A Play in Light

Welcome back! It’s been a while for me since I last visited the ridges and hills south of the metropolitan Denver, Colorado, area. Last time I was there, low fog grounded my drones, but I took some photos of the softly receding slopes. And on this particular morning, the light revealed the drama that previous clouds had hidden.

Last Friday morning, the clouds stayed in the Colorado HIGH SKY, above even the peaks south of Denver, specifically, Pike’s Peak, seen in the photo above. The sky was alight with the pre-dawn glow, and I started flying and photographing as soon as I arrived at the Douglas County East-West trail parking lot.

A visit to the area about two years ago shows the vistas that seem to go on forever, although Longs Peak isn’t that distant, providing a focal point above the Flatirons outside of Boulder. In the same photo, you can see Highlands Ranch, a factory (formerly Honeywell, now abandoned and empty), Marston Reservoir, as well as both Table Mountains near Golden.

I may have buried the lede about the photos I took back in February of 2023, as the morning started with an incredible happenstance (and I’ll continue the story in a separate post, likely a “Throwback Thursday,” coming soon). For now, let me just share that I felt the ground shake, and as I put down my backpack on the side of the trail, a continuously growing sound of thunder filled the empty trail. That is, the trail was empty until a herd of elk, the traditional herd of the Arapahoe and other indigenous people, jumped the trail on their way to the Tall Bull memorial Drum Circle and Daniels Park.

I felt all eyes upon me that morning, but on my recent visit I was alone, at first. The colors in the sky when I arrived were astounding, illuminating the dormant grasses and shrubs that are beginning to return to life for Spring. But the focus for this flight wasn’t what was on the ground, but rather the incredible light display in the sky.

The clouds to the west reflected the light, casting shadows for miles, and also obscured the Front Range. If I was afflicted with needing to pursue clouds as Captain Ahab pursued the White Whale, I might have cried out, “Avast!” at the sight of one particular cloud, illuminated by the sun just before sunrise.

I wasn’t the only photographer trying to capture the sunrise, as another visitor exited her car, and took photos in every direction with her phone. When flying at nearly 400’ above the ground, the sun appears on the horizon a minute before it’s visible on the ground. The photographer was about to leave, and pulling out of the parking lot, when the following aerial view became visible from the ground where I stood.

She stopped at the reveal, and took some more photos before going on her way. I had been lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time, feeling grateful for the opportunity. It’s kinda like being in my own little world, with the occasional visitor dropping by!

Speaking of visiting my little world, thanks to you for reading all the way to the end of this little photo essay about the Colorado HIGH SKY!