Why Do You Always Take Your Camera?
"Because, you never know."
This was a conversation my wife, Carolyn, and I had on May 28, 2021. We were in the garage ready to head to Loveland to get important stuff like Sam’s hotdogs, chicken fried rice, and a 35 pack of Diet Coke. I was putting my camera in the back seat, and she said, “Why do you take your camera everywhere?” I answered, “Because, you never know.”
Twenty minutes later, we were part way down the canyon, when we came upon a line of cars pulled over. Carolyn saw it first, a large black bear was standing tall on the front porch of a small cabin, pounding his front paws on the door (How do bears know it’s a door?). She was huffing and puffing like a big bad wolf. Then I pointed at the twin cubs clinging to a branch high up in a tree.
Carolyn yelled, “Get your camera. Get your camera.” Grabbing my Canon, under my breath I teased, “You never know.”
It was a rare experience, a large sow black bear with one reddish cub, the other darker brown. Pictures of the three bears were captured, one paw supported against the cabin wall protecting the cubs who played above her in the tree.
Carolyn gave directions, “Oh, get that one,” and “Look at the mother posing. Get that shot.” I did capture wonderful images, one of which would become the cover on the June 4, 2021 Estes Park News.
Exhilarated, as the bears disappeared up the hill, we settled back into the car. “Those will be great shots,” her adrenaline rushed. Smiling, I answered, “Yes, dear…good I had my camera with me.” Laughing a bit, she said, “Yes, because, you never know.”
During October 2021, again casually driving down the canyon to Loveland, the bighorn sheep were in rut. Just past the fire station, above on a rocky outcrop rams gathered looking down at the throng of photographers. I, of course, had my camera, and I went into action. It was the best opportunity I’ve had until and since to capture the bold presence of bighorns during the rut. One of the images shared the cover of Estes Park News with a wonderful moose picture by my friend Richard Hahn.
It was June 1, 2023, and we were returning from a doctor appointment in Fort Collins, driving and talking, enjoying our time together when suddenly, I pulled off the road in the canyon. As I came to a stop, I said, “Bear.” By then, Carolyn had become well trained. As my door swung open, she reached into the back seat, handing my camera to me.
It was a black bear, wet from being in the river’s water. Beautiful in size and coat, he moved up the hill, stopping to see what I was doing. With my camera up, I captured his pose. So dynamic, curiously shy, with a full black coat. Then he moved up the hill into the thicket, disappearing. That beautiful bear was the cover image on Estes Park News on June 9, 2023.
On February 26, 2025, we had been to Medical Center of the Rockies, spending the day together as Carolyn received her chemo treatment. We’d learned to appreciate the time together, and I was sharing some wildlife photos with one of the nurses. The nurse asked, “Do you have your camera with you?” Before I could answer, Carolyn said, “Of course he does.” “Good,” the nurse smiled. “I know where a bald eagle nest is.”
Taking a detour on the way home, we found the eagle nest. While Carolyn rested in the SUV, I captured a few images, the male cooperating as he flew to a nearby dead tree. When I returned to the car, Carolyn asked, “Did you get a cover shot?” The eagle was on Estes Park News cover on March 7, 2025.
On Monday, September 15, 2025, we were going to one of Carolyn’s check ups at Estes Park Health. As we’d left for the hospital, she’d chastised me, “We’re only going a few blocks, and you have to take your camera?” Before I answered, she did. “I know. You never know.”
Heading home, we turned back onto Moraine Avenue past Fun City when we saw a couple of cars slow. Carolyn sat up, looking over me out the window. “Elk in the water?” she asked. I looked, blurting. “No, it’s a bear.”
I pulled onto the gravel, and Carolyn handed me my camera. We were both out the door, working across the traffic to the raised river’s edge. There on the opposite side of the river was a blondish, red black bear. My camera in action and Carolyn beside me, I capture the bear walking along in the cold water. Then he exited the river, moving past Brenda’s Appearance Plus Hair Salon.
“Those pictures are going to be beautiful,” Carolyn said. I answered, “Luckily, I had my camera with me.” “Of course,” she smiled, “Because, you never know.”
