I recently got a new camera (Nikon D800E) and had a chance to really test out its capabilities on my trip to Breckenridge, CO.  What a place…the mountains, the views…perfect for any landscape enthusiast.  Adjusting to the altitude was a bit of a challenge (we were between 9,000 and 10,000 feet above sea level for a week).  I had constant headaches and nausea for a few days - not fun.  Drinking caffeine, alcohol, and exerting rigorous physical activity are not conducive to altitude acclimation – yep, broke all those rules.  But Jim and I managed to get out on a couple of excursions to explore the area and take in the views.  Ideally, I would have liked to find some good spots for sunrises and sunset shots, but I wasn’t prepared for those kinds of hours and setup, nor were the clouds providing any spectacular spectrum of colors while I was there, so all of my photos are daytime shots.  But even in the brilliant sunlight, you can’t deny that the mountains in Colorado make you feel at least a little closer to heaven.   

Colorado Grandeur 1/200 Breathtaking views from some of the lookouts around Breckenridge and Keystone

Colorado Mountainsides 1/200

Montezuma Ghost Town 1/200

We also ventured out to an old mining town called Montezuma "Ghost Town." 

No matter how much money you put into your photography equipment to get that shot, no one picture can accurately capture the beauty that is Colorado.  Photographers have definitely come very close, but it’s just not the same as standing on a lookout, taking it all in with your own eyes, and breathing in the fresh mountain air.

~Karen