Not being morning people, we are struggling to get up and be out before dawn. Today’s goal is to shoot the early morning mist, reflections and red mountain glow at Crystal Lake in Ironton Park. Fortunately the crazy scary road through Red Mountain Pass is deserted at this hour and we arrive at sunrise, well before the light hits the top of Red Mountain. Photographers are already lined up along the bank, tripods in place, trying to stay warm in the 39degree chill. Heavy mist is rising above the water and several ducks create circular ripples as they dunk and feed. Next to me is a woman from Prescott, AZ also heading to the balloon fiesta. We photograph the emerging colors on the mountain, the mist and the reflections. Ray leaves to warm up; I stay for 90 minutes before my frozen fingers lead me back to the car. It was worth the early rise.
The early morning light is still magical so we head to yesterday’s spot in Ironton Park. We walk on the dirt roads, and at last, I begin to feel this place. I tell Ray that walking as opposed to driving, allows me to ”see” and construct photographic images. Foreground, background, lighting and composition are very hard to do when standing by the side of a road. I feel very satisfied with my images this morning; they feel like me and I like the compositions.
The afternoon storm clouds move in and sends us back to Ouray. Already we can see that winds are blowing the aspen leaves off and know that in a week, all the color will be gone.
We end the day with some flyfishing on the Uncompahgre River in Pa Co Chu Puk campground and park. Ray 3, Linda 0.
