Project Athena - Day 363 (Night Photography)

A late night shoot on a deserted campus tonight yielded a plethora of shots, including one of a little toad that seemed to have lost her way home. But this stair shot was my favorite of the evening. Lucky for the toad, Lara was with me because she went into "save-the-toad-mode" while I took this picture and carefully carried our photogenic friend back to the lagoon.

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CSU Lory Student Center, Fort Collins, CO
Fujifilm X-E2 • Fuji XF18-135mm lens • 27.9mm • F/10 •  13s • ISO 400

Okay, for those of you who want to see the toad too....

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Night Toad

Project Athena - Day 131 (Stairs)

Stepping Up...

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

— Martin Luther King

I was hoping to capture a ghost running up the steps of the legendary Northern Hotel staircase but alas, no one wanted to be famous today.

It has been a long while since I have been inside this historic building. I remember this stairway being way more majestic and regal back in the days of my youth. Maybe that is because I had never been to any place more elegant than the old Northern Hotel before graduating high school. Still, it was fun to see the transformation of this landmark. The stained glass still exists in the ceilings exactly as it was when I celebrated my high school graduation at the fabulous restaurant that once attracted the very affluent of Fort Collins. The rooms are now apartments and Starbucks, of course, has a piece of this prime real estate on the lower level.

Wouldn't it be awesome to see it restored to its glory days?

Staircase of Northern Hotel

Nikon D3200 • Nikon 18-55mm lens • 40mm • F/20 • 1/1.3s • ISO 400

Project Athena - Day 129 (Stairs)

“The starting point of all achievement is desire.”

— Napoleon Hill

The Dam Store!

The Dam Store has been a tourist shop up the Big Thompson Canyon in Loveland, Colorado since 1906! This tower has not been in existence all those years but I remember as a kid, we used to stop here just to climb the steep steps and view the fast flowing river spilling over the dam. Funny, I don't recall having a fear of heights back then.

It's a miracle this unique tourist attraction survived last year's floods considering how close to the river it sits but somehow, it weathered the storm. The view from the top reveals both the devastation of the floods and the the tremendous amount of work that has already been done to restore this area. And yes, I did climb to the top, sweaty hands and all!

The Dam Store Tower

Nikon D3200 • Nikon 18-55mm lens • 18mm • F/22 • 1/10 • ISO 400

Project Athena - Day 128 (Stairs)

Stairs with a View

“Step with care and great tact ,and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act.”

— Dr. Seuss

I love that this stairwell at a Fort Collins downtown parking garage provides a view to the outer world and natural light. The picturesque windows make climbing and descending more interesting as well as adding perspective to the journey, texture and connection to real life.

Parking Garage Stairwell

Nikon D3200 • Nikon 18-55mm lens • 18mm • F/22 • 1/20 • ISO 400