Colorado Fly Fishing Photographer

Fly Fishing the Big Thompson River

If you’re a fly fisherman living in or visiting the Denver/Boulder area, then you’re a happy person. The diverse river access within 30 minutes to a couple hours is incredible. A couple weeks ago I was out shooting on a stunning section of the Big Thompson River outside of Loveland, Colorado with a couple guides from Front Range Anglers - John Brown and Charlie Schaefer. Both really solid guys and extremely talented/knowledgable about everything fly fishing. If you’re in need of a guide, give their shop a call. They’ll take good care of you.

The day we went out was their day off, so they were checking out a particular section of the Big Thompson to see how it was fishing, to know whether or not it was worth bringing clients there. As things turned out, the river was fishing great! John and Charlie both got into a lot of trout, with a handful of them around or above 20 inches. Some really beautiful specimens. Even the “smaller” trout they netted would be a big win for most people. Any day on a river is fun, but it’s always extra special when you get a mix of weather, fall color, and the fish are hungry. We did some hiking up and down the stretch which presented a lot of different water with some incredible backdrops that made for great photography, but there was a lot of learning to be had too, just by watching them fish. They were both euro nymphing the entire time, using one fly - a mop or an egg. It’s amazing what you can soak in if you just sit and watch. I’ve only been back in Colorado a few months now and still have to pinch myself every time I’m on a river. I love it here so much.

Click HERE to check out more of my fly fishing photography and contact me directly to inquire about prints - rob@robhammerphotography.com

Colorado Fly Fishing Photography

Fly fishing guides on the Big Thompson River

Fly Fishing in fall color in Colorado

Fall fly fishing in Colorado

Fly fishing the Big Thompson River

Rainbow trout jumping out of the river

Netting a Rainbow Trout on the Big Thompson River

John Brown of Front Range Anglers having a laugh during a day on the river

Fly fishing guides from Front Range Anglers

Looking for trout on the Big Thompson River

Tree roots growing out of a rock

Charlie Schaefer netting a trout on the Big Thompson River outside Loveland, Colorado

A beautiful Rainbow Trout

Fall colors in the river in Colorado

Hardy fly rod and reel

One handed

Netting a large Rainbow Trout

A fly fisherman smiles while holding a trophy Rainbow trout
Fly fisherman on the Big Thompson River in Colorado - Black and White Photography

Big Thompson River Fly Fishing

Setting the hook

A proper bend in the rod

Won’t forget this one

Charlie Schaefer - Front Range Anglers

The big ones put up a good fight

Textbook Rainbow Trout

Moving up river

Fly Fishing the Big Thompson River surrounded by fall color in Colorado

Fly Fishing - Crested Butte, Colorado

Crested Butte, Colorado Fly Fishing Photography

San Juan Mountains

Crested Butte, Colorado is hands down one of my favorite places to go fly fishing in the country. It’s just one of my favorite places period. Combine the stunning views with their mountain town culture and access to all sorts of fly fishing, and the place is hard to beat. Summertime anywhere in the San Juan mountains will seduce you whether you’re aware of it or not. The images are from a recent backcountry fly fishing trip with friends to a small creek that shall go unnamed for obvious reasons. There is plenty of easy fishing access around around Crested Butte on the Taylor River, East River, and Gunnison River, so blowing up such a remote spot like this would cause me to lose sleep. Just looking at these photographs is FOMO inducing. Can’t wait to get back out there.

Click here to see more of my fly fishing photography.

Summer fly fishing near Crested Butte, Colorado

Fly fishing in Crested Butte, Colorado

Photograph of two friends fly fishing a small creek in Colorado

Fly fisherman wading up a river in Crested Butte, Colorado

Photograph of a fly fisherman climbing over a pile of logs along a stream

A fly fisherman climbing over a pile of trees and branches on the side of a river outside Crested Butte, Colorado

Photograph of a fly fisherman casting in a beautiful section of stream near Crested Butte, Colorado

Fly fishing a picturesque stream in the San Juan Mountains

Photograph of beers cooling off in a pool off on the side of a stream in Colorado

Cans of Coors Banquet chilling in river water during a fly fishing trip in Colorado

Catching trout on a backcountry stream in Colorado

Backcountry fly fishing in Colorado

A fly fisherman netting a trout in a small stream surrounded by canyon walls in Colorado

Fly fisherman laughing after a fun day on the river in Crested Butte, Colorado

Fly fishing wading boots and wading socks drying on a tree

Fly Fishing in the Colorado Backcountry

Black Canyon of the Gunnison Fly Fishing

Colorado - Photography

If you’re looking for a special place to fly fish and have considered the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, just do it. Just go. Stop screwing around and do it. Be warned though, it’s not for everyone. You’ve got to like getting your ass kicked. We did the S.O.B Draw route, and don’t mind saying it’s a tough hike with a full pack. Technically you can’t even call it a hike because there is no path, just a scramble the whole way up and down, with several places that will require taking off your pack just to get down those sketchy sections. They say it’s 2.1 miles with 2,000 ft of elevation, but it seems like that’s just to where the “trail” hits the river. From there you’ll need to keep following the river to find the designated camping spots. If you’re a psycho, you could make it a day trip, but what the hell is the point of that? We did 2 nights and wished for a 3rd.

A guy backpacking down S.O.B. Draw into the Black Canyon of the Gunnison near Crawford, Colorado.

Fly fisherman backpacking into the Black Canyon of the Gunnison in Colorado

Camping in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison near Crawford, Colorado

Fisherman making camp at the bottom of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison

The bastard of a hike in is what makes the whole experience great because very few people actually want to work for it. So you could potentially have the entire canyon to yourself. In my opinion the first campsite is the best one, and makes for a great base camp to take day hikes from. There is plenty of fishing to be had right in that area, which we did on day one. Depending on the time of year, it can be hot as hell. We expected the nights to cool off, but they did not. It stayed hot enough in mid August to sleep in only underwear and no blankets. Sticky. The nights were sticky. Fortunately, the water was very cool.

Fly fishing the Gunnison River in the Black Canyon near Crawford, Colorado

Fly fishing in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison

A fly fisherman jumping from rock to rock on the Gunnison River in the Black Canyon near Crawford, Colorado

A fly fisherman navigates rocks while looking for trout in the Gunnison River

A fly fisherman pulls out his net for a rainbow trout on the Gunnison River in the Black Canyon near Crawford, Colorado

A fly fisherman prepares to net a trout in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison

Leaving camp the next day was great. We packed enough food for the whole day and a Grayl filtration water bottle which eliminated the need to carry large amount of liquids or a separate filtration system. Even with the hot temperatures, waders are a must as there is Poison Ivy EVERYWHERE. A miracle that none of us got it! (It’s worth bringing some Poison Ivy soap and washing off a few times a day)Getting to the river from the top doesn’t mean that the work is over. Everywhere you go requires hiking on primitive trails or scrambles, but it’s all worth it. No matter the location, you’re always surrounded by 2,000 ft rock walls. It reminded me a little bit of Glenwood Canyon without a highway running through the middle of it.

Fly fisherman hiking along the Gunnison River in the Black Canyon near Crawford, Colorado

Two fly fisherman hiking over large boulders on their way to the Gunnison River

A fly fisherman climbing over boulders along the Gunnison River in the Black Canyon near Crawford, Colorado

A fly fisherman climbing over large boulders on the side of the Gunnison River

The fishing was awesome. Lots of action. Tough at times, but a ton of fun. Without mentioning any names, one of us had a tough time with fish aggressively swimming down river and breaking the line. We really should have kept a tally on that. Probably just the time of year, but we never even thought about throwing out a dry fly. It was all about Perdigons on the bottom. All 3 of us put some stunning Browns and Rainbows in the net, which honestly, is almost just a bonus. The overall vibe in that canyon is spectacular. A really special part of Colorado, the country, and a unique place to fish without any crowds. Before leaving we were already excited to do another trip. Now that we’ve digested things bit, going at a different time of year seems better, when the water is a little higher and the temps a lot lower.

Fly fisherman hanging out at camp in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison

Two friends laughing together after a day of fly fishing on the Gunnison River

Fly fishing in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison

A fly fisherman prepares his gear for a day in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison

A fly fisherman walking over a tree bridge in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison

A fly fisherman navigating difficult terrain in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison

Fly fishing for trout on the Gunnison River in the Black Canyon near Crawford, Colorado

Fly fishing the Black Canyon of the Gunnison in Colorado

A brown trout caught on the Gunnison River in the Black Canyon near Crawford, Colorado

A trout caught by a fly fisherman in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison

If you’re planning a trip and have any questions, reach out to my buddy at Slackwater Co, he’s got tons of expertise to share on fly fishing in Colorado.

Click here to see more of my fly fishing photography. And contact me directly to purchase prints of my fly fishing photography.

Cheesman Canyon Fly Fishing

Fly Fishing Photography - Cheesman Canyon, Colorado - Prints

That old saying “you get what you put in”, or something there abouts, is one that always seems to resonate with fly fishing. Whether you want to call it a sport or hobby, there are a million different ways to do it. Well, 3, actually - bad, mediocre, and great. It always amazes me to see the guys who pull their truck up to a river, cast from the same spot for 3 hours without ever losing sight of said truck, then drive home. Different Strokes, I guess? Personally, I need a hell of a lot more than that. I want to get my ass kicked on a hike to some remote location, spend the whole day fishing/shooting, then get my ass kicked on a hike back to the truck where cold beer awaits in a cooler. Standing shoulder to shoulder with 15 other fly fisherman sounds like hell. Might as well go out on a half day Cattle Boat charter.

The South Platte River in Cheesman Canyon is a place I’ve been lucky to spend a good amount of time fly fishing and making photographs. Visually it’s a lot of fun and offers something for everyone. You can fish 30 steps from your truck if that’s your thing. Or, you can make a day of it, hiking into the backcountry as far as you please. Ensuring that you won’t see but one or two other people the entire time. That’s fly fishing.

Click here to see more of my fly fishing photography . Or contact me directly to purchase prints.

American Road Trip

It seems like every road trip has its own personality filled with unique findings and activities. Of course photography is always the main focus of these trips, but there are also auxiliary goals that I try to squeeze in as well. Ranching, fly fishing, friends, and hunting are just a few of the things that happened in the squiggly red lines on the map. So far it seems like the results are good in the photography category and a hell of a lot of good times were had along the way. Excited to share more the miles soon.

Traditional Barbershops

Small Town Barbershops

Photographs of American Culture

Hard to believe this project has been going on for 10 years now. You’d think after publishing a couple books on the subject, the desire to photograph barbershops would go away. Apparently not. What a journey it’s been and continues to be. Here are a few made over the past 6 months or so. The first shot of the Commercial Barbershop in Elko is actually a shop I photographed 8 or 9 years ago when it was in full swing. Unfortunately, it is no more. Sad, but that is exactly why I started this project.

Click here to pick up a copy of Barbershops of America.

Smithsonian Magazine

The Saguache Crescent

Small Town Newspaper - American Culture - Publishing

If you’re not interested in hearing more talk about personal projects than skip this one. It will be a familiar topic forever though, so get used to it if you’re going to stick around. Shot these images back in July of 2019 during a road trip out to Colorado. There was a final destination in mind but the route was unplanned. One of the small towns that popped up along the way was Saguache, CO. And by small, I mean population 424 small. Driving down “Main St” I noticed a very peculiar yet unmarked storefront. Inside the front window was an unidentifiable machine that looked like it came from a different age. (Findings like this are one of the many romantic draws to small towns). The screen door was open so I went in and was greeted not by a person, but a space filled with unexplainable life. A monstrosity of metal, tools, and papers from front to back, but I couldn’t figure out what year it was or what it all meant. There was nobody inside so I tried the jewelry store next door hoping for an answer. Sitting calmly behind the counter was the man I later found out ran the business I had so many questions about. That business turned out to be the town newspaper, the last of it’s kind still being printed on a linotype machine. A what? A linotype machine. The industry standard before the invention of computers. Now they are dinosaurs. Dean was very lackadaisical toward my request to photograph him at work, but nevertheless we made plans to meet again after my 4th of July camping trip. So about 5 days later I was back in a town I had never previously heard of, working on a story about Dean Coombs and The Saguache Crescent. My two days with Dean and the town of Saguache was quite memorable. It all seemed like living in a time capsule. Life there happens in a bubble because Saguache has nothing to draw any tourists, so the only people you’ll ever see are locals. Learning about Dean’s process what both educational and humbling. The patience required by one person to put out a weekly newspaper on a linotype is unfathomable. Hats off to Dean and all the people around the world dedicated to similar tasks.

One morning at the local cafe I sat quietly at the bar waiting for a breakfast burrito that turned out to be the size of a piece of firewood. Haven’t found anything even close to that size since. But just as memorable was a 90 year old man in conversation with a friend, who picked up a jar of sugar and did a 10 second pour into his cup of coffee. Kinda threw all the science about health and longevity out the window.

A while after the trip an edit of images was put together and sent around to a few places and got picked up by The National. We were happy with the placement as The National is a very reputable/long running publication. Then Covid hit and everything went to shit. The piece needed a new home. We received warm feedback from a contact at National Geographic. She liked the photos/story even though it wasn’t a good fit and suggested we pitch it to the Smithsonian Magazine. So we did and 1.5 years later here we are. It can be hard waiting so long for a piece to find a home. The wait is well worth it though when that home winds up being The Smithsonian.

If someone handed me a billion dollars tomorrow I’d still be working on these type of projects. Telling stories about people like Dean and the last newspaper in the world being made on a linotype machine. I’m grateful for the opportunity to tell his story my own way and to collaborate with Nick Yetto on the writing. And to have a personal project end up at a place like the Smithsonian.

Long live the personal project!

Click HERE to read the article on Smithsonian’s website

Fly Fishing Deckers Canyon

Fly Fishing Photography - Colorado - Deckers

There is no end to the pleasures that fly fishing can provide a person once they get past the initial suffering that comes along with the sport. That’s not to say it ever gets easy, you just learn how to screw up less. For me, one of the great pleasures is watching the way light, or the lack thereof, can transform a river. Might not look like it, but this was a cold December day on the South Platte River in Deckers Canyon. The solitude a canyon brings is great. It also brings endless shifts of light that can be equal parts beautiful, tricky, and frustrating from a photography perspective. One of my biggest difficulties with fly fishing is a positive one; deciding whether to fish or to photograph. After years of deliberation the obvious conclusion presented itself - fish when the light sucks.

Click HERE to see more of my fly fishing photography.

American Photography

American Photography - Road Trip - Travel

Americana - Wall Art - Photo Prints - Open Road

Taking time to think about a body of work is such and important part of the process as you continue to build it. And as time goes on attention needs to be given to the “holes” that are inevitably lurking in said work. Interiors are one of the many holes that I need to fill. For ten years now I’ve happily traveled around America photographing various aspects of it. And lately, collaboration in the form of outside eyeballs/opinions has been a major focus in order to figure out exactly what is or isn’t working. When we create in a bubble as so many photographers do, it’s easy to get lost on a track that might not be going the right direction. There are so many questions we need to ask ourselves all along the way, which probably won’t get brought up if we don’t receive input from other unbiased people. So, while I never plan on stopping my America series, I’m trying to be much more focused and open about what to shoot and what horses I’ve already beaten to death. Much more than that though, how many other photographers have already done what you’re doing? If the answer is “a lot”, then how can you change your contribution to offer the viewer something different?

Click here to see more from my AMERICA series.

Fly Fishing - Crested Butte, CO

Taylor River Fly Fishing

Fly Fishing Photography - Colorado

Sometimes you think the sun is going to help with the cold and on certain days is does. For all the rest of the days, it’s easiest to just accept the fact that you won’t feel your hands again until you get back to the truck. At which point you’ll need to put a koozie around your beer just so they don’t get any worse. Thankfully this wasn’t one of those. It’s only the middle of October but that doesn’t matter. If you spend time in the mountains then you know an early summer morning can feel oddly similar to winter. It’s got to be part of that whole love/hate thing.

It’s safe to assume that most western fly fisherman, in the beginning at least, are only concentrated on the rainbow trout. It’s put up on a pedestal. The trophy. The goal. Won’t deny having those same feelings, but that’s all changed over time, as everything does. Now, in my opinion, brown trout are king. Their colors and markings are really special.Now, In the name of transparency this isn’t my fish, but my friend caught it while I was shooting. Which means I was sort of catching it vicariously through him. That’s the only way I’ve found to calm the urge to set the camera down and replace it with a fly rod. It’s a vicious cycle that I’m trying to be at peace with. On the scale of problems, it’s a good one to have. Snowboarding is the only thing I do that absolutely won’t involve a camera unless it’s the one on my phone. Fly fishing on the other hand is a constant battle.

Good times on the Taylor River that day.

Click here to see more of my Fly Fishing photography

Colorado Fly Fishing Photographer

11 Mile Canyon Fly Fishing - Colorado

Nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains not far from Lake George, Colorado - 11 Mile Canyon is a breathtaking destination that attracts fly fishing aficionados with its crystal-clear waters, stunning scenery, and abundant fish species that offer an unforgettable experience for anglers.

Colorado is known for its breathtaking mountain ranges, lush forests, and serene lakes. The backcountry canyon section of the South Platte River offers a unique opportunity to escape the crowds of fisherman, immerse yourself in nature, and find solitude on the water. Fly fishing in these remote areas not only allows you to connect with the environment but also gives you access to wild, untouched fisheries teeming with life.

Click here to see more of my fly fishing images

ROAD TRIP

Hopefully I’m wrong but this is probably the last road trip of the winter. If that’s the case, I’m thankful it was so productive. Started with some personal shooting, then a commercial shoot in Nevada, more personal shooting, and then some incredible snowboarding with friends in the San Juan’s. Really grateful for all of it, but also hate saying goodbye to winter. It’s never long enough. Or maybe I’m just greedy?

Click here to see imagery from my America series.

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American Photography

American Photography

Colorado - Utah

Whenever possible I make it a point to take new routes even when the destination might be a place (like Denver) I’ve been a hundred times. That way it’s easier to be inspired by new sights. Occasionally though, when you don’t have a ton of extra time, you find yourself on a familiar highway just motoring from A to B. At this point I’d be confident in my ability to drive from San Diego to Denver with a blindfold on. Still though, it’s a world class stretch of road that should never be taken for granted. Keeping this in mind, I returned to places along the way that I’ve photographed before, while remaining open to things that might have been missed before. Happy with the outcome.

Click here to see more from the AMERICA series.

Road Trip

Have been all over the place lately and thus slacking on the blog. Most recently wrapped up a road trip out to Colorado and back. Had a great meeting in Santa Fe. Spent some QT with friends for Thanksgiving. And managed to spend a lot of time out on the river. The last day was really the icing on the cake though. We went out split boarding in the morning and then by the afternoon we were fly fishing. Colorado is the best. Will be posting images from this trip soon.

Click here to see some of my fly fishing images.

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ROAD TRIP

Just wrapped up another road trip, and like every one before, it was amazing for many different reasons. For me as a person and a photographer, there is nothing better than being out by myself on the road. The freedom and lack of influence by other people is the best. This one was a bit shorter than my usual coast to coast trip done this time of year. I drove out to Colorado and did quite a bit of shooting for various projects/reasons, as well as visiting friends to do some camping, mountain biking, and white water rafting. More from all of this soon.

Click here to see prints from my “America” series.

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Silverton Mountain

Silverton Mountain in Colorado is unlike any other place you can ski/ride in the U.S. Think of it as the exact opposite of Vail. First of all, just getting there is a commitment, as it's about a 6.5 hour drive from Denver. The last part of the drive titled "The Million Dollar Highway" is about as much fun as you can have on a mountain pass. Switchback after switchback, with very few if any guardrails, and long steep drops off the side. The town itself is the kind of place you can see having gun fights in the street back in the day. That kind of town. Drive about 15 minutes out the back of town, and there is a parking lot. Next to the parking lot is a trailer with skis/snowboards piled on it. Next to that is a 2 person chairlift and a yurt for a lodge. That's it. No bougie villages with people wearing fur boots while sipping on a Hot Toddy. Just friendly people that want to ride. And all those people are earning there turns, because that 2 seater lift only goes 3/4 of the way up. From there, your guide leads you on a hike up ardigeline to the place he chooses for you to drop in. And did I mention that they are only open Friday-Sunday? Which means the snow piles up all week, so you're always getting fresh turns. On top of that, the guides section off the mountain, to keep things fresh for the next two days. The terrain is steep and technical. And fun. If you're a serious skier, you should get to Silverton. I loved it so much and wasn't even in great skiing shape when we were there. It was only my second day riding for the year, and I was just finishing up a month long cross-country road trip. Hell of a cap, but definitely wish I was in better shape. Either way, it was a great time, and I can't wait to go back in March. Did a little bit of shooting while I was there too. Hard not to. On day two, the light was so good, I didn't have a choose. It was partly cloudy, so the sun was peaking in and out of clouds. Creating some surreal conditions. Silverton rocks.

Backpacking in the Flat Tops Wilderness - Yampa, Colorado

Flat Tops Wilderness - Yampa, Colorado

Backpacking - Fly Fishing - Photography

Only about 6 months late on this post, so yeah. Trying to chip away at the piles of images gathering dust on my hard drives from the past year. These are from an incredible camping trip in the Colorado backcountry. Specifically in the backcountry of Yampa. A very small and very remote town that is only frequented by locals, and those lucky enough to know about it. Our "campsite" was about a 5 mile hike from the car. So not crazy, but certainly enough to get far away from everything. Mojo was with me on this one, and he had a blast to say the least. We got in a lot of fishing and a lot of eating. One thing the Yampa backcountry is famous for is the "Devil's Causeway" (seen below).  It's part of a trail with a narrow strip of rock with very immediate and very long drops on both sides. If you fall, you're down. Walking up to it doesn't seem that bad, but once you're there, it gets in your head a little. I saw one kid completely freeze while trying to cross it.


Boulder, Colorado-Trail running

If you live in Boulder, Colorado, then chances are you spend some time outdoors. It's a town that's just as famous for being active, as it is for marijuana. Which seems kind of contradictory, but whatever. I've been a fan of Boulder (and the rest of Colorado) for a long time now. So on my last visit, I made it a point to shoot some trail running. Red Rocks Trail is a cool spot with a great backdrop for this type of thing. The shoot was a lot of fun despite having one Elinchrom strobe shit out on us about 3 minutes in. Luckily, I also had some brand new Broncolor gear that I was testing. Huge fan of it, by the way. Looking like the Elinchrom's will be taking a backseat. These first three images were lit with strobes. The last one is all natural light. All shot on the Nikon D810. 

 

TRAVEL PORTRAIT

One of my favorite things to do on the road is make portraits of people that I randomly come across. This is Larry. He's a farmer in Blanca, Colorado. Which is a place you've probably never heard of. Neither had I, until driving through it last week. There isn't much to be said for it, but quite the opposite for Larry. Really jolly guy, and proud owner of that mustache since September 8, 1971. "The day I got my shipping papers to go state-side". Saw him out of the corner of my eye while passing his farm, and knew a portrait had to be made. Really gladded I stopped. 

Nikon D810 with Nikon 17-35mm lens. Lit with a Broncolor Move Pack and MobiLED Flash Head.