Just a little bit of cleaning out the closet here. These were some deer goats (thanks, Mom) Dad noticed on our trip up to Maroon Bells (see previous post). I just never got around to posting this picture. On that note, here are some other shots missing from last week's post. Let's start with the cutest couple ever, who just celebrated their one-year anniversary!


Monica and Robbie! Aren't they just too cute? Robbie came down and met us at this restaurant that used to be a BD's Mongolian Barbecue, but has changed into some Italian joint. We missed BD's, but the Italian grub was good.


They're quite photogenic.


And here's that bear statue all by itself. Boulder was gorgeous, as usual.


I don't think I posted any pictures of Patrick's wedding. Here's the cake.


And here's Monica and Robbie, who also came to the wedding. Even in candid shots, they manage to drum up winning photos. Okay, that's all for these two, promise!


This is the "grungy" or "old" photographic look I've been playing with recently. It's not that fitting on Lincoln, but looks pretty good on Erik here:


It's a bit surreal, very sharp, and the lighting makes it all work.


Speaking of light, it's really easy to build usable light modifiers out of cheap parts from Home Depot. This picture was made using a ringlight (as seen in the white circular reflections in the eyes here). This project took a little over an hour, and cost just $10. Sweeeeeeeeet.


And what Verdict post would be complete without some food? This is a delicata squash, filled with tuna salad, then topped with nonfat sour cream and a few peanuts. Delicious. It's all about fueling right if you want to run fast! Wish me luck, everyone. The big race is next Sunday -- just one more week!

Love Love,
Nick

Clearly, two months between posts is too long ... but alas, the usual weekly interval has long since become impossible to maintain. So you lot will have to suffer the injustice of all-too-infrequent photographic delight. Hopefully the improved quality of the pictures from the D80 is something of a concession.

SO! With that out of the way, what do you get to see today? Some of the prettiest stuff there is -- pictures of Colorado! Nina graciously invited the whole family out to see the Rockies fight the Diamondbacks. And what a night it was!


The stunning Denver skyline looked great from Coors Field.


Speaking of Coors Field, here's the Home Plate entrance.


The thing about a ballpark is that you can see the action from pretty much anywhere. Coors Field is great, and the game was a blast. The park was also PACKED, because the game was an important one for the Rockies.


Monica and Dad had a great time, and it was so nice to see them both again.


Mom held Lincoln, who slept through everything, including the post-game fireworks. This kid could snooze through the apocalypse.


Go Rockies! (Actually, they lost ... but managed later to secure the wildcard spot in the playoffs, and are currently just three games from making it to the World Series for the first time in franchise history!)


Just a random little squirrel on our deck in Littleton.


Dad and I took a trip up to the mountains to spend some time together and take some pictures of the aspen trees, which were a little past their peak, but still beautiful. We woke up early and headed out to Maroon Bells to grab some shots.


Even the road going TO the bells is pretty. I did a 10-mile run up this lonely road, while Dad went ahead and grabbed some pictures. Once I caught up to him, I took out my own camera and followed his lead.


Like I said, the colors on this road were something else.


The aspen trees also make for a great portrait background.


And the reward for making it to the top is this picturesque scene. Yellow aspens, evergreen pines, and snow-covered peaks. What more could you want?


Think this is the kind of shot you really have to hunt for in Colorado? Think again -- it was taken out the window of a moving car on the ride home. It was a quick roll-window-down, snap, roll-window-up. Done and done.


Just one last shot of the reflection in Dad's M-Frames ... too cool to pass up.

Coming back home, Alison treated me to a ride home from the airport and a very special airshow in the city:


The Blue Angels! These guys are incredible; they execute insane aerial maneuvers with, towards, and around each other at high speeds and with narrow margins for error.


They can fly together in perfect formation ...


Or split apart, right on cue.


They can fly upside-down ...


Or zoom over the crowd at breakneck speeds.

That's all for now, kids. Happy Birthday to my lil Owen, and see you all soon!

Love Love,
Nick