In the Mountains
Castle in the Wilderness
On a previous trip to the US Rockies years ago, we came across the beautiful Chapel on the Rock.
It's a beautiful chapel, built in an old Italian style, high on a rock overlooking a pond, in the mountains north of Estes Park.
Completed in 1936 as the chapel for a boy's camp, it is now the focal point of the St. Malo Retreat.
I thought it would be the perfect spot for some Fantasy Group pictures.
It's a beautiful chapel, built in an old Italian style, high on a rock overlooking a pond, in the mountains north of Estes Park.
Completed in 1936 as the chapel for a boy's camp, it is now the focal point of the St. Malo Retreat.
I thought it would be the perfect spot for some Fantasy Group pictures.
Only problem was, there had a been a huge flood last year, and the whole pond area was being
ripped up by construction crews in an effort to improve the drainage. So, no pond this year.
I still wanted pictures, so set the dolls up along an elevated path, and laid down on the ground
to get the 'castle' into the background....
ripped up by construction crews in an effort to improve the drainage. So, no pond this year.
I still wanted pictures, so set the dolls up along an elevated path, and laid down on the ground
to get the 'castle' into the background....
The photos proved very challenging, as like many days on this trip, I was dealing with bright blue skies, clear mountain air,
with full sun in the doll's faces, and strong winds from the back. I had brought along my trusty white golf umbrella to shade
dolls from the sun, and it would have worked perfectly had it not been for the strong winds blowing down from the mountains, catching the umbrella and constantly turning it inside-out. So I had to work fast and get everyone back into the shade, so there wasn't a lot of room for much creativity, other than for taking a few group shots....
with full sun in the doll's faces, and strong winds from the back. I had brought along my trusty white golf umbrella to shade
dolls from the sun, and it would have worked perfectly had it not been for the strong winds blowing down from the mountains, catching the umbrella and constantly turning it inside-out. So I had to work fast and get everyone back into the shade, so there wasn't a lot of room for much creativity, other than for taking a few group shots....
Poor Owen looked like a Lion with his hair always blown forward...
I think that on a hazy or overcast day - with less wind - this place would have been perfect for a Fantasy story. Maybe next time.
While all the others were busy packing for their adventure, Holly and Winston went
to check out the stream behind the castle one last time.....
to check out the stream behind the castle one last time.....
Rocky Mountains National Park
One day we went up on Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. The road climbs 7,000’ onto the
tops of the mountains, and winds along the mountain tops at 12,000'. It gets closed for winter when the weather turns
bad. The first day, after coming out of the high desert, we took the road up there - surprised it was even still open,
considering it was obviously snowing up there. But I had hoped for some doll photos, so up we went....
tops of the mountains, and winds along the mountain tops at 12,000'. It gets closed for winter when the weather turns
bad. The first day, after coming out of the high desert, we took the road up there - surprised it was even still open,
considering it was obviously snowing up there. But I had hoped for some doll photos, so up we went....
The sun would come out between mini blizzards....
....but the skies looked very threatening to the west.....
Jan was still in shorts and sandals and didn’t want to get out of the vehicle. It was freezing cold with on-and-off blizzard conditions. He figured we could come up again the next day to take doll photos. Wrong! Too much snow fell overnight, so they closed the road for the season.
So I had to make do with something at the lower elevations. The park picnic area had some great settings for doll stories, but when we first arrived it was too late in the day and the lighting was too low. Next morning it was raining, but then the sun came out for a short while, but then the picnic area was all mottled sunshine, which is terrible for pictures. Plus the place was soaking wet.
There was a rocky outcrop on a pull-off overlooking the valley, with mountains in the background, which I thought would make a great setting. I was all set up for some pictures, when a blizzard moved in - ice pellets and wet snow, in a driving wind. I quickly snapped two photos, then had to clean up, since the wet snow kept messing up my lens. The weather continued to get worse, so I gave up and we left. That shot turned out to be the only doll picture I got in Rocky Mountain National Park, but it's probably my favourite of the whole trip....
....Holly all bundled up against the impending storm. Holding her teddy tight, she looks tired and totally fed up with
the expedition, and the conditions, and Winston isn't sure they should go on....
So I had to make do with something at the lower elevations. The park picnic area had some great settings for doll stories, but when we first arrived it was too late in the day and the lighting was too low. Next morning it was raining, but then the sun came out for a short while, but then the picnic area was all mottled sunshine, which is terrible for pictures. Plus the place was soaking wet.
There was a rocky outcrop on a pull-off overlooking the valley, with mountains in the background, which I thought would make a great setting. I was all set up for some pictures, when a blizzard moved in - ice pellets and wet snow, in a driving wind. I quickly snapped two photos, then had to clean up, since the wet snow kept messing up my lens. The weather continued to get worse, so I gave up and we left. That shot turned out to be the only doll picture I got in Rocky Mountain National Park, but it's probably my favourite of the whole trip....
....Holly all bundled up against the impending storm. Holding her teddy tight, she looks tired and totally fed up with
the expedition, and the conditions, and Winston isn't sure they should go on....
Snowy Ridge Mountains
We had spent the night in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and temperatures dropped to just above freezing. Everything was covered
with a thick blanket of fog, but we started towards Snowy Ridge Road anyways. Heading towards the mountains, the sun
slowly started to burn through the fog, and we noticed EVERYTHING was covered with ice crystals...
with a thick blanket of fog, but we started towards Snowy Ridge Road anyways. Heading towards the mountains, the sun
slowly started to burn through the fog, and we noticed EVERYTHING was covered with ice crystals...
As we climbed higher into the mountains, all the fog burned off, and the temperatures dropped.
It had snowed overnight, and everything was covered with a light dusting...
It had snowed overnight, and everything was covered with a light dusting...
I had wanted to shoot a doll story here, but it was so cold, and extremely windy.
With bright sunshine. Again! So, forget that idea. Instead I just managed some quick portraits....
With bright sunshine. Again! So, forget that idea. Instead I just managed some quick portraits....
At Mirror Lake conditions were still not great for doll photos, with the bright sunshine, the freezing cold, and the fierce winds....
....but there wasn't much choice, so I took a few more photos, this time of Owen and Leona....
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Copyright © 2016 Martha Boers
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