Spring is Here

After many a false start this year, Spring appears to have finally arrived in the Treasure Valley of Idaho. The flowering trees are in their full glory and the hills are a verdant green. It's the time of year that we photographers spend as much time in the out-of-doors as is possible.

This past week I spent time with my camera, photographing the early morning light as it made its way over the rolling hills of the Boise Front and into the valley at Horseshoe Bend. The early morning light bounced off the moisture on the ground from the previous days rain storm, accenting the fresh greens of Spring. I continued on to Placerville, an old mining town, on a graded dirt road, giving the illusion of traveling in days gone by. The old buildings of a ghost town along the way deserve to be photographed in black and white. I hope you enjoy seeing what I saw.

Boise, Idaho in The Fall

Boise, Idaho -- The City of Trees. During the autumn of the year the trees in and around Boise take on magnificent colors -- brilliant reds, golds, yellows and maroons are displayed in a wonderful array of colors and designs. The most colorful area in the city is Kathryn Albertson Park. A "natural" park which supports various wildlife and many native plants. One can see mallards, wood ducks, blue herons, deer, fox and even beavers in this gorgeous setting. Here are a few photos I've taken in the past week. I hope you enjoy viewing them as much as I enjoyed taking them.

The leaves have turned a brilliant gold,
The vines a glowing red.
Nature shows her finest clothes
Before she goes to bed.
                    Keith Couch

Beautiful Idaho

This past week I spent time camping with friends in eastern Idaho. We set up camp in the Grandview campground at Lower Mesa Falls. It rained heavily the day before and there was still some standing water in the area, but the plants had been scrubbed clean and the smell of the forest was exhilarating.

I learned that there ARE countless stars in the night sky, Bears ARE in the woods and DO visit campsites and I sleep like a baby to the noise of a roaring waterfall.

We chose to drive back through Arco, Challis and Stanley -- all of which afforded great opportunities for photographs.

I've included a few of the more than 650 photos I took. I hope you enjoy them.

Keith

Boise Twilight Criterium

Saturday, July 18th was a very busy day. I attended and photographed the Capital City Public Market in the morning, drove to Idaho City for a photo crawl in the afternoon and returned to Boise in time to photograph the final race of the 2009 Boise Twilight Criterium. I managed to capture some interesting images that day, but this one in particular stands out. It is called Flying Colors, I think you will see why! This officer is clearing the path for the 100 or so bicycle riders who are participating in this race. A Criterium is a bicycle race, held on a closed course -- usually less than 6 km. The weather was hot, 105 degrees and I didn't realize how dehydrated I had become until I ate dinner with a number of my fellow photographers at Trudy's in Idaho City. I must have consumed a dozen glasses of water at the meal even though I carried and drank water through out the day.

Beauty is Everywhere - Just Look!

The joy of being a photographer is to capture images that many people do not see. Many members of society take for granted the beauty that is placed before us each day. Sometimes it is the grandeur of a sunset or the springtime blossoms on the trees that catch our attention, but if we look closely we will see patterns of color and geometric designs everywhere. Looking through the lens of a camera brings me joy and happiness. I hope to share those feelings with you.

Keith