Rodwil

Hi everyone! I will be in Colorado Springs for 2 weeks starting Sept 21st and would like any suggestions for photo ops. I would appreciate any good suggestions. I have a 6D w/24-105 and a 70-210. I also have a Sony RX-100M3. I am considering the Sony on this trip to save weight. Thanks in advance.

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

Pikes Peak
Air Force Academy Chapel
Garden of the Gods
Seven Falls
Broadmoor Hotel
Manitou Cliff Dwellings
Check out the old mining towns above Colorado Springs of Goldfield and Victor

Google them for images and you will get an idea of what camera you will want to take...

Enjoy your trip -

Rodwil

Thanks.

cntry Loc: Colorado

Pikes Peak definitely, bring a jacket, could be snow at the top...pay attention to cautions about altitude sickness

Seven Falls is closed due to flooding

Not sure where Goldfield is, but Cripple Creek is a few miles from Victor, colors should be starting to change but be prepared for heavy traffic...some of the best fall colors in Colorado are up Hwy 67 and everyone knows it. In Cripple Creek you can ride on old open car train to view the colors.

Cave of the Winds...

Royal Gorge is approx. 50 miles south of Springs and has reopened for limited hours, call ahead. The train through the Gorge should still be running, get an open car for best photo ops.

I haven't seen them, but some friends have seen bald eagles in the canyon in late Sept and early Oct. Hwy 50 from Canon City to Salida.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo...built on the side of mountain, lots of walking up and down, wear comfortable shoes! They have converted most of the exhibits to habitats instead of cages, it's a little pricey but definitely worth it. Spend the extra $5 and take the Sky Ride.

Will Rogers Shrine...high above the Zoo, included in Zoo admission, you can almost see to Kansas...LOL!

If you don't mind driving, Estes Park is about 4hrs north of Springs. Spend the night at the historic and famous (The Shining) Stanley Hotel or get a quaint cabin on the river. Get up at the crack of dawn and head into Rocky Mountain Park...the elk should still be in their rut and bugling...great photo ops. If it's still open, go over Trail Ridge Road. Coming back swing up to Brainard Lake above Boulder...absolutely beautiful, lots of wildlife including moose.

Rodwil

Great advice. Thanks

cntry Loc: Colorado

As to what camera to bring...I'd say the Sony due to weight, especially if you decide to do any hiking on Pikes Peak, in RMNP, Brainard Lake...and for the Zoo, definitely take the lighter camera!

TJer Loc: Colorado

I'll add just a couple things since I live just a bit South of Denver, CO. Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park: The Stanley Hotel, Arrowhead Golf Course: Roxborough Park, Morrison: Red Rocks Park, Central City: Old Gambling Houses, Lake George: Eleven Mile Canyon/Eleven Mile Reservoir and Lake, Mount Evans.

Let me know if you'd like a bit more in particular areas of Colorado. For the landscapes I'd bring a 14-24mm if you can afford one, for the wildlife in the parks/zoo which will be in the early stages of the rut and presenting some incredible shots at less than typical off-season ranges so the glass you've got now should do nicely if you can add the 14-24mm to your other lenses. I also use 70-400mm for this time of the season that I really enjoy but it's not for everyone because of it's bulk and weight.

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

Forgot to mention - you will be at 6200 feet and up - if you are not used to altitude, you are susceptible to high altitude sickness...

Drink plenty of water - take water bottles with you where ever you go and drink them - at least a gallon a day...

It is also considered high plains desert - it is dry - normally around 20 to 30 percent humidity - if you have dry skin, take plenty of lotion - and the sun is intense - even if you tan easily and don't burn at lower altitudes - you will there - hats and sunscreen - polarized sun glasses are good to have also...

If you drink alcohol - be aware that at that altitude, one drink is equivalent to about 3 at sea level - you can get hammered real quick and the local gestapo has zero tolerance...

If you go into Manitou Springs - do not speed - unless they have changed in the last 4 years, it is 15 or 20 mph downtown and pedestrians have the right-of-way - doesn't matter if they are in the middle of the road or not - it is an "artsy" town and tourist spot so folks are running around everywhere (it is also close to Garden of the Gods)...

amehta Loc: Boston

[quote=Rodwil]Hi everyone! I will be in Colorado Springs for 2 weeks starting Sept 21st and would like any suggestions for photo ops. I would appreciate any good suggestions. I have a 6D w/24-105 and a 70-210. I also have a Sony RX-100M3. [b]I am considering the Sony on this trip to save weight.[b] Thanks in advance.[/quote]
If you mean you are considering taking only the RX-100 M3, I think the question is how important is photography for your trip? The Sony is a great camera, but it is limited, with a 24-70mm (35mm equivalent) focal length, a sensor 5x smaller in area than the 6D, and operationally slower than the DSLR. The 6D will do a better job with both the landscapes and the wildlife. But if photography is not near the top of the list of priorities for the trip, the RX-100 M3 will perform admirably. Either way, have a blast!

ddonlewis

Your Sony RX-100 will do a great job. There is a group on this website that advocate that the only camera to own is a full frame camera. If you don't have and don't use one your pictures are inferior. Well one of my cameras is a 3MP Olympus with a tiny sensor, and I've taken pictures (up to 8 X 10) with it that could not be beat with a 100MP camera, which doesn't currently exist. My family has lived in C Springs since 1967. You've already heard the top tourist spots. Garden of the Gods is certainly a unique place. I'd also second the thought of going west of town up into the mountains towards Cripple Creek. It's not far, and will give you the feel of the mountains that the tourists traps can't provide.

Rodwil

Thanks everyone! I will be there as a coach for the Warrior Games which is competition for the Wounded Warriors, so I will have most of my days free and I will be coaching starting late afternoon. All of your suggestions are greatly appreciated.

manofhg Loc: Knoxville, TN

Garden of the Gods is in Colorado Springs. It is a free city park. The rocks are spectacular and great for sunrise/sunset pics. It is also a climbing area, so you could get climbers if you take your 70-210. Take a polarizer too.

If the leaves have begun to change, the aspen turn yellow. Would love to see that myself. C. Springs is one of my favorite places.

gessman Loc: Colorado

I'd probably agree with most of what Cntry said and add to what has been said about altitude sickness. If you feel intense pain starting to set in at the base of your skull when you are above 7000 to 8000 ft., turn around and go back down. Brainard lake is over 10,000 ft. If you're not driving, insist! About the camera, you're the only one who knows what you're willing to accept so use the one that meets your needs. Just don't go "bear huntin' with a Willow switch" in your hand. You never know what you'll run into.

Elk outside of Evergreen...


Moose at Brainard Lake...

gessman Loc: Colorado

Why don't you show us some of those 3MP images? I've been a member here and been shooting with a full frame now since the first one came out, Canon 5D2, serial #94 for the US market, and I don't know who this "group" is that you're talking about. There are several full frame shooters but I can't recall a gang of full frame shooters roving the site pillaging and running amok over everyone who shoots a crop sensor or even a bridge. In fact, most FF shooters on here I know about boast that they also use crop frame, bridge cameras, and pocket shooters. Who is in this gang to which you refer that disparages everyone else's images? It sounds more like you have something against FF. Would you like to get that off your chest?

syl

all of the places mentioned are great but my favorite is highway 67 just before you drop down into cripple creek the whole rocky mountains open up for miles lots of photos early morn or evening