Rocky Mountain National Park

Robert Rodriguez Jr Photography > Beyond the Lens > Rocky Mountain National Park

August 2012 Free Desktop Wallpaper

by RR Jr on August 2, 2012

The August 2012 Free Desktop Wallpaper is now available for download. Color and light seem to inhibit a focused quality at 11,000+ feet of elevation, and I definitely experienced that on my recent trip to Rocky Mtn NP.

As always, come closer to nature in the Rockies. .

1920 x 1200

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1280 x 800

Instructions:

First determine your screen size. Your Current Resolution Is:

Then click on the link for the correct size. When the image opens in a new browser window, right click on the image and select “Set as Wallpaper” (on a Mac, select “Use Image as Desktop Picture”).

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Robert Rodriguez Jr Photography > Beyond the Lens > Rocky Mountain National Park

The Search for Intimate Landscapes

by RR Jr on July 17, 2012

Tundra, Rock Mtn NP

As I continue to study painting and all of the profound things it can teach us as photographers, I find myself more often looking beyond the obvious compositions, and more towards the smaller details. Whether we call them abstracts, extracts (as Ansel Adams preferred), or intimate landscapes (my favorite), the idea is the same. We focus on the smaller details that allow us to remove visual cues such as scale and location, and focus on patterns, shapes, and mystery. Imagination becomes much more of a factor both for the photographer and the viewer.

This has been on my mind more and more as I struggle with conveying my feelings about what I see and experience, especially when I travel to unfamiliar locations. I took the time to visit a few galleries here in Denver Colorado, and it immediately became apparent that most of the locations I planned to visit have been photographed countless times. That doesn't discourage me in the least, but rather provides a challenge I enjoy. How can I interpret the landscape in my own original way?

View from Mt Evans, Colorado

Of course I don't presume I'll be able to do that easily, but it both scares me and motivates me at the same time. Fear of course is always present when we try to do something where failure is a real possibility. But that also means we're pushing our limits, testing our boundaries, and freeing ourselves from the “comfort zone”. And that is a place I want to spend the least amount of time in. Sure it feels safe, but it breeds complacency and mediocrity – and creativity suffers (even dies) because of it.

“If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it.” – Albert Einstein

I've been guilty of enjoying the comfort zone, and I admit it does feel reassuring to repeat those ideas that have worked in the past. But that's just not where I want to be now, or in the future. There's just too much competition, especially from those who assume all it takes is a modern DSLR, an iconic vista, good Photoshop skills, and a website. Nothing wrong with that, it's just not the path I want to follow.

Ice Cloud, Rocky Mtn NP

So I'm taking more risks, trying new approaches, and thinking a lot more before I press the shutter button. I'm in competition with myself, and so that allows me to be myself. That to me is the real search for intimate landscapes, and where we can all shine as creative photographers. Are you spending too much time in the comfort zone? When was the last time you really too a risk as a photographer? Try it, you might be surprised at how liberating it is, and how much more connected it makes you feel to your work.

Shadow Canyon, Moab, UT

Share your feedback and comments below. Thanks a always for reading!

 

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Robert Rodriguez Jr Photography > Beyond the Lens > Rocky Mountain National Park

Traveling in Colorado and Rocky Mtn National Park

by RR Jr on July 14, 2012

 

I’m in Denver Colorado visiting family for the week, and of course have several days set aside to visit and photograph in Rocky Mountain National Park which is located just 1 hr northwest of the city. I had a chance to visit yesterday for the first time, and was completely overwhelmed by the sheer beauty and grandeur of the park. Incredible mountain peaks reaching 14k feet, pristine lakes, abundant wildlife, and spruce forests as far as the eye can see.

Having visited the Smokies less than 2 weeks ago, it’s tempting to contrast and compare the parks. But for me, these are pointless comparisons, akin to a parent choosing one child over another. Each park has its unique qualities that make them places worth protecting, and for a landscape or nature photographer, definitely worth experiencing. Besides, nature is nature, and always has the potential to impart something that makes our lives richer and more meaningful.

Having said that, there is something about high mtn peaks like those found in the Rockies that instill a primal sense of awe, and I certainly felt that this morning on my first shoot in the park. As always, it is so easy to be seduced by the excitement of a new location and start shooting everything in site, but I really tried hard to take my time and “see” something out of the ordinary.

Of course as I have said many times, one of the key aspects of landscape photography is familiarity, and so I plan on spending more time in the park exploring and getting a better sense of what makes it so special. For me that means getting out on the trails and hiking as much as I can, learning how the light changes during the different times of day, and studying the map of the park.

Regardless of how successful I am with images, I just want to say how truly grateful I feel to have the opportunity to experience these amazing landscapes. I am acutely aware of those who do not have those opportunituties, and so I try and appreciate the simplest things which we so often take for granted. If you see me sitting next to a beautiful creek enjoying the sound of the stream while there is an amzing sunset overhead, no need to worry about whether my camera is working. I just think that moment matters more than any other. Have you taken a moment today to appreciate that simple thing that matters most to you?

 

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