Where to begin!  This is our first blog!  Bear with me as I'm (Mike) quite out of practice when it comes to writing.  So on July 15, I (Mike) started my new job full time.  I'm a PHOTOGRAPHER full time!  Who's the best wife in the world?  Joey.  I could go on and on.  This is a big change from the certainty and consistency of the work world that I, and most of us are used to.  Here's to taking chances!   Pulpit Rock SunriseDay 1, Pulpit Rock, Black Canyon National Park

First Day of FREEDOM.  I got up really early, partially because I had jalepenos for dinner the night before, but anyways, I was up early.  Got there just barely early enough to set up to take some panoramas, I was happy with the color in the clouds.  I had the the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park to myself!  

A few days later, I decided to go to Upper Ice Lakes Basin to see how the wildflowers were, and to spend the night.  Was great that I could go during the week as the traffic on the trail was not too out of control.  I took several panoramas and other shots until the sun went down - then set up camp in this high alpine paradise.   Island Lake PanoramaHigh Alpine tundra and Indian Paintbrush frame picturesque Island Lake high in the San Juan Mountains. First view of Island Lake.  The paintbrush filled the basin as far as the eye can see.  Was also lucky enough to catch some interesting clouds in the sky.  

I wandered back to Island Lake the next morning after capturing the sunrise at Ice Lake.  Waited until all the shadows were gone, and I was lucky enough to have calm water to capture this panorama of 14 vertical shots at 16mm.  I love Colorado.  Please see our Landscape Gallery for more images from this trip.

Next, I headed to the Front Range in hopes of hiking Longs Peak and Pikes Peak.  Pikes Peak was a great day and an "easy" hike, but the hike was tough enough, or I'm getting old, that I did not do Long's the next day.  A great time to reflect on growing up in Colorado Springs, where I'm at, and to think about where I am going.  

Our next adventure was to ride the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train, which dropped us off in Needleton.  From there, we  hiked 6 miles and 3000 vertical feet to Chicago Basin.  Joey took the week off to make sure that I survived and used good judgement.  We put our trip off a day because the forecast looked terrible.  

This trip is on a lot of people's bucket lists, and for good reason.  Chicago basin is hard to describe, will just show you some photos.

Windom Peak (14,082') is the second peak from the left.

A look down Chicago Basin and Needle Creek at Sunset.

Cloudy, dramatic morning on Peak 18.