Don't Look Down, a photo from Colorado, West

Photographer's Note

In Estes Park, Colorado, we couldn't resist signs for a scenic 1,100 foot gondola ride up to the summit of a small (8,000 foot) mountain overlooking the city and the surrounding areas. It was surprisingly easy to get there - I was anticipating long lines, but they didn't materialize - and it was well worth the $10 price.

The gondola ride was more unnerving on the way up than on the way down, as we rode and swayed in the wind, at times over a hundred feet off the ground. Once we got to the top, however, we had an incredible view of the valley, a photostitch of which I'll post tomorrow. You can get a sense here of the amazing views, however.

holmertz, Noel_Byrne, tyro, abmdsudi, adores, elenimavrandoni has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

holmertz (26906) 2012-09-15 7:20

Hello Andrew,
If the gondola had been painted green or grey the trip would probably not have been half as sun, and the photos even less interesting. The view is terrific, but it's the red gondola that makes this a photo really worth watching. You have placed it well and the wires help to indicate the height.
Regards,
Gert

marcan44 (6223) 2012-09-15 8:33

Ciao Andrew,
un paesaggio stupendo riprodotto con molta efficacia per il senso dell'altezza e della panoramica ad ampio respiro.
Certo la gita in funivia non è consigliata a chi soffre di vertigini o di cuore....
A nice w.e.
Best regards
Mario

mauro61 (52527) 2012-09-15 13:26

ciao Andrew,
una immagine che un po' tutti noi abbiamo nei nostri archivi.
Buona l'inquadratura con il taglio verticale che dà slancio.
Mi piace il contrasto cromatico tra il colore della valle e il rosso della cabina.
saluti
maurizio

Noel_Byrne (7329) 2012-09-16 9:27

Hi Andrew,
First thing I would like to say, I'm afraid heights, to brrrr.... But what a classic shot, the red cablecar looks excellent against that far away greenery. Your note reinforces my brrrr as well, you have an amazing sense of height here.
Best wishes
Noel

tyro (13065) 2012-09-16 13:38

Hello Andrew,

Ah, ha! So this is how you got up that mountain to take your fine panoramic view!

I get a bit dizzy looking at this because I don't really have a head for heights - though I think I could just convince myself to go in that gondola. Isn't it queer that I don't get vertigo looking out of an aeroplane window at 20,000 or 40,000 feet but I feel awful if I climb up a church tower or something like that? The human brain's a queer thing and I suspect mine's queerer than most.

But this is a lovely photograph, the red gondola placed perfectly in the frame and really anchoring the whole composition with, of course, the diagonal cables. The picture has amazing depth - we can see lots of details in the city below - and you have included just the right amount of distant mountains and sky.

Perfect exposure, lovely colours and excellent sharpness.

Did you take this from another gondola as this one passed you?

Excellent!

Kind Regards,

John.

marabu61 (3900) 2012-09-16 14:03

Hello Andrew
He he, you flatlanders ...., so now you know how much fun those cablecars are. Here in Switzerland we have one up every second mountain in the alps.
Your framing here is very good, the red gondola catches the eye superbly and contrasts nicely with the green suroundings. And then the eye wanders down along the cables to the toy size town and people down in the valley.
have a good start to the new week
Daniel

abmdsudi (26215) 2012-09-20 6:17

Hi Andrew
Awesome viewpoint and wonderful comp in brilliant detail love the colour pop a cracker. Great perspective from the top and fantastic what lies beneath, it is incredible looking out over a carpet of green. Superb lighting, great sharpness and contrast. Well done. TFS
http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Asia/Vietnam/photo1383626.htm
Exif date lost during file conversion similar to my other shots of same location
Kind regards

photoray (4926) 2012-09-20 20:26

Howdy Andrew,

Interesting gondola view above Estes Park and the background mountains, all in fine resolution.

We have a famous gondola ride in Palm Springs, which starts at the desert floor and rises almost vertically to the top of an alpine environment at Idllywild. It is recognized at one of Earth's engineering marvels, and not for anyone with vertigo, or after eating a meal...

Have an excellent productive weekend,
Cheers,
Ray

PS: I was suppose to be a high school history teacher when I graduated from Calif State University Los Angeles, but was recruited instead by Calif Transportation to become a govenment agent/analyst for many many moons...

adores (28196) 2012-09-23 13:32

Hi Andrew!
A great way to enjoy the view! It's amazing from this place and the red gondola stands out wonderfully, specially with the sunlight. Well framed, with good colours, light and dof!

Miguel82 (7757) 2013-03-02 12:09

A magnific infrastructure and a beautiful valley landscape with forest and villages
Sharp photo and naturals colors
Good evening

elenimavrandoni (5789) 2013-03-28 2:07

Hello Andrew, I've been to estes Park and I was up there looking down the amazing panoramic view!
beautiful place to be, great nature and very attractive Park!
best regards,
Eleni