A bit further south on US-550 from yesterday’s picture, I came upon this scene and decided to pull over again. It was a mere 15-minute drive to Ouray, but I probably doubled that time with my roadside photography stops. I’m grateful to my patient wife, who didn’t complain at all.

While using a focal length of 183 mm, slightly shorter than yesterday, I created quite a bit of telephoto compression between the elements. So much so that the road doesn’t have that classic, easy-to-see leading into the subject. Still, the road adds a nice meandering river-like element, and the bonus vehicle adds context.

I like the mixture of texture and color, particularly in the foreground. The rocky outcropping forms a strong mid-ground anchoring while the mountains add the background. The balance of elements across the frame and from front to back work harmoniously. Colorado was so wonderful for making easy scenic shots like this.

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