Estes Park is blessed with several amazing landscape photographers. First and foremost, Erik Stensland comes to mind. Visiting Erik’s Images of RMNP gallery in downtown Estes Park, you will find the wonders of nature speaking to you. His talents draw you in with the beauty of color and light.
I have primarily been a wildlife photographer, but as my interests grow, I have wanted to improve my skills of scenic photography. Thus, I thought of talented RMNPhotographer friend Tami Roberts whose landscapes I have always admired. For a day, Tami guided me through Rocky Mountain National Park, so I could see through her exceptional scenic photography perspective.
Before sunrise, Tami guided me to Sprague Lake. As we arrived and began our walk along the lake trail, she pointed at the sunrise. I mentioned that it was pretty cloudy, and she encouraged me to give it time. “The morning light can surprise you,” she told me.
Then, I was surprised. Not by the sun bursting through the clouds or the light reflecting in the lake, but by a large cow moose on the edge of the water. She was feeding, lifting her head as water pours over her muzzle. Being a wildlife photographer, I was captivated. Time and again, her head came up from the dark morning waters as aqua grass drooled from her mouth like Sweet Basilico Cafe’s rich, saucy, and wonderful spaghetti.
As I captured image after moose image, Tami finally interrupted me. “Look at the sky.”
There before me, the morning light had transformed into a plethora of colors. Greens highlighted the grasses along the lake’s edge. The sky transitions from blue to white fluffy clouds to bright yellow as the sun peeked through the clouds, all of it reflecting in the lake. It was magnificent, and my focus turned from the hungry cow moose to the incredible colors of Sprague Lake and the landscape before me…