Project Athena - Day 343 (Bark)

Charred Bark

This tree trunk is a remnant of the High Park Wildfire (2012) that burned for nearly three weeks straight in the mountains West of Fort Collins. It was caused by a lightning strike and charred over 87,284 acres of mostly national forest land plus destroyed almost 300 homes. As I recall what it was like to wake up everyday to the smell of fire and heavy smoke hanging in the air, I am very thankful for all the rain we have had recently.

Charred Tree Trunk

Nikon D3200 • Nikon 55-200mm lens • 60mm • F/5.6 • 1/125s • ISO 160

Project Athena - Day 340 (Bark)

Bark Pants

I love this old cottonwood tree and thick, rugged bark that wraps itself around the trunk like a pair of comfy Levi jeans.

Bark Pants

Nikon D3200 • Nikon 55-200mm lens • 62mm • F/20 • .4s • ISO 100

Project Athena - Day 321 (Wood)

Fields have eyes, and woods have ears

I have photographed this exact aspen tree many times over the last three years but this is the first with the new camera and my favorite composition to date. I just love the textures and color of this "growth" on the tree. I don't know what these cauliflower-ish things are called but there are many of them in the area of the park that experienced a forest fire several years ago.

Aspen Tree

Fujifilm X-E2 • Fuji XF18-135mm lens • 58.9mm • F/9 • 1/75s • ISO 400