use real butter

Today’s shoot was sobering in contrast to the exhausted elation of the trip earlier this week. The aspens have taken a serious beating from storms and so there wasn’t much to salvage. Still, despite the fact that the quality of the aspens wasn’t good enough for dedicated shooting, it was a spectacular sunny day with blue skies and gentle breezes that rustled the remaining leaves. We walked through one promising stand of mature aspens on a carpet of golden leaves. Fall is magical here. I told Beth on our last shooting trip that getting outside on a regular basis – into the splendor that is Colorado – makes me say over and over again, “I am so happy.”

kaweah was pretty happy

I had accepted early on that there weren’t many money shots to be had, so Jeremy and I turned the trip into recon for the next fall shoot. While one person might see naked, gray aspen trunks on a hillslope, I see a full green forest in summer, fiery yellows and oranges in fall. I keep thinking to myself that I’ve seen all of the most beautiful places in Colorado, only to discover more valleys full of aspen stands, more jagged mountains draped in snow, more lakes and streams reflecting the blue skies above, more sprawling skyscapes over healthy dark green pine forests to take your breath away. This place is my home. I’m falling in love all over again.

a place to unwind

A storm is blowing in as I type, so hopes of sunset shots were dashed for this evening. Actually, I don’t mind. It was nice to find a local coffee shop in town to chill out with Jeremy while we caught up with work. Driving another thousand miles this weekend gives us plenty of time to discuss future plans. Where to shoot in the coming year? Southern California beckons to me as does Washington, Oregon, Montana, Utah, and there is always Colorado. I’m feeling excited and energized. I’ll post more photos from the fall shoot (and recipes) when I get home on a network that doesn’t feel like squeezing blood from a turnip. Tonight’s adventure – to find decent Mexican food in Colorado: something that seems obvious, but is actually quite elusive.

I’m writing from my motel room and well, I was in this same motel just two nights ago. This time, however, I’m with Jeremy and Kaweah who are joining me for a weekend of shooting, hiking, and hopefully, decent fall colors. Kaweah couldn’t care less about the colors – she’s all about finding Dead Things. This year’s colors are substantially diminished compared to last year. That early season snow storm on the last day of summer and the subsequent wind storms haven’t helped either. In the north, the stands are dull and stripped bare. I think tomorrow might be the last good day of the season before another storm comes barreling through. As with life, as with everything – make the most of it.

aspens aren’t the only color in colorado

This is actually the first time in about three weeks that I get to spend quality time with Jeremy because we’ve both been traveling and very busy. Already, the 5+ hour drive was spent talking and catching up with one another. I love that kind of QT. Kaweah is snoring – she has one queen bed ALL TO HER FURRY SELF! Well, this post is a short one because the wireless in the motel is utter crap, we’re all nodding off, and NaBloWriMo will inevitably involve short, pointless (okay, I guess all of my posts are pointless) ramblings.

Have a great weekend. See you here tomorrow :)

Recipe: apple galette

I have lost my mind and joined NaBloWriMo again! What is NaBloWriMo, you ask? It’s insanity! But it’s fun insanity, so there I am. Basically, I’m posting every day for the month of October and NaBloWriMo is short for National Blog Writing Month. Insanity…

Oh hey, I was recently interviewed by the Daily Camera (Boulder’s local paper) for an article on food photography. Check out the online version if you’re bored.

The fall colors are getting wacky this year, but I just returned from a 3-day shoot and considering all of the circumstances (dull color, high winds, stripped stands) we managed to get some pretty decent captures.

beth was my shooting partner on the trip – she is awesome

fresh snowfall on the sneffels range

golden mature aspen stands

I’m heading out again Friday for another 3-day shoot. Keep fingers crossed for me that it won’t be a bust! Winter keeps huffing and puffing at Colorado’s doorstep. I think fall will be short-lived this year. That’s both good and bad. Based on my up close and personal interactions with the weather these past few days, it is safe to say that summer is dead to me now. If standing in a shower of gently falling (sometimes violently flying) golden aspen leaves doesn’t make you think summer is over, then 45 mph winds blasting 20°F air and pelts of snow certainly will. And with fall comes apples. Lovely, juicy, crisp, sweet, tart apples.

let’s make an apple galette

peel the apples

**Jump for more butter**