I loved the time I spent at Molas Lake with Stephanie, Bodhi, and you last August… It is now one of my happy places too! photos from our camping time there are among my favorite screensavers. It is so beautiful there, it was almost impossible to take an uninteresting photo!
Gorgeous photography of a gorgeous place. I was in Colorado for the first time October 2023. We toured national parks from Glacier down to Rocky Mountain, and visited young cousins who live in Conifer, up in the mountains west of Denver. Lovely!
Enjoyed the ride and wonderful photos. Btw, I am undecides about bnw nature photos even in my works. Artistic - yes, and special - yes, but somehow I have a sense that they fail to cheer me up as much as color does. And so there’s a compromise in either way😉
Yes, different nuances: I feel bnw as sacred, and color as fulfilling. Quiet beauty of nature is very appealing. Right now, I am sitting amidst my overgrown garden🤗
Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Davor! I agree that black and white nature photos offer a very different viewing experience compared to color images. Over the years, I’ve gone back and forth in my preferences—perhaps reflecting my internal landscape and moods as much as the external world.
I believe nature offers us a rich spectrum of emotions. Happiness or ecstatic joy may lie at one end, while quiet contemplation rests at the other. When I spend several days camping in one place, I experience that full range—and lately, I’ve been especially drawn to the quiet beauty of nature.
Beautiful, Todd! I tend to view photos first, then read text after, which is always interesting because I get the real story after the story in my head! I love that you anchored the scenes with picnic tables and that the woman rower is there almost like a wildlife creature :D coming and going. The best part was reading that you disconnect for most of the time. Maximum benefits. Incredible scenery!!
Thank you, Juliette! I really appreciate your comments—and the fact that you mentioned both my anchoring on the picnic tables and the woman rower. I was trying something a bit different (for me) with the picnic tables, so it’s great to get some positive feedback on those images.
I’m not sure how many people care about what the woman rower represents, but for me, seeing her out on the lake every morning gives me a sense of stability—something I’m grateful for amidst all the chaos in the world right now. Disconnecting is beneficial in many ways, but I find it hard to do unless I’m physically in a place without internet service. Even then, it can take a day or so to get over my withdrawals from being online.
Thank you, Hanz! There was fog all 5 mornings we were there, and it was amazing to be sitting on my kayak during that time as the sun came up over the mountains.
After hiking Ice Lake last summer, we stopped at Molas Pass and it was so beautiful! We saw the campground, but were just driving through. I'm glad to see your pictures because now we'll have to camp there some time. Gorgeous shots - such still water!
Thanks for the comment, Rachel! I highly recommend spending a few nights at Molas Lake - I think you would really enjoy it. BTW, I really enjoyed Great Sands National Park, and you were right about Medano Creek still flowing. It was fun watching everyone sand board down the dunes too!
What an amazing site Todd, it looks so gloriously peaceful and sounds like the perfect retreat for mindful connection. I can see why it is your happy place! Your beautiful photographs and gentle writing style add to the sense of calm I feel just looking at the images and reading your words. I have to add that I am very drawn to the image of the three canoes and low cloud drifting through.
There is something about being by water surrounded by mountains or fells – perhaps it’s the immensity of the surroundings emphasising how small we are within the natural world, or simply the stillness of the water and air that connects us to something far greater than ourselves in nature. Whatever it is your images capture that sense and your love of the place beautifully.
Lin, thank you so much for your generous comment! I’m so happy that my post resonated with you in this way. Writing has never come easy for me, so I’m glad it had the intended calming effect that I felt while taking the pictures there. I also love the image of the three boats on the shore—I’m drawn to spend time by or on the water, so there’s something especially inviting about scenes like that for me. There are so many lessons one can receive while spending time in nature, and for me, it’s one of my most important teachers in life.
I loved the time I spent at Molas Lake with Stephanie, Bodhi, and you last August… It is now one of my happy places too! photos from our camping time there are among my favorite screensavers. It is so beautiful there, it was almost impossible to take an uninteresting photo!
Thanks, Peggy! It’s truly a special place, and I’m so glad I had the chance to share it with you!
Gorgeous photography of a gorgeous place. I was in Colorado for the first time October 2023. We toured national parks from Glacier down to Rocky Mountain, and visited young cousins who live in Conifer, up in the mountains west of Denver. Lovely!
Beautiful photos. Many of them!
Thank you, Davor!
Beautiful ❤️
I loved everything: your descriptions, your photos, the mood, everything ❤️
Thank you so much! I am grateful for your comment. 🙏
Enjoyed the ride and wonderful photos. Btw, I am undecides about bnw nature photos even in my works. Artistic - yes, and special - yes, but somehow I have a sense that they fail to cheer me up as much as color does. And so there’s a compromise in either way😉
Yes, different nuances: I feel bnw as sacred, and color as fulfilling. Quiet beauty of nature is very appealing. Right now, I am sitting amidst my overgrown garden🤗
Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Davor! I agree that black and white nature photos offer a very different viewing experience compared to color images. Over the years, I’ve gone back and forth in my preferences—perhaps reflecting my internal landscape and moods as much as the external world.
I believe nature offers us a rich spectrum of emotions. Happiness or ecstatic joy may lie at one end, while quiet contemplation rests at the other. When I spend several days camping in one place, I experience that full range—and lately, I’ve been especially drawn to the quiet beauty of nature.
Beautiful, Todd! I tend to view photos first, then read text after, which is always interesting because I get the real story after the story in my head! I love that you anchored the scenes with picnic tables and that the woman rower is there almost like a wildlife creature :D coming and going. The best part was reading that you disconnect for most of the time. Maximum benefits. Incredible scenery!!
Thank you, Juliette! I really appreciate your comments—and the fact that you mentioned both my anchoring on the picnic tables and the woman rower. I was trying something a bit different (for me) with the picnic tables, so it’s great to get some positive feedback on those images.
I’m not sure how many people care about what the woman rower represents, but for me, seeing her out on the lake every morning gives me a sense of stability—something I’m grateful for amidst all the chaos in the world right now. Disconnecting is beneficial in many ways, but I find it hard to do unless I’m physically in a place without internet service. Even then, it can take a day or so to get over my withdrawals from being online.
I love that! That's how I feel about wildlife (hence the reference). They provide some sense of grounding in the chaos. Keep on posting!
These black and white images are incredible. Must have been such a wonderful scene to see the fog come in over the lake. Truly jealous.
Thank you, Hanz! There was fog all 5 mornings we were there, and it was amazing to be sitting on my kayak during that time as the sun came up over the mountains.
After hiking Ice Lake last summer, we stopped at Molas Pass and it was so beautiful! We saw the campground, but were just driving through. I'm glad to see your pictures because now we'll have to camp there some time. Gorgeous shots - such still water!
Thanks for the comment, Rachel! I highly recommend spending a few nights at Molas Lake - I think you would really enjoy it. BTW, I really enjoyed Great Sands National Park, and you were right about Medano Creek still flowing. It was fun watching everyone sand board down the dunes too!
Beautiful place. Beautiful captures.
Thank you so much, KewtieBird! I appreciate your kind words.
Looks great!
Thank you so much, Benjamin!
Wonderful stuff, Todd, thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Ralph - I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Todd, I totally loved reading this and seeing the beautiful images as well.
Thank you so much, Shital! I’m really happy to know that you enjoyed my post!
What an amazing site Todd, it looks so gloriously peaceful and sounds like the perfect retreat for mindful connection. I can see why it is your happy place! Your beautiful photographs and gentle writing style add to the sense of calm I feel just looking at the images and reading your words. I have to add that I am very drawn to the image of the three canoes and low cloud drifting through.
There is something about being by water surrounded by mountains or fells – perhaps it’s the immensity of the surroundings emphasising how small we are within the natural world, or simply the stillness of the water and air that connects us to something far greater than ourselves in nature. Whatever it is your images capture that sense and your love of the place beautifully.
Lin, thank you so much for your generous comment! I’m so happy that my post resonated with you in this way. Writing has never come easy for me, so I’m glad it had the intended calming effect that I felt while taking the pictures there. I also love the image of the three boats on the shore—I’m drawn to spend time by or on the water, so there’s something especially inviting about scenes like that for me. There are so many lessons one can receive while spending time in nature, and for me, it’s one of my most important teachers in life.
Such incredible photography, Todd!
Thank you, Marta! I’m grateful for you reading my post and for your generous comment 🙏
Impossible not to appreciate such eye!
Beautiful, beautiful! I think my heart rate dropped a few beats reading this! 😃
Thank you, Susanne! I know my heart rate was lower while I was there, so I’m thrilled the photos have a similar effect.
Great shots!!
Thank you so much, Wildflower! I’m really glad you enjoyed them.