The Gunnison River runs 2500’ below the rim of the Black Canyon. While it’s not a spectacular capture, it’s my favorite this year in part because I feel I’m getting better at foreground captures, and this one was particularly challenging due to the steep cliffs and new moon. This was taken while I was home last summer visiting my dad who passed away just a couple months later, so it has some special meaning for me that way too.

This is not only my favorite for 2018 but my favorite picture, period. I visited near my hometown in SW Colorado several times this summer and experienced clouds, rain, wind and even bears at this location. I knew I wanted to return for a fall foliage shot but that everything would have to come together--the leaves, the weather, the moon, and the one night I had in the area. Fortunately, it all did. I hope you enjoy the result.

This scene was captured not far from my hometown in southwest Colorado. I live in Ohio now and don’t get back often. I miss the mountains. I had the location in mind and in fact tried to capture the scene a few times. One year, the weather didn’t cooperate. The next year, it was a light snowpack and not what I had in mind. This year, it finally came together with a heavy snowpack for the year and good weather. I was able to capture the snowcapped San Juans with a summer Milky Way. Growing up, I guess I always took the scenery for granted. Not anymore.