New Year’s Photography Resolutions:

GOALS:
Start Printing in My Home Darkroom
Enter Juried Shows again
Take a Workshop
Introduce ‘The Family Project’ (Family Photo Preservation)
New Series ‘Weekly Volcano’
Experiment with Pinholes
Continue Urban Landscapes (Day & Night)
Talk more about my photo influences
Colorado Mining History and Cemetery Series

Cameras to Look For:
Minolta SRT-101
Gakkenflex 35mm TLR Kit
Rollei 35mm Rangefinder
Graflex Press Camera (Speed Graphic model)
Kodak Duaflex
Kodak Retina
Argus C4

2010 Calendar Selections Posted.......

We've made our 2010 Calendar selections. Theme: Summer on Mt Evans. It has been posted on our website.

Because it is inaccessible except by alpine mountaineering in winter, we have no winter pix, hence the name.

But if you ever find yourself here from ~mid-May to mid-October* you can drive to within 500 feet of the summit of one of the Front Range Fourteeners. It is s beautiful drive! You may have heard of the drive up Pike's Peak, but for more on this scenic byway check out the Mount Evans Website.

*Dates are approximate. Due to ice conditions it closed in late September this year
(2009).
Yellow Paint Brush, Mt Evans, Summer 2009

Faith on Film: San Xavier del Bac

When we visited the Mission near Tucson, Arizona a few years ago it was decorated for Advent.



A detail from the High Altar with a statue of San Xavier. Statues in the Church are dressed in typical Spanish style.



















Faith in Film will be on Hiatus until Lent. I need time to photograph more local Churches, and find and sort the rest of my California Mission and English Cathedral Photos....

Merry Christmas

Looking forward to a great New Year!

Enjoy your day with Family and Friends.

(That means you really shouldn't be looking at Blogs Today!)

Faith On Film: Christmas Eve

Nativity Scene, San Xavier del Bac, near Tucson, AZ

Enthusiastic Neighors!

One of our Neighbors back in California used to go wild with his over the top Holiday Decorations.










Since most of my followers are overseas, what types of decorations are common where you live?

Faith on Film: The Chapel at San Xavier

When we visited San Xavier, the facade was being restored, Hence no photos of the scaffolding.........


There was a wonderful candle lit chapel outside to the north






































Detail from the wall around the Chapel Courtyard....Stations of the Cross

Seasonal 'Accident'

Another one of those 'scanning accidents'. An ornament from last year's tree. Today we are finally putting up our Christmas Tree. This is very late for us. We'll do our last bit of shopping this weekend also.


Taken with the Mamiya 645 and cropped.

An Interesting 'Accident'

Let's Call this a bit of 'Alternate Digital Processing'. Quite by accident I scanned these transparencies on the 'reflective' setting, with some interesting results. Which one's do you like best, the alternative scans or the correct scans?
























Taken with the Mamiya 6 Rangefinder

Stanley Hotel: Last Visit

Modern Suites at the Stanley are a series of luxury condos built on the hill behind the old hotel.

The Staff said that most people are disappointed if they can't stay in the Old Hotel, and have to stay in these rooms.







But the harsh mountain winters are hard on century old wood frame buildings. Repairs are a constant undertaking.

Around the Grounds at the Stanley

A seat on the Veranda............












The Gazebo Floor..........

Stanley Pool And Front Views

Continuing our tour of the Stanley Hotel with the pool and Pool House, both idle during the winter months as the Hotel itself used to be until the 1990's.









The Peaks of Rocky Mountain National Park can be seen in the background. The tallest is Long's Peak, a Fourteener which is a prominent feature of the northern Front Range.

Faith on Film: Keeping Doors Open For the Holiday Season

Keep your doors open for family and friends during the Holiday Season!






Gate to the Chapel Courtyard, San Xavier del Bac, Tucson, AZ









Door handle, main entrance to the Mission Church

Faith on Film: Happy Hannukah!

Hannukah, the Festival of Lights, began Last Night.

Wishing a Happy Holiday Season to all of my friends!
















Tile from the Tucson Mission

Happy Anniversary!

Celebrating our 11th Wedding Anniversary!

Hand Painted Emulsion on Watercolor Paper.






Photo Influence: D.R. Anderson
My Alternative Processes Instructor

Stanley Hotel: Historic Hotels of America

On the list of Historic Hotels of America, which includes resort and luxury hotels from the Turn of the last Century.........

Next week we will resume with a tour of the grounds.















You can search for other Historic Hotels at there website.

Stanley Hotel......Room Without a View

Our room overlooked the parking lot and out buildings. The Bath had what I call a Spider Web Window. Does anyone know the official architectural name?

In color because I had run out of B&W film. But below I converted the image to B&W in Photoshop. I think that you will see that the rock formations in the background really pop out in B&W. I think the red roofs distract from the rocks in color..... Enlarge the pictures to see the rocks better.......

Guest Rooms at the Stanley: What Would You Pay?

Here is our room, quite nice and comfy, but not haunted. The basic un-haunted rooms are $375 per night. We weren't paying because Donald's research group was having their semi-annual retreat.












Haunted rooms, mostly located on the floor above us start at $500 per night......What would you pay for the "Shining" Experience?










They also have a special annual Halloween Ball if you find yourself in the Area next October 31st. It is fully booked 6 months in advance.......

I'm not showing all of the angles to avoid the horrid flat screen television!

Night Moves at The Stanley Hotel

So Here we are finally at the Stanley Hotel @ night.I hope it was worth waiting for?

Imagine 100 years ago being driven up to the Portico in your chauffered Stanley Steamer, an invited Guest paying $5.00 per day for the standard lodging (plus extra if you brought your children and servants). The Stanley's never made a profit and didn't care. It was there personal 100 room guest house.




Later the Stanley's added an addition for single men, who could not be housed with families and single ladies for obvious reasons!

The Hotel was closed each winter, having no heat and intended only for Summer guests. The 1990's renovations added heat.

More from the Stanley tomorrow and next week. You will see our guest room and tour the grounds.

Faith on Film: San Xavier del Bac, Tucson, Arizona

The Missions were not just a feature of California. The Spanish established Missions throughout Texas, New Mexico and Arizona as well. Few, however, prospered and remain active churches like the ones in California. San Xavier del Bac is one of those exceptions. The Fascade was under renovation, so I'm not showing it. But you can go to their official website for a view.



When we visited the Church was decorated for Advent, and I am featuring scene from San Xavier for the Advent Season.










Arched entry to the Cemetery.























Interior...Crossing Dome


















Altar for San Xavier, holding Jesus.

A Field of Poppies for Our Blogger Friend..........

A Field of California Poppies for our Blogger Friend and his Bride @ Light and Life in Malaysia who are getting married today!

End of Year Updates: Bristlecones of Argentine Pass Part II

This is the Bristlecone that was alive last year; the one I went back to photograph. As you can see the Pine Beetle has killed this fine old tree.












This close-up of another tree trunk shows the damage........















We need a cold moist winter in the high mountains to save these trees. Last winter was too warm......This is the result.

Bristlecones, Douglas Furs and Ponderosa Pines usually do not fall victim to the Pine Beetle... They are all dying off, albeit slower than the Lodge Pole Pines that are the usual feast for the Beetle.

Do we have Global Warming to thank for this?

End of Year Updates: Bristlecones at Argentine Pass

For December I will be tying up some loose ends from the Summer.

I returned to Argentine Pass to photograph a grove of Bristlecone Pines. I had seen this one spectacular example in 2008, but it was late and the lighting was bad.......


So I returned this year looking for that particular tree. I'll talk more about that tomorrow.









First dusting of snow in early October visible on the peaks in the background.














All taken with the Mamiya 645 using the 45mm wide angle lens and Ilford Iso 400 film.

Coming Soon......The Stanley Hotel

I've just finished developing the Stanley Hotel Night and Day Photos..........The negatives are drying!

I've decided to switch back to Rodinal......I'll have a discussion of Rodinal vs D-76 soon also.

And Finally, Our 2010 calendar is coming together......The Subject is Mount Evans. I'll be doing a major website update in late December which will include the 2010 Calendar and a 'Best of the Blog' section.

Getting Back to More Night Moves for December

Starting off December with Night Moves at the western stairs at the Denver Museum of Natural History.

I'll be here tonight at the Urban Wildlife Photo Club.........