Rocky Mountain Rainbows

In early September I was privileged to go on a photo tour with my brother. He works in Estes Park, Colorado for a company that does photo Jeep tours out of Estes Park. We met the clients, a young couple at the tour office at about five thirty in the morning. We were on the road before a quarter to six. As we drove along my brother pointed out various points of interest and gave a running narrative of facts about founding of Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park and the various wildlife found there. He was really good at it! Just after entering the north entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park we stopped and watched two bull elk sparring in the meadow. There was barely enough light to photograph them but was a wonderful sight to see. Further on we saw four coyotes playing together way out in the meadow too far away to photograph as well as some wild turkeys. We turned off onto Fall River Road and began the slow climb up to Trail Ridge Road. I was really glad to have the front seat when it started to sprinkle. Luckily the tour company provides heavy blankets for the people in the back of the Jeep. On the way up we were treated several times to rainbows ahead of us. We took a stop at the visitors center up on the top of Trail Ridge Road. It was gusty and cold and we didn't spot any Pikas or Marmots out. They were smart and stayed underground. We did however see another glorious rainbow with the rockies as a backdrop! On the way down we spotted some cow elk beside the road and one moose and a bear far off in the distance. It was a great morning and I really enjoyed getting to watch my brother at work. God's love and blessings upon yours, chris Most images were created with a Canon 7D mkII and a damaged Tamron 150-600mm lens. One rainbow image was taken with a Canon 10-22mm lens. #TeamCanon

Sign in the Heavens

Yesterday afternoon I saw the longest lasting rainbow that I have ever witnessed. It was a partial rainbow in the sky over the Mendocino Mountains to the east of us. It lasted for over half an hour. When you consider that rainbows typically occur when the sun is at a 40-42 degree angle to the raindrops that is an awfully long time. In the bible Noah and his family had just survived the "Great Flood" and God told Noah and his family and future generations that they needn't be afraid of any more floods. That he would put a sign in the heavens to remind them of this. Here it is in Genesis 9: 12-16, "12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” Pretty amazing to be able to see a sign from God in our daily lives. Something that we often don't take the time to think about often enough. God's precious light and love to all, chris

I'm Stumped

Today has been a mix of mostly rain and sleet with doses of sunshine mixed in for good measure. I got cabin fever this afternoon and just had to get out. I walked down our road and photographed a mossy stump. Later on I took Annika to Ukiah for an appointment and we spotted a rainbow on the return trip home. God's love and blessings to all, chris

Gas Spill and Just Thinking

This morning was spent running errands to Ukiah in the rain. I had to stop and buy gas. When I hopped out of the car the first thing I noticed was all the rainbow colors from some spilled gas on the pavement.That looks pretty cool I thought and grabbed my camera. While my car was filling I created a few images of some redwood needles lying amidst the spill. When I was finished and returning the handle to the pump I spilled some gas!

While driving away I thought of a variety of thoughts. The first was that it was interesting that a small piece of a Redwood Tree ended up on the pavement next to the gas pump.I live in Redwood country so it's pretty easy for it to get there from being on a car or truck.Perhaps from its tires or the rain washed it off from the top of the vehicle. Then my mind went to the gas. Nationwide there are thousands of gas stations with little gas spills just like the one I just witnessed. Would I want to drink water that had gasoline in it? How much would I be willing to put up with? I pictured a lake and a hand dropping in gasoline from a container. Not the same thing but then end result is the same. Gas and other chemicals do end up in our water supplies.It's an added expense to put filtered drains around gas stations but that's what's required now.Where do we draw the line on how far we need to go to protect ourselves and the environment? How much are we willing to pay at the pump? How far do we go to legislate the control and protection of ourselves and our environment? Lot's of questions sprang to mind that I had no answers for. Just thinking...

God's love and blessings to all,

chris