Colorado 2009

Colorado Spring sits at the foot of one of America's most famous landmarks, Pikes Peak, upon whose summit Katharine Lee Bates was inspired to write America the Beautiful. Pikes Peak can be reached by car, trail, or cog rail. At the top, 14,160 ft the view is breathtaking and the air is thin. So thin they sell oxygen at the gift shop. One of the nation's most fabulous city parks, Garden of the Gods, is nestled in the foothills of Pikes Peak. This is a photographer’s paradise. It would take many days to shoot it all. . A visit to the area would not be complete with a walk across the Royal Gorge Bridge. Proclaimed the highest suspension bridge in the world towering over 1,000 feet above the Arkansas River and is surrounded by a 360 acre park. But you must see the bridge from below on the Royal Gorge Railroad. Travel along the Arkansas River in a domed car or get the best seat in the house on the open flatbed car. Other areas include Seven Falls, Manitou, Air Force Academy, Fort Carson, and the annual Hot Air Balloon Festival. (Click on Gil-bear to return to the main menu.)

Seven Falls. Picture of surrounding mounatins from an observation platform haveway to the top of Seven Falls.
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Seven Falls. Picture of surrounding mounatins from an observation platform haveway to the top of Seven Falls.
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Seven Falls. Picture of surrounding mounatins from an observation platform haveway to the top of Seven Falls.
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Bottom fall of Seven Falls.
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Annual Balloon Festival held in Colorado Spring. Pikes Peak in the background
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Annual Balloon Festival held in Colorado Spring.
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Annual Balloon Festival held in Colorado Spring
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Annual Balloon Festival held in Colorado Spring.
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Entrance to "Garden of The GODS" with Pikes Peak in the background. Bracketed 3 shots at 2 f/stop intervals and then processed in Photomatrix (HDR Process)
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One of many red rock formations in Garden of The GODS.: Bracketed 3 shots at 2 f/stop intervals and then processed in Photomatrix (HDR Process)
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Another of many red rock formations in Garden of Gods Park.
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Garden of The Gods, Colorado. HDR using three shot exposure, Pentax K-7, 12mm lens, 1/200, f/4, ISO 100.
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Garden of The Gods, Colorado. HDR using three shot exposure, Pentax K-7, 26mm lens, 1/13, f/5.6, ISO 100.
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Garden of The GODS. Some post processing to bring out true colors as seen by the eye.
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Garden of The GODS, Colorado. HDR using three shot exposure, Pentas K-20, 21mm lens, 1/200, f/4, ISO 100.
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Garden of The GODS.
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Garden of the Gods red rock formations. I was here in September 2009, there were storms daily over Pikes Peak usually in the late afternoons.
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Garden of the Gods red rock. Climbing by City permit only and as part of a class.
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Garden of The Gods, Colorado. HDR using three shot exposure, Pentax K-20, 50mm lens, 1/8, f/14, ISO 100.
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Storm moving in over Pikes Peak and the surrounding mountains.
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Royal Gorge Railroad.
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Royal Gorge Bridge, taken from an opening touring car on the Royal Gorge Railroad.
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Royal Gorge Railroad.
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View from the Royal Gorge Bridge Park.
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Royal Gorge Railroad. This shot was taken while leaning over the Royal Gorge Suspended Bridge, 1,100 feet above.
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Taken form the window of the Cog Railway on my way to the top of Pikes Peak.
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Pikes Peak Summit. The air was thin, very thin, and it showed while we where there.
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Cog Railway car at the summit. Note the blue clear sky on the left and the snow on the right.
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Manitou Cliff Dwellings.
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Manitou Cliff Dwellings.
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