Project Athena - Day 63 (Landscape)

You Belong Among the Wildflowers

“You belong among the wildflowers
You belong in a boat out at sea
Sail away, kill off the hours
You belong somewhere you feel free

Run away, find you a lover
Go away somewhere all bright and new
I have seen no other
Who compares with you

You belong among the wildflowers
You belong in a boat out at sea
You belong with your love on your arm
You belong somewhere you feel free

Run away, go find a lover
Run away, let your heart be your guide
You deserve the deepest of cover
You belong in that home by and by

You belong among the wildflowers
You belong somewhere close to me
Far away from your trouble and worries
You belong somewhere you feel free
You belong somewhere you feel free”
— Tom Petty

Have I mentioned that I love the mountains? The crisp, cool air causes me to stop and to take slow, deep breaths. Each breath is purifying, as though I am the only being who has ever breathed those molecules.

Mountain Wildflowers, Evergreen, CO

Nikon D3200 • Nikon 18-55mm lens • 15mm • F/22 • 1/50s • ISO 400

Project Athena - Day 61 (Landscape)

Rocky Mountain High

“The forests are the flags of nature. They appeal to all and awaken inspiring universal feelings. Enter the forest and the boundaries of nations are forgotten. It may be that some time an immortal pine will be the flag of a united peaceful world.”
— Enos Mills (Father of RMNP)

This shot was taken on Sunday morning after my descent from the top of Trail Ridge road. I just had to share.

Sprague Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park

Nikon D3200 • Nikon 18-55mm lens • 32mm • F/25 • 1/50s • ISO 400

Project Athena - Day 60 (Landscape)

We Have a Beautiful Mother

“We have a beautiful
mother
Her hills
are buffaloes
Her buffaloes
hills.

We have a beautiful
mother
Her oceans
are wombs
Her wombs
oceans.

We have a beautiful
mother
Her teeth
the white stones
at the edge
of the water

the summer grasses
her plentiful
hair.

We have a beautiful
mother
Her green lap
immense
Her brown embraces
eternal
Her blue body
everything
we know.”
— Alice Walker

Fossil Creek Reservoir Natural Area

Nikon D3200 • Nikon 18-55mm lens • 18mm • F/16 • 125s • ISO 400

 

Project Athena - Day 59 (Landscape)

Pleasant Valley

“ Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.”
— John Muir

I remember as a young child the first time I looked out over this picturesque valley with its quaint, fairy tale farm and gentle flowing river. I felt a sense of wonder at the simple beauty of the green fields nestled up against the foothills and the stillness of everything.

Tonight as I stood here again looking out over a valley that has not changed much in 40 years, I felt pure peace. I watched the long shadows stretch across the green grass and then fade away. I listened to the sounds of the birds chirping and felt a gentle, cool breeze against my skin. I realized that taking this picture has been on my bucket list for many years. I may even go shoot it again when the skies are blue instead of cloudy. Definitely smiling tonight.

Pleasant Valley from Bingham Hill, Bellvue, CO

Nikon D3200 • Nikon 18-55mm lens • 55mm • F/22 • 1/4s • ISO 100