Among the works comprising Chapter 3—Colorado Landscapes & Cityscapes—this autumn scene along the Poudre River introduces a human presence that has been notably absent from much of the photographer’s natural landscape documentation. A lone fly fisherman stands mid-stream, his figure providing both scale and narrative focus within a composition dominated by seasonal color and the interplay of light on moving water. The image succeeds in balancing documentary observation with careful aesthetic consideration, capturing what appears to be a chance encounter during the photographer’s search for the last vestiges of fall color along this northern Colorado waterway.
The composition employs a classic landscape structure, divided roughly into thirds by the horizontal elements: the reflective water surface in the foreground, the bridge and human figure in the middle ground, and the autumn-touched forest rising beyond. The fisherman, positioned slightly off-center, serves as the crucial point of human scale that transforms what might otherwise be a standard seasonal landscape into something more contemplative. His solitary presence—the photographer notes he was likely the only other person at this remote turnoff—adds an element of quietude and shared appreciation for the conditions that drew both individuals to this location on a Saturday afternoon.
The treatment of water demonstrates technical proficiency with the Sony A7ii and kit lens combination. A moderate exposure time renders the river surface with subtle motion blur, smoothing ripples into gentle gradations of reflected light while maintaining enough definition to distinguish current patterns and submerged rocks. The right portion of the frame captures direct sunlight on the water, creating a bright zone of contrast against the darker, shadowed areas. This tonal range—from deep amber reflections to brilliant highlights—gives the water substantial visual weight and complexity.
Autumn color saturates the background, with golden aspens and cottonwoods forming luminous masses against the darker evergreens. The trees are captured at what the photographer sought—the final days of peak color—evident in the richness of the yellows and the beginning transitions toward bare branches. The small bridge, a modest steel and concrete structure, provides architectural grounding without overwhelming the natural elements. Its weathered construction suggests a rural access point rather than a major thoroughfare, reinforcing the sense of a discovered location rather than a destination.
What distinguishes this photograph within the broader chapter is its acknowledgment of human interaction with Colorado’s landscapes. Where other works present wilderness as untouched or urban environments as purely architectural, this image occupies a middle ground. The fisherman is neither intruder nor irrelevance; he belongs to this scene as much as the bridge or the turning leaves. His activity—fly fishing, with its requirements of patience, skill, and intimate knowledge of the water—suggests a relationship with place rather than mere passage through it.
The photographer’s decision to include this figure, captured during what he describes as a casual Saturday excursion, reveals an evolving understanding of how to represent place. Colorado’s identity encompasses not only its dramatic geology and seasonal transformations but also the quiet pursuits of those who seek out its rivers and forests during brief windows of perfect weather and fading color.
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Greg Urbano 