Category Archives: photography

The Agile Fox Friday Foto – 10.12.2012

After a year and a half of including a ‘pic of the week’ at the end of my weekly training summary, I’ve decided to let it stand as a post of its own.  I’m also implementing a rule that the Friday Foto needs to have been taken sometime in the last week.  No recycling.  I am doing this to keep me engaged in building my photography skills, and to make me work harder to get fresh shots.  Click here to see my previous Friday Foto posts.

I spotted this cool old trestle-like thing above I-70 a couple of months ago and made a mental note to stop and check it out sometime.  I had about 30 minutes to spare on a drive up to Leadville last Friday, so I took a break from driving and went for a little hike.

At the time, I didn’t think any of my photos would turn out very well.  It was hard to get a good angle, and I was trying different things to hide the freeway in the background.  After I looked at the results, I ended up liking this one the best – because it did show the freeway.  It presents a cool contrast between old and new.

I haven’t had any success in finding out what it is/was, though.  I first thought a railroad spur to a mine, but the turns seemed a little tight for that.  Maybe something for logging?  There were some sawmills in the area.  Then I checked a topo map (thinking I might find some mine symbols) and noticed that the intermittent stream shown below the 9400′ contour was right where the trestle was.  Some sort of aqueduct??

Tenmile topo

If anyone knows, I’d love to hear more about it.  This is right above the Frisco exit.  The part in the photo was in pretty good shape, but the rest was in ruin and falling apart.  It was well built, though!  Sturdy stuff.

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Frisco Trestle
1/160, f/9.0, 55mm @ ISO 200

The Agile Fox Friday Foto – 10.05.2012

After a year and a half of including a ‘pic of the week’ at the end of my weekly training summary, I’ve decided to let it stand as a post of its own.  I’m also implementing a rule that the Friday Foto needs to have been taken sometime in the last week.  No recycling.  I am doing this to keep me engaged in building my photography skills, and to make me work harder to get fresh shots.  Click here to see my previous Friday Foto posts.

I highlighted some Crespuscular Rays in a post back in August.  This shot is special because it shows Anticrepuscular Rays.  They are a somewhat rare occurence and I happened to catch them in conjuction with the rising harvest moon.  My only regret is how tiny the moon looks (shot @ 24 mm).

The rays are actually parallel and appear to converge at a point on the horizon that is opposite the sun.  The convergence is an optical illusion.

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Anticrepuscular Rays
1/25, f/9.0, 24mm @ ISO 100

2012 Bear Chase Trail Race

I had the rare chance to spend most of the day at an ultramarathon trail race without running a step.  My first priority was to be there in support of my good friend and Leadville pacer, Stu.  He was running his 3rd 50 miler and looked to be all set for his best race yet.  Unfortunately, a series of unforeseen foot problems that got pretty bad during the 3rd lap resulted in a missed cutoff.  Very proud of his effort, though!

I brought the camera along and rode my bike so I could hit different parts of the course and practice taking some shots.  You would think that being a trail runner/racer, and wanna-be photographer, I would have shot dozens of races by now.  This was the first, and I really enjoyed it!  With the slower nature of trail and ultra running, there was time for a lot of banter back and forth with the runners which was a lot of fun.  Most of them would make some sort of wisecrack, and I’d shoot one right back at them.

I tried to give the shots a different look and perspective from the typical race photos.  Instead of just firing the shutter, I’d wait to see the eyes, or the flash of a smile.  Even a grimace or a look of determination was fair game.  I think it worked out pretty well.

My brain didn’t know what to make of being at a race all day and not having sore legs to show for it.  When I stopped at the gas station on the way home, I totally braced myself as I was getting out of the car – then I realized I hadn’t been running!

Here are a few samples from my first round of editing.  A link to the flickr set is at the end of the post.  I will be adding more to that set in the next few days.

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See the rest here.