Ken Papaleo: X Marks the Shot

Strange clouds in Evergreen, Colorado.

"X Shot" information.

Camera - Canon EOS 5D Mark II

ISO - 400

Shutter - 1/250 sec.

F/stop - 5.6

Lens - 70/200 zoom

A thunderstorm just moved over my Evergreen home, of 25 years, at 8,400 feet. I took my camera to the upper deck and waited, hoping there would be a rainbow. As I watched the tail end of the storm pass over the mountains to the east, the sun started to come out. Instead of a rainbow, these strange clouds started to form. They seemed to drop out of the storm itself, lasting about ten minutes and than slowly disappeared. I had never seen clouds like this before! If anyone knows what they are, please email me.

Ken Papaleo

Colorado Photographer

kenpapaleo@highcountrycoloring.com

303-674-0615

Weekend Flash Back - Golden, Colorado, 8/4/2008.

"X Shot" information.

Camera - Canon EOS-1D Mark II

ISO - 500

Shutter - 1/500 sec

F/stop - 8

Lens - 70/200 zoom

Ken Papaleo

Colorado Photographer

kenpapaleo@highcountrycoloring.com

303-674-0615

Random Shots From Last Week.

"X Shot" INformation.

Camera - Canon EOS 5D Mark II

ISO - 400

Shutter - 1/250 sec.

F/stop - 14

Lens - 24 mm

Last week I was pretty tied up with freelance work, so I had no day set aside to shoot my weekly photo blog. I keep a camera with me most of the time and this week it paid of with a number of nice features. The fact that I have a camera with me, is the point I'm making this week. How many times have you said "There's a Picture" and couldn't take it. Having a camera gives you a chance!

Ken Papaleo

Colorado Photographer

kenpapaleo@highcountrycoloring.com

303-674-0615

Weekend flash Back - Green Mountain, Colorado, 8/4/2008.

"X Shot" information.

Camera - Canon EOS-1D Mark II

ISO - 200

Shutter - 1/200 sec.

F/stop - 5.6

Lens - 70/200 zoom

Ken Papaleo

Colorado Photographer

kenpapaleo@highcountrycoloring.com

303-674-0615

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".