Simple Tips to Better Photography
Visual Poetry
When I was an interpretive park ranger at Dinosaur National Monument last summer, I created a photography program to give amateur photographers ideas on how to improve their vacation photos. The “Simple Tips to Better Photography” was a non-technical tutorial on the art of seeing. With today’s do-it-all-for-you digital cameras, most of the technical stuff is already done by the camera, and often done quite well.
But what snapshooters need to learn most is what I call visual poetry. They need to learn how to make a compelling photograph. Too many people don’t use their telephoto lenses to their best advantage, and that is one of the most important tools they have to capture the compelling part of the photograph.
Although this presentation is focused on landscape and nature photography, the same can be said about photographing people.
I began my presentation with a discussion about visual poetry, adapted for general audiences: Read the rest of this entry »
Sandhill Cranes in Colorado
Sandhill Cranes, Hayden, Colorado
The Yampa Valley Crane Festival in northwestern Colorado celebrates the fall migration of greater sandhill cranes on their way to their wintering grounds. Sponsored by Colorado Crane Conservation Coalition, the festival drew me to the harvested wheat fields near Hayden to find these handsome birds. Read the rest of this entry »
My Last Visit to Echo Park
Hikers and golden cottonwood
Actually, these photographs are from my last two trips to Echo Park. I bought a “new” used AWD Toyota Sienna and broke her in on the Echo Park Road. Then a week later, I took my friend Marilyn there since her little (and heavily loaded) Honda Fit wouldn’t make the trip. Marilyn is a volunteer for several wildlife refuges, and I met her last year at Okefenokee NWR. So, like me, she moves from place to place with all her possessions stuffed in her long-suffering car.
Marilyn and Steamboat Rock
Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, and Farting
Pikes Peak framed by aspen
I had an opportunity to visit a childhood friend and her family in Colorado Springs last week, and they took me to the two most famous places there – Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods. (If you tuned in to find out about the farting, keep reading.)
Garden of the Gods at dawn, with Pikes Peak to the right
I dragged them out of bed to watch the sunrise tint the strange rock fins that are the featured draw of the Garden of the Gods. Read the rest of this entry »
Bighorn Sheep at Pikes Peak
Nyeah Nyeah
Driving down from Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs with friends last week, we saw a herd of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep ewes with their families. They sported patchy coats that looked like they were still shedding last winter’s fur when they should be growing this winter’s coat out.
A few were chewing cud or licking their lips, which made for a comical portrait. Read the rest of this entry »
Sand Wash Horses – September 2
Photographs and videos of my favorite herd of wild horses – in Sand Wash Basin Herd Management Area near Maybell, Colorado. Heather Robson, a New Zealander and member of the Sand Wash Advocate Team (SWAT), who keeps track of all the names and lineages from afar, has helped me with the names. I hope I put them with the right faces!
Stallions at play
Sand Wash Basin Foals in June
A tender moment
I will be leaving soon for another visit to the Sand Wash Basin near Maybell, Colorado to watch my favorite herd of wild horses. I kinda got behind in my editing from the last visit in late June, so I’ll share what I’ve got before the next batch hits.
McKee Springs Petroglyphs
McKee Springs – the most famous panel in Dinosaur National Monument
After three months of looking at the replica of this famous Fremont culture petroglyph panel in the visitor center, I finally got to see it in person. We can only make educated guesses as to what these figures represent. Someone told me that this largest figure is of a woman. If the figures are solid in color, they are male. This one is “hollow” and the three stripes on the bottom of the torso supposedly represent the number of children she had. I am not sure if this is true, but it’s the only story I have. These figures are done in the Classic Vernal Style representing a culture that ranged widely in the Southwest 800 to 1000 years ago. They are likely ancestors of today’s Utes and other modern Native tribes. Read the rest of this entry »
All the Pretty Horses
I spent an evening and a morning in late June in the Sand Wash Basin near Maybell, Colorado watching the beautiful wild horses. I made three videos, and I have some stills yet to edit, so hold your horses (hee hee). In the meantime, enjoy these videos showing these gorgeous mustangs going about their morning, as well as the sunset from Lookout Mountain.
Text and photographs copyrighted by Cindy McIntyre
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Website: CindyMcIntyre.com
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Gallery of Sand Wash Basin horses images
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Contact: cindy at cindymcintyre.com
Bully Ninjas – the Tiny Rufous Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird male
A fellow ranger and I were discussing the constant quarreling at the hummingbird feeders by the newly arrived rufous hummingbirds. Emily said they reminded her of the fighters in “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.” They can fly so fast you can’t keep track of where they’ve gone. Or they can hover in a slow motion attack. She said she calls them “bully Ninjas” – although I think she used another adjective that was more creative. Wish I had written it down. Read the rest of this entry »
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