This shoot took place in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness just outside of Buena Vista, Colorado on an early fall day.

Picture 1

A Moment to Consider the Beauty that Lives: After a week of nothing but online work, it is nice to be able to escape to the natural beauty of the mountains. Every day inside of humanity is fraught with constant reminders of the shit we live under, but there still lives a bigger beautiful world outside of us.

Picture 2

Considering the Stillness of the Snow: One of the first snows of the season, down below 8,000 feet it was cloudy and rainy all day, but in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness the sun was making quick work of the snow. The hike consisted of walking up a trail that had turned into a little stream.

Picture 3

A Prayer to and for the Earth: Looking down to the world that supports us, there is a feeling of ultimate love and compassion. My feet would be nowhere without the earth to stand on, my eyes would be bored without nature and mountains to see. And so a short silent prayer is offered to that Mother which gave me and my own mother life. Please be strong, and please help us be better.

Picture 4

Warding off the Mountain Breeze: Despite the sun being out and things feeling awfully warm, every once and a while a breeze would kick up and spread the cold from off the surface of the snow. A good time for cuddles of any sort, including self-cuddles.

Picture 5

Looking to Princeton: No, that is not in reference to the school. In the distance the mountain top you see it Mt Princeton, one of the most majestic of the Colorado 14ers. It definitely puts the ivy league school to shame.

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A Precarious Balancing Act on an Icy Rock: That rock was actually something of a struggle to climb up onto. Sitting at chest high and being rather smooth from thousands of years of weathering, but we both managed to get up there, and since it was covered with snow it took a moment to gain some balance.

Picture 7

Reclining on an Icy Throne: There are those in the world who think the perfect throne entails gold, jewels, velvet, and other “fine and precious” materials, but those people have clearly never found a rock out in a mountain meadow to sit and reflect for a few moments. Because that rock in a mountain meadow will always be better than a throne of glamour.

Picture 8

Stretching the Soul in Its Restful Home: On the drive up to and away from the shoot just outside of Beuna Vista, Colorado we had some deep and intense conversations about energy. We both agreed that there was something vast about the energy of the mountains that provides a place to rest for any soul.

Picture 9

The Bearded Merman of the Mountains: Don’t know about you, but this picture tends to remind me of the cover photo for the old Little Mermaid VHS. Aside from the fact that instead of water there is snow, and instead of a phallic castle in the background there is a beautiful mountain range, oh yeah, and it’s a dude without a tail fin instead of a girl with a tail fin.

Picture 10

Listening to the Soul of the Wind: The deep truth of all philosophy and religion comes to a single realization, we are all connected. Every life form, every part of the earth, the atmosphere, the galaxy, and the universe is all essentially the same, and sometimes (if you listen closely) you can hear their souls speaking to your own.

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One Baldy Views Another: The aches and pains of going through the balding process are put in perspective when viewing the beauty of a bald summit. If mountains can look beautiful bald, why can’t people?

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Thinking Hard about One’s Place in the World: Philosophical crises are just a part of life when you let yourself think bigger than just one’s self. There are many issues that suddenly begin to appear, and it just leaves on thinking more and more. Ultimately the presence for safe thinking is found out in nature.

Picture 13

A Delicate Balancing Act: For some reason it was quite difficult balancing on this particular log, maybe it was because it was on a slope, or because it was falling apart and missing a side. Whatever the case, it had me with my arms spread like and eagle to try and maintain my balance.