Kauffman Sunrise
In my limited experience so far, I have found that the morning after a snow storm always offers up some of the most impressive light. This time around I got some amazing pink hues to balance out the blue sky in the background. The pre-dawn clouds were illuminated with pink light, and that light was reflected onto the new snowfall.
It’s so hard to plan to be a part of something like this because of the variables involved, but once you see this once, it makes you keep coming back. Let me know what you think!
The Milky Way
Space…..the final frontier…..yada yada yada. Seriously though this past weekend we went to one of our favorite spots for a camping weekend, and I got to try my hand at the shooting the Milky Way Galaxy. The skies were as clear as they could get, and there just happened to be a meteor shower happening this weekend as well. I guess everything sort of aligned to make it pretty easy for my first attempt. Let me know what you think!
Grand Teton National Park
I try to get to a couple of National Parks a year to just escape the rush of the life in the city. This year we chose to head to Grand Teton National Park in the Northwest corner of Wyoming. The park itself stretches for miles along the base of the mountain range, and sitting right at the foot of the mountains are a few lakes that provide a beautiful experience unlike any park I have been to yet. The lakes feed the Snake River which winds its way through the park. We spent a week at the park, and feel like that was barely enough time to scratch the surface of the entire park. This is definitely a spot I plan on returning to in the future.
One of the most serene landscapes can be seen at schwabachers landing where beaver dams have slowed the flow of the river, and allowed for gorgeous, uninterrupted reflections of the Grand Tetons.
Mormon Row is an old settlement that has been maintained throughout the years, and offers a very unique perspective of the jagged peaks. As with most parts of the park this is best seen in the morning hours.
Oxbow Bend at sunrise with a swan swimming towards Mount Moran.
Stockton Lake
We like to go camping, and this past weekend we were at Stockton Lake in Southwest Missouri. We had been here last year and I didn’t bring my camera, and you can see why I was disappointed in myself. The spot that we camp has direct lake access and for the most part is secluded. Let me know if you like it!
Downtown Kansas City
Downtown. Spring has begun to show its face again after hiding for a few weeks. In the mid-west it is one of the best, if not the only, time to enjoy the outdoors. In a few weeks we will be sentenced to 4-5 months of heat that wouldn’t be as bad if we didn’t have the secondary sentence of the heavy weighted humidity to accompany it. Though that looms in the short distance, we still have a few more weeks to enjoy outside, or even inside with the windows open. I took to the downtown streets and just let my camera take me where it led. I ended up walking a few miles around the downtown area on this pleasant, partly cloudy night. 
It led me over the bridge, and up the hill to the site of what would have been the third hall of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. The hall would have housed the Kansas City Ballet, but funding fell through and they ended up in a great building down across from the IRS and next to Union Station. I really like this perspective as it is a great “spring” skyline shot.
Then it took me right to the front door for the Kauffman. I couldn’t resist taking a longer exposure to enhance the streaky, fast moving clouds. This building, if you can’t tell, is one of my favorite subjects in Kansas City….it also doesn’t hurt that I live within walking distance.
The final stop was as I walked back into downtown and the way the light was cast on the metal clad bridge stating it’s location. The skyline beyond was giving way to night, and the buildings begin to light the streets. Overall it turned out to be a fun springtime walk, and I have these to share!
Greensburg, Kansas
This past weekend we attended a wedding in Garden City, KS, and on the way back we decided to drive through Greensburg. This is the town that was completely destroyed by an EF-5 tornado May 4, 2007, and instead of closing its doors became the “greenest” city in the world. They have rebuilt using the LEED (Leadership in Energy Efficient Design) program set by the USGBC (United States Green Building Council) as the foundation for any new building. So far Main Street has been developed with retail shops, a bank, the school, City Hall, and the Kiowa Community Center. 
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One of the best stories behind a building in the town is the Arts Center that was named in honor of the day that changed the town forever 5.4.7 Arts Center. This building was designed and built by students at the University of Kansas through the Studio 804 program. Overall it was a very positive experience to drive through the town that has come up from the ashes, and see new building happening all around keeps the growing town looking ahead instead of behind. This year the former Twilight theater will be rebuilt and re-open showing first run movies, and the “Big Well” is just about finished, and it will re-open the deepest hand-dug well in the world on May 26th.
Boulevard Twilight
In Kansas City, the Boulevard Brewery is just enough off the beaten path that you probably wouldn’t  just stumble upon it, even though it is no more than 1/4 mile off the highway on Southwest (Boulevard). It is a place that locals love to brag about to their out-of-town guests, and the tours are so popular that you have to make reservations months in advance in order to secure a spot. The building itself is the old Santa Fe Railroad building, where sheets, table linens, napkins, etc. were cleaned for the passenger cars. It has since been added on to once already in order to accommodate the demand in new markets accross the country, and is currently undergoing further rennovations for the same reason. Boulevard is a big part of the Kansas City community, and is one of the founders of the ripple glass program in the city that recycles all shapes, colors, and sizes of glass. If you are ever in the Kansas City area make sure you book a tour and enjoy some locally made craft beer.
Chicago
Chicago is one of my favorite places to visit, and this time we went over one of its biggest holidays(St. Patricks day). We took some time to enjoy the lesser known parts of Chicago, at least by tourist standards, but I actually really enjoyed the little neighborhoods we explored. That being said, I only really captured a few little pieces from Chicago, and it may epitomize the tourist spots, but here is the first batch of shots from the weekend.
Australia (Sydney)
We made a brief stop in Sydney, Australia and it rained pretty much all three days we had there. We stayed in the middle of the CBD near George Street. Sydney has a larger city feel, and almost everything you would want to do is accessible by either train, bus or ferry. We explored the main tourist areas as well as some off the beaten path places. I think our favorite find was a little brewery in Manly Beach called Four Pines. We spent a rainy afternoon trying out some craft beers and enjoying some sweet chili and sour cream wedges.
Australia (Kangaroo Island)
Our third stop in Australia was one that most people could easily overlook, but ended up being our favorite stop on our 17 day excursion. Located about 15 miles off the coast of South Australia, sits the third largest island of Australia. It only takes about 2 hours to drive across the island, but there are plenty of things to distract you from driving straight through. There are only two major towns on the island, both of which are quaint towns with a view of the ocean from the main street. You have to be something of a nature lover to really enjoy a place like this because there are not a whole lot of places to entertain you, but the natural beauty and native wildlife of course. The island is aptly named for its large population of Kangaroos, but don’t believe that is the only wildlife you will experience, as there are seals, sea lions, koalas,echidnas, wallabies, and a ton of others (you will see at least one of these even if you don’t try that hard, these are just the ones we saw). We spent two days on the island at the Wildlife Retreat on the Flinders Chase National Park side, and loved evey minute of it. We hired a car to drive around and were warned right away that despite buying the extra insurance, that we were not covered between sunset and sunrise because of the shear numbers of Kangaroos out at night. It was a great place to relax and enjoy some gorgeous wildlife and scenery. Let me know what you think.
Australia (Melbourne)
We began our trip in Melbourne, the largest city in the southeastern state of Victoria. Just as any other cosmopolitan city, Melbourne has a very vibrant downtown, or Central Business District(CBD), with great public transportation. The city is self described as a “melting pot,” and the variety of cafes and coffee shops makes every block you walk down an exploration of the city’s character. Melbourne, if not all of Australia, is a very pedestrian place. There are tons of little districts scattered throughout the city that encourage you to leave your wheel based transportation for a slower, more intimate form of exploration. So it is with this knowledge of the city that I bring you to my personal explorations of this eclectic city.
Australia (Twelve Apostles)
First, I know its been a while….I have been busy with the holidays and we were out of the country for about 3 weeks. I figured I needed to start posting some of the amazing things I was able to see while in Australia before I start posting anything else from more recent history. This first post is devoted solely to the place that inspired Katy and I to plan a return trip to the Australia. In 2006 Katy and I were both part of a study abroad program, seperately, near the city of Melbourne. In April of that year Katy returned home to a friend who coaxed her into joining myspace, and while she was looking for old friends she came across a photo of me in front of the Twelve Apostles rock formation, and decided to contact me. I was still in Australia so we began to email each other back and forth to get to know one another (again), and this continued even after I returned to the states. After about a year of talking over email or the phone we had an opportunity to have our first date, and the rest is history, but we both still hold a special place in our hearts for the place that was ultimately responsible for getting us back in touch with each other. I don’t believe that either one of us anticipated the beauty that was in store for us when we rolled up in our “hired car” to revisit these natural wonders, but I can tell you that even through this lens, it does not begin to describe the serenity of the location. You stand out on a raised peninsula jetting out into the ocean. The wind brushes against your face, and the sun sends a wave of warmth over your face while you stand 300 feet above the thunder of waves crashing into the shear cliff face. It is almost senses overload as you stand in awe of the wonders of nature. I hope that these images inspire the same emotions from you.
Fall (Part 2)
“Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all. ”
~Stanley Horowitz
Every season evokes an emotion, and that emotion comes to life in the form of memory. The very nature of the season is slowing, and life taking a pause until the days can grow longer and it the sun shows its warm face again. The breeze rustles through the branches clinging to the colorful jewels it took all season to create, and gently carries it to the ground. I have been lucky over this season, to be able to be an audience to such quiet events. I will share with you today, what I have been witness to in the past few days. Take a deep breath, relax and enjoy the fall season.
Fall (Part 1)
“Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower.” – Albert Camus
Over the next few weeks it is my goal to try and capture the essence of this changing season. Fall is upon the mid-west, and while may not have the signature status of a New England Fall, it has every bit of color and warmth that our neighbors to the North East have. I will be trying to show that, along with a little of the character of Kansas/Missouri. Let me know what you think.
Football and Campus
This past weekend my wife and I were able to attend the game between Kansas State and Missouri. Since IÂ graduated from Kansas State in 2007 I have not shown her the campus. We took an afternoon and walked around the tree lined, limestone built campus on a gorgeous day. Anyway there isn’t a whole lot here just thought I would share some of the nostalgia.
Nelson Atkins Art Museum (Bloch Building)
With fall color right around the corner, I have been searching out spots that may have the best ‘fall’ potential. One place that quickly came to mind was the Nelson-Atkins art museum. Unfortunately the trees in the front lawn do not show signs of the transitioning season. Although I was a bit disappointed I decided to focus more on the Bloch Building designed by Steven Holl. It turned out to be a beautiful night to be outside shooting.
Supporting Cast
Downtown. The word itself paints a picture in one’s mind, but sometimes the picture it paints leaves out the in between. The key components that fly at a much lower altitude than their sky scraping counterparts. Sometimes underappreciated, underwhelming, and right under your nose. These players are the supporting cast, and without them, downtown would simply not be what it is. These are a few buildings in downtown Kansas City that support the arts and culture, and even though the architecture is on a smaller scale, it is no less significant than the towers rising around it.
Downtown Skyline
The Kansas City skyline, while not formiddable, definitely has a very unique character. There is also a brand new addition, with the recent grand opening of the Kauffman Performing Arts Center. I have been wanting a good overall panoramic shot of the skyline, and last night provided a pretty good backdrop. Let me know what you think!
The Scout
Just outside of the downtown area, perched atop Penn Valley Park, sits “The Scout” statue. He keeps watch to the west for any impending trouble for the downtown area. This area is one of the most picturesque places to view the Kansas City skyline, but it seems far less traveled than the nearby Liberty Memorial. I have wanted to explore this shot for a while, and after shooting it once, I am sure I will be back in the future. On my way back home I made a brief stop at a new installation art piece by John Salvest. It sits on the west lawn of the Federal Reserve in Kansas City. Look carefully because there is a hidden message buried in these foreign shipping containers.
Kauffman Performing Arts Center (Entry)
With the opening of the Kauffman only a few weeks away, the site has started to open up little by little allowing me to explore more than I have ever been able to. This week I wanted to focus on the front of the building because I already have so many shots of the shell. I also focused on the backlit sign on the corner of 17th and Broadway.
Mountains and Lakes
This post is a compilation of scenes all throughout Rocky Mountain National Park. There are so many places to hike, and there are so many beautiful scenes in the park that it is hard to pick any one favorite place. The dramatic views and serenity of the mountains sort of overwhelms the senses, and it’s affect causes you to want to sit and drink in all that it has to offer. Time does not seem to exist here. This place is one of the most majestic places I have ever seen, and the words I write, or the pictures I take, will never be able to fully express the experience contained within. Please see this and understand I am trying to portray the pieces of a puzzle that cannot be seen in its entirety unless you, yourself have experienced similar moments. Enjoy.
Moraine Park
Lying at the heart of Rocky Mountain National Park, is a giant, lush green meadow formed thousands of years ago by glaciers. Small boulders area scattered throughout the meadow as a reminder of the ice giant responsible for sculpting the landscape into what it remains today. Wildlife runs rampant in the park, and Moraine Park seems to attract everything from Chipmunks and Marmots all the way up to Elk, Deer, and Moose. Finding out early in our stay that the park is best viewed in the early morning hours, we spent one of our mornings taking in a sunrise in Moraine Park. A river snakes its way through the lush meadow grass and marsh at the beginning of its journey away from the Continental Divide. This was one of my favorite locations to shoot in the park, and I hope it shows!
Rocky Mountain National Park – Sprague Lake
My wife and I just recently celebrated our 1-year anniversary by taking a trip out to Colorado and visiting Rocky Mountain National Park. I know that everyone has seen photographs of the Rocky Mountains, and that most of the time they are impressive on any camera. What I set out to do with this trip was to capture the raw emotion and power that can be evoked by witnessing these fleeting moments. After doing my research I found out that most images of the mountains in this particular National Park, are best captured in the morning hours. During the next few days I will be sharing multiple series of these photographs based on the location at which I shot them. Todays post is on Sprague Lake. As with most lakes in Rocky Mountain National Park, this lake has the ability to give amazing reflection shots, but you have to catch the wind while its away. I was lucky enough to get a calm morning for one of the two days we shot here. Enjoy looking at Sprague Lake through my lens.
Camping
A couple of weeks ago we went camping at John Redomond Resevoir in rural Kansas. For the last few months I have been wanting to start a new series of photography that will primarily focus on the rural landscapes of the midwest. The idea is to showcase the beauty that can exist in the middle of America’s heartland that is so often passed over for more picturesque destinations. Rural landscapes may not have the most prominent landscapes, but what makes them beautiful can be traced directly to how they absorb natural light as well as the simplicity of the composition. I hope to get out at least a few more times before the end of summer, but for now enjoy the first installment.
Ryan Estes Photos 