What do you think?
Rate this book
The Photographer's Guide to Rocky Mountain National Park
This is your guide to photographing Rocky Mountain National Park, with 136 photo locations, 40 maps, full-page color photos, and the guidance of a professional photographer who has spent nearly 20 years photographing its amazing landscapes.
Have you ever wanted to take spectacular photos of Rocky Mountain National Park but do not know how or where to start? Do you want to capture photographs of one of Colorado’s most beautiful wild spaces but are unsure of how to find the best locations? Then this guidebook is what you need! Award-winning author and nature photographer Erik Stensland has created a stunning anthology for photographers of all skill levels that will guide them through the 415 square miles of Rocky Mountain National Park to the best locations for photography. Stensland has spent nearly two decades exploring RMNP, becoming intimately familiar with the many moods of the park, the changes in light throughout the seasons. He knows when the alpine wildflowers and vibrant autumn colors will peak.
In this book, Stensland uses his breadth of knowledge to assist you translating the stunning views before you into the best photos possible, all while putting the well-being of nature first. This guidebook is filled with his own color photos, easy-to-read maps, descriptions of when and where you should be for different subjects. These are accompanied by tips and insights only a local would know.
The Photographer's Guide to Rocky Mountain National Park also includes helpful information on what to photograph during each season, where to find wildlife, and the best places for easy-access sunrise and sunset photography. You will find helpful information on when to visit and where to stay. You will also learn about safety in the mountains, photography etiquette, and Nature First ethics. Whether you are an aspiring photographer or professional photographer looking for local insights, this guidebook is a must during your trip to Rocky Mountain National Park.
Have you ever wanted to take spectacular photos of Rocky Mountain National Park but do not know how or where to start? Do you want to capture photographs of one of Colorado’s most beautiful wild spaces but are unsure of how to find the best locations? Then this guidebook is what you need! Award-winning author and nature photographer Erik Stensland has created a stunning anthology for photographers of all skill levels that will guide them through the 415 square miles of Rocky Mountain National Park to the best locations for photography. Stensland has spent nearly two decades exploring RMNP, becoming intimately familiar with the many moods of the park, the changes in light throughout the seasons. He knows when the alpine wildflowers and vibrant autumn colors will peak.
In this book, Stensland uses his breadth of knowledge to assist you translating the stunning views before you into the best photos possible, all while putting the well-being of nature first. This guidebook is filled with his own color photos, easy-to-read maps, descriptions of when and where you should be for different subjects. These are accompanied by tips and insights only a local would know.
The Photographer's Guide to Rocky Mountain National Park also includes helpful information on what to photograph during each season, where to find wildlife, and the best places for easy-access sunrise and sunset photography. You will find helpful information on when to visit and where to stay. You will also learn about safety in the mountains, photography etiquette, and Nature First ethics. Whether you are an aspiring photographer or professional photographer looking for local insights, this guidebook is a must during your trip to Rocky Mountain National Park.
210 pages, Paperback
Published April 5, 2022
5 people are currently reading
2125 people want to read
About the author
Erik Stensland
21 books33 followersWhen I was five years old my dad told me that if I sprinkled salt on the tail of a bear that it would follow me home. As a result of his dubious advice, much of my early childhood was spent exploring the mountainous terrain around our Montana home with saltshaker in hand. During these years the wilderness found its way into some deep place within me and became a central part of my life. The solitude, the silence and the sense of connection with something much greater than myself has drawn me ever since.
After college I spent about a decade living in Europe's Balkan Peninsula with my wife Joanna. Years of high stress during this period led to severe burnout. In pursuit of restoration I jumped at an opportunity to move to the mountains of Colorado at the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park. There, on quiet trails, surrounded by beauty and solitude, my soul began to recover.
I decided to make a career of hiking and so became a professional nature photographer. As I hiked the many trails of the national park both day and night in pursuit of unique images, I came back to life and found myself overflowing with things I wanted to write about. With every passing year I become more and more convinced that we all need more solitude, stillness, silence and beauty in our lives.
To learn more about me, my photography and my writing visit my website: https://ImagesofRMNP.com.
After college I spent about a decade living in Europe's Balkan Peninsula with my wife Joanna. Years of high stress during this period led to severe burnout. In pursuit of restoration I jumped at an opportunity to move to the mountains of Colorado at the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park. There, on quiet trails, surrounded by beauty and solitude, my soul began to recover.
I decided to make a career of hiking and so became a professional nature photographer. As I hiked the many trails of the national park both day and night in pursuit of unique images, I came back to life and found myself overflowing with things I wanted to write about. With every passing year I become more and more convinced that we all need more solitude, stillness, silence and beauty in our lives.
To learn more about me, my photography and my writing visit my website: https://ImagesofRMNP.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 8, 2022
What a great guide to RMNP! The title says this is a photographer's guide but the book is so much more. There is plenty of useful and helpful information about taking pictures in the park and many beautiful photographs but there also is plenty of information unrelated to photography. Therefore the audience is broader than suggested in the title. Information is provided on the basics of visiting the park, what to expect in different seasons, maps for hiking (to name just a few, the book jacket provides a full list of what is inside).
This book is compact, nicely bound, and would be easy to take along on your next trip to the park. The author has lived in the Estes Park area since 2005 and makes his living as a landscape photographer.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
This book is compact, nicely bound, and would be easy to take along on your next trip to the park. The author has lived in the Estes Park area since 2005 and makes his living as a landscape photographer.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
July 4, 2022
Fantastic guide. Great locations. Included all the details you need: ideal time of day to shoot, recommended settings, composition ideas, where to park or how to hike in, etc.
Also appreciated the author's "nature first" approach (basically a "leave no trace" principle for photographers).
Spent a weekend in RMNP after reading this book and was able to check out the best locations based on current weather and conditions. Would not have been able to pivot so quickly without this guide.
Also appreciated the author's "nature first" approach (basically a "leave no trace" principle for photographers).
Spent a weekend in RMNP after reading this book and was able to check out the best locations based on current weather and conditions. Would not have been able to pivot so quickly without this guide.
March 1, 2022
I won this book. I have only skimmed it so far, but even at first glance I know this book is an incredible guide for people interested in nature photography in Rocky Mountain National Park. It has so much information I'm not going to list it all, when you can just read a professional synopsis, but I can say that I'll absolutely be taking this book with me when I go to RMNP. If this author has other books on other parks, I'll grab them all before going to those parks. Its a small thing, but worth mentioning...the small size and rounded corners of this book make it perfect for sticking in your pocket or camera bag when you're out there.
February 26, 2022
This is a beautiful and helpful guide for photographing RMNP- it's a gorgeous little book. The book itself is sturdy in design with great photos, rounded edges (won't bend in backpack!), and sewn binding. The information is really practical for finding spots with views to photograph at different times of year, including maps. I can't wait to use it this summer! Definitely recommend this for anyone planning a trip to the Rocky Mountains!
*thanks to Rocky Trail Press for the copy and goodreads for hosting a giveaway
*thanks to Rocky Trail Press for the copy and goodreads for hosting a giveaway
May 19, 2022
I received this book from the Goodreads Giveaway. I highly recommend it. It tells you about all the really good views that can be photographed and enjoyed in the Rocky Mountain National Park. It tells you of different areas that are dangerous, that are challenging or are easy to get to. It also tells you what time of year has a good view at a specific area or what time of day is best. I found it to have great ideas for photographing nature
January 29, 2024
An exceptionally helpful guide with maps, directions, tips, and example photos. This is a must-have for photographers of all skill levels visiting Rocky Mountain National Park.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews