Mt. Sopris, Carbondale, Colorado

Mt. Sopris is just a few dozen feet shy of 13,000 feet.  It can be seen from much of the Roaring Fork valley, and is admired for it's beautiful shape and the way it stands alone, almost like a sentinel guarding the Crystal River valley.

Depending on the season, weather, and time of day, Sopris can have many moods.  It's almost always very photogenic.  On this particular afternoon, the humidity of monsoon season was creating some very dramatic clouds.  With just enough sunlight hitting the northwest slope of the mountain, I had to pull over and take a few shots.

Colorado landscape in late winter/early spring

Mild weather is taking its toll on the snow, but the longer days afford more opportunities for taking photographs.  I'm spending more time at this spot in the river, as it reflects the sky and clouds well.  Once the run-off from spring melting starts, the surface will probably be too turbulent for shots like this one.

Morning winterscape in the Colorado Mountains

From the place that's becoming my new favorite spot, I took this photograph on my way to work this morning.  While there were no well-lit clouds reflected in the river, the low-hanging clouds, soft light, and fresh snow makes this a very appealing image.