photos – Part 3

This is a continuation of iPhone photos shot in and around Alabama Hills, California in March 2024.

Rocky Underpass
Sign of the Times?
Did Someone Drop a Marble?
Astragalus Coccineus
Underpass
Alabama Hills Rocks and Sierra Nevada
Alabama Hills and Sierra Nevada
Grassy Path to the Sky
Alabama Hills and Sierra Nevada
Astragalus Coccineus 2

More later,

Ken

Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, March 2022, Part 21 – Tree Creature

Tree Creature

As I was shooting the triple arch of the previous post, I noted an old tree on the sandy ridge below the arch.  Readers will already know that I have a fondness for  gnarly old trees.

This one reminded me of a weird looking creature crawling along the ground.  After taking the photo above, I noted some interesting features of the tree that reinforced my impression that this looked like an unusual creature.

Tree Creature Eyes

This feature looks like eyes of a mysterious creature.

Tree Creature Eyes – Black and White Version
Tree Creature Face

Eyes, nose and mouth of a tree creature.

Tree Creature Face, Black and White Version

Ken

Mid-Day Drive along Western Colorado State Roads, July 2020

The last full day of our stay at Ridgway State Park, the weather report predicted a high chance of rain, so we decided it best to avoid the dirt 4WD roads and stick mostly to paved and/or well maintained gravel roads.

So from the city of Ridgeway, Colorado, we traveled CO 62 to CO 145 to CO 141, making a big loop back to US 50 near Delta, CO and back to US 550 at Montrose.

This route took us through some beautiful canyons along the San Miguel and Dolores Rivers.

We stopped for a picnic lunch at a newly made overlook of the Dolores River.

A lunch break overlooking the Dolores River, Colorado. iPhone photo, edited in Adobe Lightroom and DxO Nik Modules.
A dizzying view down onto the Dolores River. iPhone photo, edited in Adobe Lightroom and DxO Nik Modules.
An overlook view of the Dolores River along CO 141. Nikon D850, Nikon 24-70mm @ 24mm, f/11, 1/400s, ISO 200, edited in Adobe Lightroom and DxO Nik Modules.
An overlook along the Delores River, Colorado. Nikon D850, Nikon 24-70mm @ 24mm, f/11, 1/500s, ISO 200, edited in Adobe Lightroom and DxO Nik Modules.
Colorado Wildlife. Nikon D850, Nikon 24-70mm @ 70mm (before crop), f/11, 1/250s, ISO 200, edited in Adobe Lightroom and DxO Nik Modules.

I spotted a number of small lizards scampering around the rocks along the overlook.  One even got aggressive with my son, charging at him as he briefly looked away.  I guess that lizard thought his personal space was being violated.

A small Colorado inhabitant. Nikon D850, Nikon 24-70mm @ 70mm (before crop), f/11, 1/320s, ISO 200, edited in Adobe Lightroom and DxO Nik Modules.
A piece of weathered wood in a rock niche. iPhone photo, edited in Adobe Lightroom and DxO Nik Modules.

I’m always drawn to the twisted, weathered evergreen type trees that grow in these arid environments.

A weathered and twisted evergreen tree along CO 141. Nikon D850, Nikon 24-70mm @ 24mm, f/11, 1/250s, ISO 200, edited in Adobe Lightroom and DxO Nik Modules.

A close up of the lower trunk details of the tree above:

A weathered and twisted evergreen tree along CO 141. Nikon D850, Nikon 24-70mm @ 70mm, f/11, 1/160s, ISO 200, edited in Adobe Lightroom and DxO Nik Modules.

Below our lunch site we could see a marker type sign beside the dirt road on the opposite side of the river.  After lunch, we decided to backtrack to find that dirt road and check it out.

More on that side trip in the next post,

Ken