Hahn Photography

Wild Basin on a Rainy Day

2009-06-03T08:05:00.000-07:00

The best hike in RMNP on a rainy, foggy day is the Wild Basin trail. On Tuesday, 06/02/09, we experienced one of those rare, all-day rains and overcast skies. I hiked up to Calypso Cascades with the goal of capturing nature images. It was a very enjoyable experience.

Mountain Maple with new leaves emerging, Acer spicatum

Canon 5D: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM: f/4, 1/250s, ISO 400, lens focal length 105mm.

Fairy Slipper Orchid, Calypso bulbosa, along the Wild Basin Trail. Prime time for this dime sized blossom.

Canon 5D: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM: f/18, 1/4s, ISO 250, lens focal length 90mm.

The ferns are emerging in large numbers.... in the fiddle head stage.

Canon 5D: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM: f/4.5, 1/30s, ISO 250, lens focal length 105mm.

Rock clematis, Clematis columbiana. Clematis vines grow easily in cold climates.

Canon 5D: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM: f/8, 1/25s, ISO 100, lens focal length 67mm.

I hiked as far as Calypso Cascades. The next mile of hike to Ouzel Falls will have to wait for another day.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM: f/16, 1/4s, ISO 50, lens focal length 28mm.

Williamson's Sapsucker, mated pair

2009-05-20T12:34:00.000-07:00

I was lucky to observe the nest of a mated pair of Williamson's Sapsuckers, Sphyrapicus thyroideus. The light was low, so there is some motion blur in these images. But, I will probably hike back to this location to photograph more of their activity in an effort to get better light and more sharpness. The male is striking, with black back, white rump and wingpatch, and white stripes on face. The female has densely barred body and plain brown head. Uncommon, but not rare. Always a good sighting for a "birder". These images were captured in the Upper Beaver Meadows area.

Canon 5D: Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM: f/5.6, 1/1000s, ISO 400

Peck-a-Boo, Mating Ritual of Red-naped Sapsuckers

2009-05-14T13:27:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, it's just a joy to be a photographer in RMNP. It would be enough to get to observe some of the great nature events, but is a true honor and privilege to get to photograph the unique events. The road to Upper Beaver Meadows is now open. One can drive to the west end of Upper Beaver Meadows in order to hike along the forest edge and stream...a great place to see wild birds. This morning, a pair of Red-naped Sapsuckers flirted in the area. The male is on the left. The female on the right. I had never seen their crests displayed in an erect manner before.

Red-naped Sapsuckers, Sphyrapicus nuchalis, mated pair. Members of the "woodpecker" family. The male is on the left and is identifiable as the male by the extensive red on throat. The female and the male both have a red patch on nape.

Return of the Mountain Bluebirds

2009-04-21T19:31:00.000-07:00

After the big snowstorm of April '09, the ground feeding songbirds evacuated the area, or they hunkered down. At least, I didn't see any bluebirds for several days. As the snow melts, the bluebirds are returning to nest and raise their chicks. Below are images of the more colorful male on the wax currant bush. The female is perched on the rock.

Venture into the Valley

2009-04-19T09:14:00.000-07:00

Rocky Mountain National Park experienced a big snow event on April 16-18, 2009. Snowfall amounts were measured in feet, with +3 feet common. There was no accompanying wind, so the snow stayed where it fell. It was very welcomed moisture. In April, the snow won't stay around for long. The image below was made on April 18. The elk herd ventured into Moraine Park in search of grazing opportunities. Belly deep in snow, they seemed confused. The clouds were lifting from the Stone Peaks area west of Moraine Park.

Humans enjoyed the late season snow opportunities by skiing into the wilderness backcountry. The image below was captured in Hollowell Park, RMNP, Estes Park, CO.

Centennial Haunt

2009-03-24T08:17:00.001-07:00

I was honored to have my image, "Centennial Haunt" selected as Theme Photo-of-the-day at Shutterbugs.biz.

This is the Stanley Hotel Lobby in Estes Park, Colorado. It was the inspiration for Stephen King, as he wrote the script for the movie, "The Shining", starring Jack Nicholson. The Hotel is 100 years old this year. It is rumored to be haunted and the "Ghost Hunters", of television fame have visited here to film their show. 4 second exposure. Canon 5D: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM: f/22, ISO 100, A volunteer young tourist was willing to be my "apparition".

Winter of the Equilibrium

2009-03-23T07:10:00.001-07:00

This image was recognized as photo-of-the-day at Shutterbugs.biz on March 22, 2009 in the Animal category. Title, "Winter of the Equilibrium".

Coyote carrying back legs and haunches of a mule deer. Most likely, the deer was killed by a mountain lion. The coyote is simply doing his scavenger thing. Coyotes, even in a pack, rarely bring down a healthy deer or elk. Mountain lions are night stalkers and are the primary predators of the mule deer herd. Mule deer populations are large, so nature attempts to balance via the food chain interactions.

Canon 5D: Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM: Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, CO, f/5.6, ISO 400, 1/1600s.

Coyote Contempt

2009-03-21T06:35:00.000-07:00

I was honored to have my coyote image "Contempt" selected as photo-of-the-day at DigitalImageCafe.com for March 21, 2009.

This is a coyote in search of a meal in Moraine Park, RMNP. He is showing anger/contempt, as demonstrated by the laid back ears, the raised hairs on the back of the neck, the dipped head and the glaring eyes. Canon 5D: Canon EF 400mm. f/5.6L USM: f/5.6, 1/2500s, ISO 400.

The image as captured on March 14, 2009. This was before the rodents emerged from hibernation. Since then, many Wyoming ground squirrels (food source) have become active.

Bluebird in Flight

2009-03-14T07:22:00.000-07:00

One of this week's bluebird images was selected as photo-of-the-day at DigitalImageCafe.com. The Mountain Bluebirds return to the high elevation glacial valleys during the second week in March... every year. The photo is a male Mountain Bluebird, Sialia currucoides. It's wonderful to see many mated pairs in Moraine Park of Rocky Mountain National Park. These very desirable birds can be found most often at the border between the valley open spaces and the Ponderosa Pine forest. The vibrant blue color of the male's plumage is at its peak breeding season glory. The blue feathers are most vibrant when reflecting direct sunlight.

2009-03-12T07:58:00.001-07:00

I am honored to have my bighorn ram image "The Challenge" selected as photo-of-the-month in the Animal category at DigitalImageCafe.com The bighorn ram was one of the top rams in a flock of 35 sheep on MacGregor Mountain on December 18, 2008. Rocky Mountain National Park has about 250 bighorn sheep, which is down from 400 sheep 20 years ago. The habitat has been crowded due to the 4000 elk and many hundreds of mule deer. Efforts have been made by the park service to protect the lambing areas near The Crater on Specimen Mountain. Those areas and trails are closed to humans between May and August 15.

The bighorn sheep are susceptible to a lungworm parasite which causes respiratory problems. And, excessive noise really bothers the sheep, especially the roar of motorcycle engines and diesel engine pickups.

The sheep are my favorite mammals in RMNP and I hope they stabilize and grow their numbers.

The Return of the Mountain Bluebirds

2009-03-10T08:45:00.001-07:00

Every year on about this day, the Mountain Bluebirds return to the high elevation glacial valleys. They come to find a mate, nest and raise chicks on the border of the valleys and the Ponderosa Pine forests. Sometimes, like today, they encounter the teeth of the last days of winter. But, they persevere... because it is their instinct to come to their home ground where they were raised.

The Old Soul in the Lobby

2009-03-03T17:26:00.000-08:00

The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, CO.... finished in 1909. Centennial celebration this year! Always rumored to have been haunted, but I have been a skeptic ... until today. I did not notice the apparition in my 4s exposure until it appeared on my computer screen during RAW processing. Please call the Ghost Hunters!!!! The 1909 lobby, as is.... 100 years old.

Canon 5D: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM: f/22, 4s, ISO 100, lens focal length 28mm.

Hollowell Park

2009-02-26T06:31:00.000-08:00

Honored to have a photo-of-the-day at Digital Image Cafe. My "Moonset over Hollowell Park" black and white image won the Scenic category for February 26, 2009.

Shot settings: Canon 5D: Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM: f/8, 1/125s, ISO 100, polarizing filter. February 13, 2009. The clouds hanging on the mountains (Hallet's Peak and Flattop Mtn.) are composed of blowing snow and sublimating moisture. As seen from Hollowell Park in Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, Colorado.

Keyboard of the Winds

2009-02-24T21:14:00.000-08:00

A Scenic Picture-of-the-day winner at Digital Image Cafe. Keyboard of the Winds is the rock formation south and west of the summit of Long's Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park. The image is... as seen from Bear Lake in September 2008.

Keyboard of the Winds

Winter Camouflage

2009-02-23T16:50:00.000-08:00

This is a large snowshoe hare, Lepus americanus, in winter coat. These hares are substantially larger than cottontails. Their major predators are bobcats and lynx. This image was captured in the Chaos Cascades area below Nymph Lake and above Bear Lake, RMNP. The snow is 60" deep this time of year. The snowshoe hare has very large hind feet... hence the name and the adaptation to the snow. They are well camouflaged and difficult to find, until they move.

High velocity winds on February 20, 2009

2009-02-20T08:14:00.000-08:00

The big winds started before dawn. Literally shaking the house and bending the trees, the winds roared like a jet engine.

Sometimes, I think the jet stream dips down to the high country and results in microbursts.

Snake Clouds and Clear Skies

2009-02-19T09:38:00.000-08:00

A persistent weather pattern has been clinging to the front range of the Rockies this winter. We are very dry, but the strong winds have blown snow over the continental divide from the western slopes.

The photo is the setting, waning, gibbous moon, as seen from Hollowell Park on February 13, 2009.

2009-02-19T09:21:00.000-08:00

Follow me at: http://twitter.com/hahn23

Early Signs of Spring

2009-02-19T08:17:00.000-08:00

Finally motivated to start a blog project. Mostly, I wanted a blog to link to my Twitter account. The purpose here is to share and document my nature observations and photography.

As I'm writing this, a Hairy Woodpecker is tapping on the Ponderosa tree outside my window. This is a pleasant sound to my ears, as it indicates to me the earliest signs of insect activity.... implying warmer, sunny weather in the near future.

This day in Colorado is sunny and breezy. We are dangerously dry, but there is plenty of snow above 9500'.