Pueblo

Pueblo is a medium-sized city about 40 miles south of Colorado Springs. Traditionally it's been known as a blue-collar town (there's a big steel mill there), but in recent years it's evolved at the same frantic pace that all of the larger Colorado cities have. I like the vibe there. If "quaint" and "hip" can be uttered in the same sentence, that's Pueblo. Even though the city's growing, it's kept a lot of the cool old buildings that have always been there. There's also a burgeoning arts scene and plenty of public art, like this sculpture near the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center. Very cool!

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This is a shot I grabbed out of the car window while waiting for the traffic signal to change, in the Cherry Creek district of Denver. There used to be a very midcentury modern office building in this spot, complete with groovy tiled mural in various shades of bile green, but it was torn down and replaced by these chic condos. I once used the office building as a location for a fashion shoot -- glad I did, since it was razed not long after that. I live in modest, unassuming little home in a neighborhood very different from this. Part of me wishes I lived in a chic, overpriced condo in Cherry Creek though!

The King's Chef Diner

Lately Pat, our friend Joe, and I have gotten into the habit of going to the roller derby on Saturdays when they're in town, and afterward hitting the King's Chef Diner on Nevada and Bijou. The King's Chef opens up around 9:30 or 10:00pm on weekends and stays open all night. We like it right after roller derby because it's just opening up for the night, so it's quiet and you can hold a conversation -- once the bars close at 2:00am it's a very different story!

The King's Chef has EXCELLENT food, some of the best burgers and fries in town, plus giant salads and really great breakfast goodies, like omelets, french toast and pancakes. And if you finish your plate you get a "Clean Plate Club" sticker and a piece of candy. I never finish my plate, but the waitresses (always tattooed and armed with cheeky attitudes) sometimes take pity on me and give me candy anyway. I love that.

If you're ever in the neighborhood you should go there. They have the hottest, most volcanic chili I have ever tasted! It's insane! My brother loves it but it's way too hot for me. I'm such a wimp.

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Thursday was an unseasonably warm day. It was so nice! Pat and I met for lunch at the Pita Pit, one of our favorite little restaurants. As I was waiting for him to park his truck I snapped this photo of a shadow cast by the bright afternoon sun. I like the color of the wall, don't you?

Election day

Faithful readers, sorry to be so inconsistent! Weddings and portraits are keeping me so busy that I barely have time for my favorite guilty pleasure, my beloved Colorado Springs Daily Photo. This too shall pass! Hopefully things will die down a little soon and I'll have some time to roam around town and take some nice pictures for you. Meanwhile, here's a photo I snapped as I was heading in to vote on election day, November 2nd. What is it about elections that brings out the crazies? Hey, at least they care! Apathy is worse than crazy, right?

Dutch Brothers Coffee

Here's a familiar sight: my drink being handed to me by a barista at Dutch Brothers. They have two drive-through locations within blocks of my house, which is dangerous! It's gotten so bad that not only do all the baristas there know me by name (and what kind of car I drive), they know what I'm going to order. Ha!

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One last image from Cheyenne Cañon... this lone red berry seems to have miraculously escaped the notice of the birds and bears!

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Pat suggested I take this picture in Cheyenne Cañon the other day. He saw how the yellow of the tall grass constrasted so beautifully with the bluish tones in the background. Good eye, Pat!

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Another image from our visit to Cheyenne Cañon a few days ago. This is a closeup of water surging over boulders in the river, creating frothy bubbles and swirling eddies.

[Technical data: Nikon D700, 200mm lens at F:2.8, 1/2000 of a second, ISO 3200.]

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I could take pictures of water all day long, especially water in motion. Today's photo (taken in Cheyenne Cañon around twilight) is essentially the opposite of yesterday's. For this image I used a fast shutter speed to freeze the action and a wider aperture to keep the depth of field fairly shallow. I love the way the droplets of water arc through the air, captured by the camera. You can't even see it happening with your naked eye, but the camera can.

[Technical data for you photography geeks: Nikon D700, 200mm lens at f:4.5, 1/1000 of a second, ISO 3200.]

Cheyenne Cañon

I'm not sure what river it is that courses through Cheyenne Cañon, but I find it photogenic. I was there a couple of weeks ago to take some engagement portraits on a golden day and I promised myself I'd go back and take a few pictures when I had the time. Unfortunately the golden leaves had all fallen away by the time I made good on my promise, but I thought it made a nice subject anyway, especially in monochrome.

[For you photographers out there... Nikon D700, 19mm lens at F:22, 1/2 second exposure, ISO 320. And yes, I used a tripod.]

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More goats at Bear Creek Park (see yesterday's post for more information). This goat stopped grazing for a split second, just long enough for me to make this picture. Then she went right back to her snack.

Goats v. Weeds at Bear Creek Park

The summer flew by so quickly that Pat and I had no chance to visit one of our favorite spots, Bear Creek Park. Today he suggested we stop by there to see if the community garden there was still in play. Alas, it being November, the garden had long been harvested and tilled over -- nothing but dirt to see there! On the other hand, the herd of goats used to keep the weeds at bay in the rest of the park was hard at work. There were hundreds of them, munching away happily in the late afternoon sunlight, and plenty of parents with small children there to watch the funny sight.

I tell you, goats will eat anything. We watched one gobble down a piece of paper without pausing. They inhale anything in their path! What an effective (and kinda cute) way to fight weeds.