Main image by Noah Wetzel.

About the photo: Noah captured this photograph at twilight during a mid-September evening while he was camping at Fish Creek Reservoir on top of Buffalo Pass. “I was pursuing a unique shot below the dam, and spent a couple of days camped at the reservoir,” Noah says. “Anytime I’m surprised with a waxing-crescent moon, I’m filled with joy. This moon appears on the western horizon after sunset, typically in a gradient of sunset hues from orange to blue with the crystal clear black sky overhead. I love being able to see the whole outline of the moon – to me it’s special. Anytime this moon makes an appearance, it’s always a surprise as it follows a new moon. I call this moon the ‘owl moon,’ because oftentimes, I’ve experienced these moments while shooting alone. I think to myself, ‘this moment is so perfect and this scene is so aesthetic; I can’t believe I’m the only person witnessing this where I am right now.’ That’s typically right when I hear the soft coo of an owl.”

 Photo by Julie McNally.

This photo was Julie’s second attempt at photographing the Northern Lights, and it proved to be a last-minute mission with many details up in the air. Forecasts suggested a strong chance for Northern Lights visibility, but the cloud cover forecast was less favorable. “There was a 50% chance of cloudy skies, but I decided to go anyway,” Julie says. “Initially, the aurora was faintly visible, hidden behind the clouds. Around midnight, the moon set and the skies began to clear. I captured this image at 1:40 a.m. These striking pillars of light were visible to the naked eye, dancing around the sky until gradually fading about an hour later. The colors on display in the sky that night beautifully complemented the vibrant fall foliage on Mount Werner.”

 Photo by Nick Lyons.

Nick Lyons, of Meraki Mountain Media, took this photo in May 2024 when aurora activity started to become prevalent in Routt County. This was one of his first forays into astrophotography. “Seeing the lights firsthand really pushed me to get out there and try it,” Nick says. “It’s been a fun journey, and I’m glad I dove in.”

 Photo by Jeff Hall.

Local photographer Jeff Hall was taking a drive down Twentymile Road one winter evening looking for sunset shots. “I saw this horse sculpture in a rancher’s field and thought it added some intrigue to this beautiful sunset,” he says. “I later found out that this sculpture was made using drift wood."

 Photo by Cyndi Marlowe.

“Handsome in Pink” was taken along County Road 42 in mid-January. The photographer, Cyndi Marlowe, has been shooting sunsets in Steamboat Springs for over 40 years. Her long career has taught her that there are certain atmospheric hues in the sky associated with each season. “The contrast of the earth covered in a cold white and the sky ablaze in warm pinks is my signal to mid-winter,” Cyndi says. “The temperature drops as the sun sets and the sky provides some additional moments of warmth.”