Colorado and Oklahoma - Guess Which is Which

Actually I think it's a bit obvious.

Very nice photos - I'm going out on a limb (ha-ha)and guess that the first is CO, the second is OK.

Yep. Oklahoma is a bit more subtle

The Maroon Bells must be a little after sunrise, since I don't see the shore lined with photographers. That pile of stuff in the lake is new this year after an avalanche last spring, it was a big snow year. Starting out that way this year too. I think the lake may have a slight tilt to it.

patrick j wrote in post #18974438
The Maroon Bells must be a little after sunrise, since I don't see the shore lined with photographers. That pile of stuff in the lake is new this year after an avalanche last spring, it was a big snow year. Starting out that way this year too. I think the lake may have a slight tilt to it.

Good catch - the local rangers ought to see about leveling-out that lake...

patrick j wrote in post #18974438
The Maroon Bells must be a little after sunrise, since I don't see the shore lined with photographers. That pile of stuff in the lake is new this year after an avalanche last spring, it was a big snow year. Starting out that way this year too. I think the lake may have a slight tilt to it.

It was late afternoon and the shore was lined with photographers. The Oklahoma shot, on the other hand, was on a quiet rural road with no other photographer in sight - but I rarely have competition in Oklahoma.
Thanks for the heads up on the lake. I'll get it fixed.

However, if you'll remember back to the original True Grit with John Wayne, the first picture could very well be in Oklahoma. Or at least Indian Territory.

The scenery in True Grit, while beautiful, aggravated me to no end. In the new version with Jeff Bridges the scenery was somewhat more believable.

Also, the second picture could have very well been taken in Eastern Colorado.

Terry McDaniel wrote in post #18977573
However, if you'll remember back to the original True Grit with John Wayne, the first picture could very well be in Oklahoma. Or at least Indian Territory.

The scenery in True Grit, while beautiful, aggravated me to no end. In the new version with Jeff Bridges the scenery was somewhat more believable.

Also, the second picture could have very well been taken in Eastern Colorado.

That original True Grit was filmed in Ouray, CO.

rgs wrote in post #18978214
That original True Grit was filmed in Ouray, CO.

I've never quite made it to this exact spot, I've been within a few miles however, but that shootout was filmed near Chimney Rock which is near Owl Creek Pass. Not sure about the rules on linking to someone else's photos so I won't, but lots of images of the place out there. Very popular location here in the fall for photographers, I've seen pictures of photographers lined up at sunset there.

rgs wrote in post #18974103
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Colorado and Oklahoma - Guess Which is Which

..... actually I think it's a bit obvious.
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Over the past year I've spent a LOT of time in Colorado, and made two visits to Oklahoma. . They're not as dissimilar as some may think.

There are actually places in Oklahoma with mountains and a lot of steep rocky terrain. . That's where I spent my time when I was there. . And then a huge portion of Colorado consists of prairie grasslands and is flat agricultural habitat.

Many people's perceptions of places is formed by that which is iconic - the extremes, and not based on what is normal or average for that area. . But I suppose thats just human nature, to spend more time thinking about that which stands out than we do thinking about the norm.

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Tom Reichner wrote in post #18978242
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Over the past year I've spent a LOT of time in Colorado, and made two visits to Oklahoma. . They're not as dissimilar as some may think.

There are actually places in Oklahoma with mountains and a lot of steep rocky terrain. . That's where I spent my time when I was there. . And then a huge portion of Colorado consists of prairie grasslands and is flat agricultural habitat.

Many people's perceptions of places is formed by that which is iconic - the extremes, and not based on what is normal or average for that area. . But I suppose thats just human nature, to spend more time thinking about that which stands out than we do thinking about the norm.

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I have photographed much of Oklahoma, either on assignment or just for myself, and I have family in Colorado so I have experience in both places. Your observations are correct. The Wichita Mountains NWR, if that's what you reference, is a beautiful and rugged area that many people don't know about with lots of wildlife but there are plenty of other areas as well. For me, the basic difference is that in Colorado places shout "take my picture" and photographer line up to do so. In Oklahoma, they whisper and I mostly work alone.

rgs wrote in post #18978668
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The Wichita Mountains NWR, if that's what you reference, is a beautiful and rugged area that many people don't know about with lots of wildlife but there are plenty of other areas as well.
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Yes, the Wichita Mountains are the place where I have spend the most time in Oklahoma. . I specifically went there to research and photograph Collared Lizards, but found that there are a lot of other interesting wildlife species there, as well. . I really love that area, and hope to get back to that area on a regular, if not annual, basis!


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rgs wrote in post #18978668
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For me, the basic difference is that in Colorado places shout "take my picture" and photographer line up to do so. In Oklahoma, they whisper and I mostly work alone.
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That is a very good way of putting it! . But I wanted to point out that huge portions of Colorado are flat and rather bland to the general passerby. . Only certain areas of Colorado shout "take my picture". . Many folks don't seem to realize that about half of Colorado is flat as a pancake and just has empty-looking farm fields stretching from one horizon to another. . It is only the mountainous areas of Colorado that shout "take my picture" ..... at least that's been my experience.

Someone could say, "Colorado is very mountainous" and someone else could say, "Colorado is flat and boring" ..... and each would be just as correct as the other.

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Tom Reichner wrote in post #18978787
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Yes, the Wichita Mountains are the place where I have spend the most time in Oklahoma. . I specifically went there to research and photograph Collared Lizards, but found that there are a lot of other interesting wildlife species there, as well. . I really love that area, and hope to get back to that area on a regular, if not annual, basis!

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One of my favorite critters. You probably know it is the official "State Lizard", but I much prefer it's colloquial name to the dry "Collared Lizard". Such a colorful creature deserves a colorful name. In Oklahoma we call it "Mountain Boomer".

You're right about the eastern 1/3 of Colorado being plains. Colorado Springs is a mountain city but Denver is on the plains (although quite near the mountains). Additionally there is the high plains area west of the Front Range that is the home herds of Pronghorn and vast areas of high flat land that is almost eerily still and has a stark beauty unlike anything in Oklahoma.

Great photos of both locations.

Tom Reichner wrote in post #18978787
That is a very good way of putting it! . But I wanted to point out that huge portions of Colorado are flat and rather bland to the general passerby. . Only certain areas of Colorado shout "take my picture". . Many folks don't seem to realize that about half of Colorado is flat as a pancake and just has empty-looking farm fields stretching from one horizon to another. . It is only the mountainous areas of Colorado that shout "take my picture" ..... at least that's been my experience.

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I just took I-76 from Denver out to Nebraska today, boy is it boring. Some parts of the Great Plains have a subtle appeal to them, but north eastern Colorado is just a parched looking nothing. I think most of us who live in Denver don't really consider anything east of Denver to really count as Colorado.