Colorado Photography Journal
Welcome to the ultimate Colorado photography journal and insider database for exploring and capturing the rugged beauty of the Centennial State. If you want behind-the-scenes logs and field tactics to find the best places to shoot, you are in the right spot. Whether you are chasing the first light of a winter alpine sunrise, scouting golden autumn aspen groves in the San Juan Mountains, or tracking elusive wildlife across the front range, these field notes are built by a photographer, for photographers.
Below, you’ll find a comprehensive, real-world catalog of my personal field locations, tracking logs, and scouting stories. Use this Colorado photography journal as your go-to resource for discovering deep canyons, hidden waterfalls, alpine lakes, and diverse wildlife habitats.
Behind the Lens: Photography Scouting Trips & Field Tactics
Every successful photograph is the result of planning, persistence, and understanding the terrain. These articles cover the technical side of the pursuit—from tracking wildlife behavior to waiting out specific atmospheric conditions like sunrise fog or perfect blue hour light. Inside each log, you’ll find the real-world logistics behind working in the field across Colorado’s varied ecosystems.
Which is Better for Focus Stacking in Landscape Photography: f/8, f/11, or f/16?
Focus stacking landscape photography has revolutionized how we capture depth—allowing us to achieve pin-sharp detail from foreground rocks just inches away to mountain peaks on the distant horizon. However, choosing the right aperture introduces a constant battle between theoretical optical perfection and real-world field safety. If you have been wondering whether to stick to peak lens sharpness or stop down for extra depth-of-field margin for error, here is a detailed breakdown of how f/8, f/11, and f/16 perform in the field—plus two major gear myths debunked. Debunking the Myths: Aperture Blades & High-Resolution Sensors Before picking an aperture, it helps to clear up two common technical misconceptions about modern camera
Behind the Lens: A Royal Gorge Photography Story Under the Full Moon
Scouting and planning a landscape image often looks flawless on paper, but actual field conditions dictate what you bring home. This Royal Gorge photography story starts with a plan to shoot a full moon alignment, but turned into a lesson on adapting when variables on the ground don’t match up with a phone app. Scouting for a Royal Gorge Photography Story The initial objective for this trip was to align the setting Full Buck Moon directly behind historical structures along the gorge around 4:00 AM. After hitting the road in the camper van—finally back in commission after nine weeks in the shop—my two sons and I made the drive out
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Highlights from Our Photography Journal
Photographing Chimney Rock in Autumn
Driving up the dirt road toward Owl Creek Pass late in the afternoon started as a simple scouting mission. My initial goal was to evaluate the area and find a clean composition of Chimney Rock before sunset. As the evening wore on, however, the sky stayed completely clear. Without clouds or color to illuminate the peak, the sunset light fizzled out. Having already dialed in a framing I liked, I decided to pull into a
3 Examples of the Best Time to Photograph the Royal Gorge Bridge
Planning a shoot at the spectacular Royal Gorge Bridge in Cañon City can feel overwhelming. With its massive scale, sheer canyon walls, and unpredictable mountain weather, getting a portfolio-worthy shot usually takes multiple trips, endless planning, and plenty of trial and error. You might head out hoping for a classic sunset, completely unaware of the dramatic transformations that happen right before and after the sun dips below the horizon. To help you skip the guesswork and capture the exact look you want on your very first try, we are sharing three examples of the best time to photograph the Royal Gorge Bridge. By comparing three completely different phases of light—golden
Royal Gorge Bridge Photography Guide: Golden Hour
An expansive wide-angle view of the Royal Gorge Bridge cutting across the deep canyon during golden hour, framed by layers of hazy Colorado mountains under a soft, sunlit sky while turkey vultures circle overhead. Royal Gorge Bridge Photography Guide Arriving at an overlook outside the main park area roughly an hour before sunset provides the ideal window to capture the Arkansas River canyon transitioning into golden hour. Having traveled to the Royal Gorge Bridge four or five times prior to photograph it, the goal for this specific trip was to capture an entirely new perspective. Initial conditions looked unfavorable. Heavy cloud cover blanketed the valley, obscuring the horizon and limiting
Royal Gorge Bridge Photography Guide
The clock was ticking, and the plan was already set. The second I got off work, I headed straight home to grab my camera gear. I’d been planning a trip out to the Royal Gorge Bridge to find some unique vantage points for a landscape shoot, and the light was looking promising. When I walked through the door, I saw my oldest son sitting there, off from work for the day and deep into some video games. I asked him if he wanted to leave the screen behind and join me for an adventure. One of the things I am incredibly proud of with my two boys is that whenever
Master the Craft: Photography Tutorials & Field Tactics
Great images are never accidental; they are built on a solid understanding of exposure, light, and technique. These articles break down the practical side of photography, offering step-by-step tutorials on mastering manual settings for grand landscapes, handling difficult lighting conditions, and predicting wildlife behavior. Dive into these field notes to elevate your technical skills and sharpen your creative eye.
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