6.16.15

9.27.15 - I made it to Richmond for the final day of the UCI Road World Championships, the Men's Elite Road Race. Getting to the course at 7:00 to secure a spot along the fence for the 9:00 race meant a long day, as we didn't leave until 4:00 that afternoon. An Evil Knievel impersonator rode laps of the hill, entertaining the crowd before the race began. American Ben King (a Charlottesville native) was in the breakaway for the first 100 miles of the 162 mile race. He led many of the early assaults up the cobblestones of Libby Hill, seen below. After 16 laps on the 10 mile circuit, Slovak Peter Sagan won the race with a massive attack in the final kilometers.

6.24.15 - I hiked in to False Kiva, a hidden archaeological site in the side of a cliff in Canyonlands National Park. Despite the 100º heat, it was an incredible hike. It's simply one of the most amazing things I have ever seen: a totally secluded ruin in a secret cave in the side of a cliff in the backcountry of an already remote national park. You can't actually see the cave until you're right in it. The only reason anyone would even look in this place is if he already knew something was hidden there. I can really see why it might be a sacred or secret place for an ancient tribe. This Pueblan Indian ruin is estimated to have been built around 1350. It has been designated a class II archaeological site, meaning it is not noted on any map or literature, but rangers will talk to you about it if you ask. These three photos are a little repetitive, but I honestly just couldn't decide on one photo to post. No single photo could capture the isolated beauty of this place.

6.27.15 - I enjoyed a few hours of early morning solitude watching the sunrise over the Colorado River. It's an incredible viewpoint, perched on a 1,000 foot vertical cliff above the river. Because the sun rises from behind this overlook, it creates some harsh contrast on the canyon and bend. Compare the photo I posted from my phone in June (here) with a photo from my camera. The pre-sunrise photo posted below was taken at 5:00 AM, about an hour earlier than the sunrise photo in the link above. Usually I prefer photos with some contrast and warmth, but I think the cold, blue tones of the dawn photo are incredible here.

6.25.15 - Still plowing through photos from Lower Antelope Canyon. The textures and gradients of color in this place are so surreal.

6.25.15 - I'm just starting to work on my photos from Arizona and I couldn't be more pleased. I'm a long, long way from finished, but I can't pass up sharing a few. I think you'll see why I'm so excited! These two are from a slot canyon in the Arizona desert, Lower Antelope Canyon. The colors in the slot canyons are completely unreal. They change by the minute based on where the light is filtering in. The shapes and textures in the sandstone have been carved from thousands of years of flash floods. Being down there feels like being on a different planet. I already can't wait to go back!

6.21.15

6.21.15 - This bull elk and I enjoyed the sunrise together from 11,000 feet.

6.15.15 - I was lucky enough to watch this guy hunt for nearly half an hour.