On the Road Again...and again...
The open road has always called to me, but it wasn't until I picked up a camera that I truly answered. When I presented "On the Road Again" for the Photographic Society of America's Colorado Chapter early this year, I had no idea how prophetic that title would become. While my travel log was light in those first months, my trusty FJ and I would soon make up for lost time, chasing light and landscapes across countless miles.
It's funny how life works - that adventurous spirit I had in my younger days went quiet during years of career-building and raising kids. But photography rekindled that flame, creating the perfect excuse to explore every backroad and mountain pass. There's something magical about combining the thrill of discovery with the desire to capture and share those moments through my lens.
From dramatic mountain peaks to hidden wildflower meadows, 2024 took me places I'd only dreamed of photographing. Here's a look back at some of my favorite adventures, both far from home and right in my Colorado backyard.
January - Pikes Peak Fireworks for New Years
To kick off the new year, I met my friend Raf up in Woodland Park. We wandered into the woods hoping to catch a different view of the New Year's Eve fireworks show over Pikes Peak. Thankfully we found a great view.
January - Sand Dunes & Frozen Waterfall Hike
The first trip of the year took us to the Great Sand Dunes National Park
My son and I hiked up the dunes hoping to catch a nice sunset.
The golden hour light on the dune fields was spectacular and well worth the hike.
The next day we hiked up to Zapata Falls. This is a fun winter hike. In winter, spikes or traction devices on your shoes are essential for navigating the creek.
Zapata Falls
February through June - Garden of the Gods
The first half of the year is the slow tourist season at Garden of the Gods Park. So, it's a good time to catch sunsets and explore on winter mornings.
Garden of the Gods Park
July 4th - Prospect Lake, Colorado Springs
There wasn't much travel needed for this photo. Memorial Park is near where I live in Colorado Springs. This scene was captured with a single exposure on the 4th of July.
July - Pikes Peak Sunrise
I was very blessed and grateful to be asked to attend a Pikes Peak sunrise event this year. My friend Bruce had the reservation and drove my other friend Jae and I up to the top just in time to catch the sunrise. The most interesting thing that happened on this summer day was we had thunder, lightning and snow at the top of Pikes Peak.
Pikes Peak Sunrise
August - Independent Pass & Maroon Bells
Another fun summer trip that I took was with my son Ethan. We were in Twin Lakes and made an impromptu drive over to Aspen. When we arrived, I realized we had just enough time to get to the Maroon Bells. It was Ethan's first visit to see these amazing peaks and the rainstorm thankfully didn't stop us.
On the way back to Twin Lakes, we drove over Independence Pass. It looked like we were about to drive into the clouds. Then I realized the clouds were blowing across the peaks and valleys. I quickly found a spot to pull over so I could capture the dramatic scene.
August - An Evening of Nightscape Photography
One summer night I wanted to head out east to catch the stars. I ended up at a remote wildlife area and thankfully there was water in the pond. On my way home, I made a detour to Garden of the Gods Park. I had captured the Milky Way from the park a few years prior to this and wanted to try again.
Milky Way, Eastern Colorado and Garden of the Gods Park
September - Trip to the Northwest Starts
In September I had a family wedding to attend in Oregon. So I left Colorado and headed north into Wyoming. I had left early so I could spend time exploring and photographing up north.
On my way to the Grand Teton National Park, a storm passed over the road and this stunning double rainbow popped up. I was driving just past Jackson, Wyoming when this happened. The road was full of cars at the time and I've never seen so many people pull over to see a rainbow!
September - Mount Hood and Trillium Lake
Back in high school, I had cross country skied around this lake. I've tried to get back here to take photos in past years, but every single time the clouds have been covering the mountain. So I was pretty excited on this trip to finally get some photos of the lake and Mount Hood together.
September - Washington Coast
After the wedding, I headed up the Washington coast to do some camping and sightseeing.
The first stop was Ruby Beach, and just in time to catch the sunset. Next up was a beautiful morning hike to Second Beach.
Washington State - Ruby Beach, Second Beach, Hurricane Ridge, Cape Flattery, Rialto Beach
Since I was in Washington, there were some rainy cloudy days. I took a drive up to Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park, hoping to escape the rain, but I just ended up driving in the clouds.
One of the best hikes of the trip was out to Cape Flattery. The trail through the forest out to the coast has many wooden planks and feels like something out of a movie. The sky popped off for a few minutes and then I quickly made my way back up before it was completely dark out.
September - The Oregon Coast and Tamanawas Falls
No trip to Oregon feels complete without making it to the coast. I rolled up on this sunset scene near Yachats just in time.
Also, waterfall hikes have now also become part of every trip. Tamanawas Falls is near Mount Hood and a really beautiful hike through the forest.
September - Utah Fall Colors
While I was in the Northwest, I was seeing reports that fall colors were kicking off in Colorado, so it was time to head back. On my way through Utah, I took a detour through the mountains around Salt Lake City. The bright red colors of the Maple and Oak trees that cover the hills is really a sight to see.
September & October - Colorado Fall Colors
I arrived in Colorado just in time. My autumn travels started north of Steamboat Springs, and I worked my way down to Silverton.
Unfortunately, I got sick after a couple of days being back home in Colorado. So, I actually went home to see a doctor and rest up. I made my way back out west after a few days. Thankfully because I had a few fall colors mentoring sessions to do and friends to meet up with.
October - Northern Lights Over Colorado Springs
In probably one of the most significant events of 2024 for me was being able to witness the Northern Lights, and right in town. My friend Nathan and I met up in Garden of the Gods Park. I've always wanted to see the Aurora Borealis, I just thought I would need to go to Canada or Norway to see them though. I am still pretty amazed that this happened in Colorado Springs.
October - Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS
Another amazing event, and really a once-in-a-lifetime event happened. The Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS was visible in the night sky for a few nights.
The first night I captured it was in Garden of the Gods Park. I wasn't sure it was going to be possible, but it was worth a shot. I hiked up to the Siamese Twins rock formation and there were actually a few other photographers there as well. We all stood there in the dark in amazement of what we were seeing. Truly an amazing sight to see.
On another night, my friend Jae reached out and we made plans to catch the comet out in the eastern plains of Colorado. It's always amazing to realize we can photograph the night sky and Milky Way so close to the city here in Colorado.
November - A Record Snowstorm in Colorado Springs
Normally in Colorado Springs, when we get snow from a storm, the snow melts away in a day or so. This storm was different. The clouds and snowfall lasted for days. On the last day of the storm, I was watching outside and watching the radar. I noticed and break in the storm and the clouds over the city. I actually was able to see the stars for the first time in days. I decided to grab my gear and head out into the darkness. I'm glad I did. The cold crisp air was perfect for winter nighttime photos.
2024 was a great year, full of meetups with friends, long road trips, and beautiful scenery. From capturing the Northern Lights in Colorado Springs to chasing fall colors across multiple states, each adventure taught me something new about photography and reminded me why I first picked up a camera.
As I look ahead to 2025, I'm excited to discover new locations, capture more unique moments, and continue sharing these adventures with you. If you'd like to join me on future journeys and be the first to hear about upcoming photo opportunities, mentoring opportunities, and stories from the road, I'd love to have you join my mailing list below. You can also follow my photography journey on social media, where I share behind-the-scenes moments and photography throughout the year.
Here's to another year of chasing light and creating memories!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielscottphoto/
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