(Not an actual moose)

After seeing a bull moose last night at Long Lake I had hoped to photograph him in the daylight this morning.  None such luck.  I’m going to keep looking for him this week.  

In the mean time here is a photo of a plastic moose toy posing on a rock at the west end of Long Lake.

Bruce Percy is a Scottish photographer whose work I really admire.  I am a regular reader of his blog and he is an advocate of the concept that “less is more”.  It is this minimalist style that I had in mind as I waited for the twilight wedge to appear over Long Lake tonight. I think this simple composition successfully communicates the serenity of the lake at dusk after the day hikers have packed up and headed home.   The colors reflecting in the still water became more and more vivid until the peaceful scene was interupted by an advancing bull moose in rut and I made a prompt evacuation from the area.

Yellow Scene Magazine is running one of my Fourmile Fire photos as an end piece in their latest issue, so look for it at a coffee shop near you!

Denver Post photographer Diego James Robles caught me in action with this photo that same evening.

Thank you yet again to all of the firefighters!

Who isn’t fascinated by helicopters? I went over to Wonderland Lake this afternoon to watch these mosquito-like aircraft in action. There were up to five ships making it from Wonderland Lake to the fire and back in about 8 minutes a trip. It only takes a minute or two to fill the tank using a snorkel, and then off they go again.

The fire is now 30% contained but as I write 60mph gusts of wind are howling outside. Some neighborhoods here within the city limits have been warned to be ready to evacuate if the wind causes the fire to spread drastically. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that and a HUGE thank you to all of the hard working folks out there tonight!

See more in my gallery of Fourmile Fire Photos on Flickr.

More Photos of the Four Mile Canyon Fire on Flickr

Lets keep all of those who have lost their homes and all of the firefighters out there in our thoughts and prayers tonight.

This photo, shot from the Lost Gulch Overlook on Flagstaff Mountain, shows the Fourmile Fire, which started this morning near Gold Hill and has spread to over 3,000 acres, consumed many homes, and will require much more work to contain.  Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities have been reported at this time. 

More Photos of the Fourmile Fire

THANK YOU FIREFIGHTERS!  BE SAFE!