Linking Exploration to Unique Images

It’s not all that often that I sift through other photographers’ images of a location. I certainly used to. I’d go out and basically try to make a carbon copy. It’s not a bad way to start out. But it eventually feels hollow and once you begin to put together the basics of composition, you’ll want to create your very own from scratch. In terms of landscape photography, I’m not sure there’s that much more rewarding than doing just that. It’s a special feeling - like unlocking some hidden level. And after you get the hang of it, excellent compositional opportunities will present themselves to you the world over.

So jump off the tour bus, forget the “highlights”, and ignore the 5 star reviews. Let’s intentionally place ourselves off the beaten path and explore this topic more.

A spectacular waterfall hidden in plain sight.

We’re going to settle into a location that is dear to my heart: the majestic San Juan Mountains of Southern Colorado. In particular, we’re talking about one road here: Forest Road 585. It’s a short 3 miles west from the town of Silverton. It follows the stunning South Mineral Creek. There’s a popular campground that sits across from an even more popular trailhead into the Ice Lake Basin. It’s a phenomenal location in its own right, so the fact that it can be incredibly busy makes sense. It’s starting to get a lot of exposure online.

On one of many summer backpacking trips I’ve made to Ice Lake Basin, I asked my friend if he wanted to head up the creek some before hitting the trail. So we did. And we found these awe-inspiring waterfalls - literally just minutes beyond the campground. I knew then and there I’d be returning to this spot to photograph. And I did the following spring. I planned an entire trip around it and didn’t have anything else on my itinerary. I was about to put my first rule of exploration to the test: When you find something cool, there’s a pretty darn good chance that some other cool stuff is around as well.

Love at first sight. A chance taken has resulted in repeat explorations of this entire creek and beyond.

Springtime is a shoulder season in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. It’s muddy, it’s wet, and many roads are still impassable from the previous winter. The road to the campground, which was closed at the time, is drivable by 2WD vehicles, but just beyond the campground, it becomes a 4WD road. I parked my car a little ways up the 4WD road, found a sweet dispersed camping spot, and didn’t move my car for the duration of the trip.

For a good portion of the next four days, I explored. First and foremost, I obviously went back to the waterfalls I had seen the previous summer. Then I headed further up the creek which brings me to my second rule of exploration: Always follow water. It usually leads to good things. I wasn’t disappointed.

Muddy, wet, and steps from my campsite. Just the way I planned it.

Now keep in mind, you’ll need to get off the trail or, in this case, the road to find these spots. Our wilderness areas are ripe for exploration. If I had simply driven the road, I would have completely bypassed all these. And if I had relied on some cursory online research none of these locations would have showed up on Google Maps. So be prepared to question old patterns and embrace the unknown.

Persistence also pays off. Let’s look at this from a couple of different angles. First, I’m a believer that you can’t “explore” an area in one day or even one trip. It can take multiple meaningful trips to get a taste. And that’s all part of the beauty of this process. I used to bounce all over the place, spending loads of time in the car trying to get to the next spot on my list. Then I stopped. Now I park my car for days on end and explore with my feet. It’s a more relaxing experience. You find solitude. You connect with nature. And your photography naturally gets better.

Second, quite commonly, I revisit the same compositions or scenes. All of these shots were taken on this single trip. However, each of the images was the result of a second or third attempt. The more chances you take, the better your luck tends to be. It also doesn’t hurt to go with the flow, be open to opportunities, and maybe even visualize the result you’re looking for prior to returning.

Revisiting the same scene gives you the opportunity to capture differing lighting conditions. With new inspiration comes new compositions.

I’m already imagining the images I’ll take here in the future. I scouted some new spots I want to try in better lighting conditions. I know I’ll be headed back to some of these exact spots in different seasons. All this excitement just a short distance from this one forest road. So go find a location that excites you. One that you’ll want to come back to again and again. You’ll know it when you find it. You’ll feel it.

Believe me, there’s a lot out there to be explored. If you want to learn first-hand consider joining me on a small group workshop or private lesson. I specialize in these types of wilderness areas. I bet you come away with images I’ve never seen.