General Discussions

**ForrestCroce** · 01:18 AM

Deception Falls | Pacific Northwest

I shot this earlier today, and a few others.

A friend of mine had just finished a book about the 1911 catastrophe at Stevens Pass, about 10 miles to the east of here, so we took a short road trip. A train got caught in a winter storm, with the trail blocked, and avalanches every day in nearby mountains. The engineer decided that the tunnel they were stopped in probably wouldn't hold in a bad avalanche, so he backed the train out into the open. Everybody but the 10 to 20 healthiest people who were able to hike down to civilization died. One man had spent three straight days hiking to the nearest town, collected food and medical supplies, and lost his life on the way back to help his friends - a true hero.

We took a road trip up US 2 over the pass, to see where some of this had happened. She was pretty curious.

Michel Samuel and Republikin are both photographers and use this site, so if either of them see this thread and have any interest, this is 30 mm on a digital, but full frame 35 mm chip, and a 1/3 second exposure.

PS - I hope people don't mind me occasionally starting a thread to share a new photo when I get something really good ... which sadly doesn't happen all that often?

**vangogh** · 07-01-2007, 01:46 AM

I don't mind at all. It reminds me of some of the things I've seen, though not captured in an image, here in Colorado. In fact I moved out this way to see more of this after growing up in a more urban environment.

**ForrestCroce** · 07-01-2007, 02:17 AM

How long have you been in Colorado? Where did you grow up? Have you been to Leadville? You can get there, walk around and enjoy the scenery, and back to Denver or Boulder in a day trip in the winter when the sun goes down at 5. I haven't been through there since I've really known how to use a camera, but it's amazingly beautiful.

Ouray is another personal favorite, but a much longer drive from where you are. And of course Rocky Mountain National Park is to die for. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison might be a weekend trip, but well worth doing. Last time I was there, the weather was too severe for photography, but some of the back roads with aspens standing out in front of sheer cliff are fantastic. I'm getting jealous just thinking about all the scenery you have out there; I hope you're enjoying it.

About a month ago I started a thread called The Cliff Dwellers ... ironically another one from your state. A month or two before that I had started another one to share a Washington mountain photo ... so I thought it would be a good idea to make sure I'm not letting my ego swell up too much and misusing the forum. Glad you don't mind!

**vangogh** · 07-01-2007, 02:28 AM

I was born in Brooklyn and grew up on Long Island about 10 minutes east of Queens. Not a lot of rivers, brooks, and creeks there, though there are some nice photo opps if you know where to look.

I'm in Colorado now close to 10 years, though I haven't been to Leadville. I tend to go into the mountains or farther North when I head out of Boulder. I love Rocky Mountain National Park. Have you seen the Alluvial Fan?

A few years ago I took my dad and brother on a drive up Trailridge. It was last August and there was 10 feet of snow on the side of the rode. Happens when you get up around 14,000 feet. The views from the top are spectacular though it was hard to really capture it with a camera. I'm too tired to do it now, but I'll look through what I have and see if I can find a couple of good ones.

Some things though are just hard to capture in an image. I think the Grand Canyon is like that. Pictures of it are great no question, but you need to physically be there to get that wow and awesome feeling about how vast it is.

I haven't been to Mesa Verde either. I tend to stay on the eastern side of the Rockies though I don't know why since there's a lot of great scenery on the western slope.

It doesn't bother me if you post images. I enjoy them all and that's usually been the reaction I've seen from others when you do post. Now if you posted these images in the SEO Talk forum with a link back to your site and told everyone how you were the greatest photographer who ever lived...well then it might be an issue.

**highanddry** · 07-01-2007, 02:35 AM

I take it you have been to Co, forrest I'm there too.. born, raised and residing. I know some of the most beautiful spots in the state, away from the tourist zones and its great photo-fodder. I used to drive around everyday on the backroads just taking it all in, enjoying the scenery, (but to be honest I was probably smoking at the time). But in any case, I have travelled all around the world and I still find remarkable beauty in Colorado.

**ForrestCroce** · 07-01-2007, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vangogh

I was born in Brooklyn and grew up on Long Island about 10 minutes east of Queens. Not a lot of rivers, brooks, and creeks there, though there are some nice photo opps if you know where to look.

I was born in Denver, and spent my first couple years in one of those Victorians on the side of Washington Park, but my family moved to Long Island when I was about three. Do you know where Babylon and Commack are? ( The link goes to Google Maps. ) We used to go to Fire Island, and stayed there a couple years to be near the grandparents, but moved up to rural Connecticut before too long. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

I was ten days old the first time I crossed the Continental Divide, on Trail Ridge Road. Or so they tell me ... somehow I don't remember. That would be New Years Eve day, 1977, so I'm kind of surprised it was open ... the last few times I've been there, in December and May, it's been closed. Bear Lake is incredible, but just doesn't work on camera.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vangogh

I haven't been to Mesa Verde either. I tend to stay on the eastern side of the Rockies though I don't know why since there's a lot of great scenery on the western slope.

If you ever get a chance to see Maroon Bells, don't pass it up. That's on the other side of the mountains from Aspen, probably a four hour drive from you. Actually, most of the canyons up to anywhere in the Rockies are fantastic. And the Peak-to-Peak can't be more than 45 minutes from Boulder. Have you been up through Ward and Nederland?

I need to get two or three weeks off this fall, drive out to Montana, then head down the Rockies and circle back through New Mexico and Utah. I'm a "red badge" at Getty, so that might be workable.

You're right - I should go pester the SEO forum about how wonderful I am. I'm not Ansel Adams or Art Wolfe, but I'll just pretend I've never heard of either of them.

I even rank #1 for "best photographer in the world," as long as you put a bunch of zeros after the one ... so it's official.

**ForrestCroce** · 07-01-2007, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by highanddry

I take it you have been to Co, forrest I'm there too.. born, raised and residing. I know some of the most beautiful spots in the state, away from the tourist zones and its great photo-fodder. I used to drive around everyday on the backroads just taking it all in, enjoying the scenery, (but to be honest I was probably smoking at the time). But in any case, I have travelled all around the world and I still find remarkable beauty in Colorado.

I was born in Colorado, but not raised.

Maybe this belongs in the other thread, but Deception Falls is probably what I'll submit to YouFeatured. I have a bunch I still need to go through, but I'm pretty happy with the way they turned out. It might wind up being something that looks better as a thumbnail, but I like these.

**ForrestCroce** · 07-01-2007, 03:54 AM

Here's a view from the US Route 2, the scenic byway I took up to the falls in the photo above:

I've got this on my Pacific Northwest Gallery page, along with a dark, brooding b/w of the mountains at Snoqualmie Pass, but I need to figure out a better way to organize them. More snapshots than fine art photos, but I think they convey a sense of wanderlust.

**Learning Newbie** · 07-01-2007, 05:48 PM

Wow that first one is great, probably the best one you posted yet.

**vangogh** · 07-01-2007, 09:03 PM

I do know and have been to both Babylon and Commack. Both are in Suffolk Country, which is the eastern part of Long Island and I grew up in Nassau County, which is on the west end. I grew up about as far west as you can get and still be living on Long Island.

Believe it or not I also lived in Connecticut for a couple of years in Danbury. I was working in the next town over.

The peak to peak is even closer than 45 minutes from me. I've been on it and through Ward and Nederland more times than I can remember. The views are amazing for most of the drive. My favorite part though is the little brick church that looks like it's sitting in space as you approach it. I'm sure you know the one if you've seen it. I have some pics of that too so that's a couple more images I owe you.

**Vasity** · 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForrestCroce

Deception Falls | Pacific Northwest

I like this photo very much nice work.

**ForrestCroce** · 07-02-2007, 02:28 AM

Here's a different view, a little closer in on the waterfall itself: