Sometimes going out to the Plains to chase storms is very fruitful and other times it’s a bust, over Memorial Day weekend both happened as I went searching for tornadoes. The storms all produced tornadoes but I was either not in position or too far away to see them, including a rain-wrapped tornado that threatened the town of Hugo as I was driving through it.

Each and every year, thunderstorms feed off of the moisture-laden atmosphere and well up into severe thunderstorms that are capable of producing large hail, damaging wind, lightning, and tornadoes. In recent years, the activity of storm chasing has exploded as people have an interest in seeing these thunderstorms up close. There is a magnificent dichotomy about severe thunderstorms, while chaotic and potentially destructive they are always awe-inspiring and breathtakingly beautiful.

A number of years ago, I invited a friend on a journey down to the Telluride region of Colorado in hopes of finding a waterfall called Mystic Falls. I had seen the falls in very few photos at that time and it looked like an amazing waterfalls, so convincing my friend wasn’t a difficult task.

Creede, Colorado is near where I grew up and always has held a special place in my heart, not only in its beauty, but memories both fond and painful. One of my favorite places to visit in the summer, Creede offers loads of spectacular landscapes and also features the nationally-recognized Creede Repertory Theater. Take a trip with me and I'll show you where you can find the goods when visiting Creede.

Somewhere in the dark I muttered this phrase to my good friend Chase, who was about to drive his Ford Escape along a dirt road at 2am in the middle of the Colorado mountains. About 30 minutes before I told him this, I had an idea for a photo. 

I got my first speaking engagement of 2016 coming up at the Colorado Nature Camera Club on March 17th, 2016 in Boulder, CO and I'll presenting on the "Hidden Gems of Colorado's Backcountry". 

I've been (blessed?) cursed with a photographic memory, while not on the level that you see on TV, I can recall past situations/events/conversations/etc with relative ease. I don't exactly have control over it though and sometimes my memory just doesn't "come" to me like I want it to. Being a landscape and nature photographer though, this is extremely helpful because I can look at a photo and remember most everything about it...years after I saw it. 

Cottonwood Pass is a gorgeous high-alpine mountain pass that links Buena Vista and Gunnison, Colorado. I've had this idea for a photo from the top of Cottonwood Pass for about 3 years now and just recently, finally got to fulfill that idea and with some creative problem solving I came away with a photo that I'm very pleased with! 

Kyle and Julia engagement photo session at Brainard Lake Recreation Area near Nederland, CO. 

Congratulations Josh and Sarah Dayton! This beautiful couple asked me to take a photo of them leaving their amazing Breckenridge wedding at the Breckenridge Nordic Center and it provided me with an opportunity to use my newly acquired Rokinon 14mm lens! 

One of the most fun and dangerous forms of photography that I participate in is storm chasing, specifically I chase to capture photos of lightning and severe weather. The beauty of nature is breathtaking and frightening when a severe thunderstorm is on top of your location, but what an incredible rush it is to come away with photos!

One of my favorite times of year is fall in Colorado, the days are still warm at the lower elevations but the leaves in the mountains are turning to a brilliant gold, and some of Colorado's most scenic locations come alive during a brief fall season. The following are five of my favorite locations in Colorado for fall photography.