Ken Papaleo: X Marks the Shot

Above the clouds, at 14,000 feet, on Mount Evans, Idaho Springs, Colorado.

"X Shot"information.

Camera - Canon EOS 5D Mark II

ISO - 800

Shutter - 1/200 sec.

F/stop - 16

Lens - 70/200 zoom

LOCATION.

1. It is about a hour drive from Denver to the entrance of Mount Evans.

2. Mornings and evening light make the best photos.

3. Mount Evans Road is the highest paved road in North America.

CHALLENGE.

The day I had open to shoot this weeks blog turned out to be overcast, rainy, and foggy. My idea was to shoot some spring flowers in Denver but now I had to scramble for a new subject.

SOLUTION.

After coming up with a couple of ideas, I decided to go with something on Mount Evans. Maybe a sheep in the fog or rain. It was 2 pm and Evans is only about half from my house, so I headed out in the rain. When I got to the entrance, the clouds were becoming thinner and soon after I was in the sun. My focus changed immediately. I spent the rest of the day recording images above the clouds.

MORE PHOTOS BELOW FROM THIS SHOOT.

All cloud photos where shot looking down, even though some don't appear that way.

Ken Papaleo

Colorado Landscape Photographer

kenpapaleo@highcountrycoloring.com

303-674-0615

Weekend Flash Back - Denver, Colorado, 10/25/2006.

"X Shot" information.

Camera - Canon-1D Mark II

ISO - 400

Shutter - 1/125 sec.

F/stop - 16

Lens - 24 mm

Ken Papaleo

Colorado Photographer

kenpapaleo@highcountrycoloring.com

303-674-0615

Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, Colorado.

"X Shot" information.

Camera - Canon EOS Mark II

ISO - 400

Shutter - 1/250 sec.

F/stop - 11

Lens - 70/200 zoom

LOCATION.

1. Rocky Mountain National Park is about 2 hours from Denver.

2. Lodging is available in Estes Park.

3. Sunrise is around 5:30 am and sunset is around 8:30 pm, making a long day.

4. There is limited access to Bear Lake, do to road work.

CHALLENGE.

Last week my post was on, how much snow Mount Evans had. So I thought I would go to Rocky Mountain National Park and check out the size of the snow drifts on Trail Ridge Road, for this weeks post. Well as it turned out, the higher sections of the road were closed do to a snow storm. I had planned on spending two days on this shoot and the road never opened. Now I had to come up with a new approach for this shoot.

SOLUTION.

Two things came to mind. With all the spring moisture, things were really green, and there was a forest fire last year at Moraine Park. These would be the angles I would check out instead of Trail Ridge Rd.

I didn't think I would get them both in one shot, but that's what happened. When I came upon the fire scene, an erie, but beautiful image lay before me. Green spring grass was growing in the burn area.

This unusual scene was going to produce my "X Shot".

Ken Papaleo

Colorado Photographer

kenpapaleo@highcountrycoloring.com

303-674-0615

Weekend Flash Back - Denver, Colorado, 9/26/2006.

"X Shot" information.

Camera - Canon EOS-1D Mark II

ISO - 400

Shutter - 1/125 sec.

F/stop - 16

Lens - 70/200 zoom

Ken Papaleo

Colorado Photographer

kenpapaleo@highcountrycoloring.com

303-674-0615

Mount Evans, Idaho Springs, Colorado.

"X Shot" information.

Camera - Canon EOS 5D Mark II

ISO - 400

Shutter - 1/125 sec.

F/stop - 22

Lens - 70/200 zoom

LOCATION.

1. The entrance to Mount Evans is about a 45 minute drive from Denver.

2. The summit is 1420 feet.

3. Mount Evans road is the highest paved road in North America.

4. It can be 90 degrees in Denver and be 40 degrees at the top, bring warm cloths with you.

CHALLENGE.

I knew that Mount Evans was opening for the season, May 24th at 5 pm. There had been a lot of spring snow and I wanted to get something showing that.

SOLUTION.

Arriving at the entrance at 5:15 pm, the gates were still closed. Around 6pm, someone came and the road was open. The drive to Summit lake wasn't bad but right before the lake the road was messed up pretty bad and the snow depth was real deep. The parking lot was clear but that was it. The lake and all trails were buried beneath the snow. With no place to go, people hung out in the parking lot and that made some nice photos. Some walked on top of the snow, but they didn't go very fare. From this location I could see the road go up hill, carved out of the snow. It looked very impressive and this was going to be my "X Shot". All I had to do was make sure everything was in focus, this was accomplished by using a f/stop of 22. With the "X shot" under my belt, I started looking for wildlife, with no luck. The clouds were nice, so I shoot scenics and then the full moon rising to the east, at sunset.