Jason Fazio Photography

07/26/2026

Good morning from my corner of CO to you.

📍Mt Herman

07/25/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲

Not every photograph has to tell a grand story.

Sometimes it's simply a reminder to slow down.

This little leaf caught my eye because of its shape. It almost looked as if nature had quietly sketched a heart and left it hanging along the trail. The soft, fuzzy texture was something I hadn't noticed until I looked a little closer.

Most people would probably walk right by it.

Truth be told, I probably have dozens of times.

But every now and then, something ordinary asks you to stop for a second. And if you do, you realize there was a little more beauty there than you expected.

I think we could all use a few more moments like that.

07/24/2026

One of the unexpected gifts of starting the El Paso County Wildflower Project has been learning to slow down.

Not just while hiking.

Not just while photographing.

But really slowing down enough to notice what's around me.

It turns out there are tiny wildflowers growing all around us that I've walked past for years without ever seeing. Some are no bigger than a fingernail. Others disappear among the grasses until you stop, sit for a while, and let your eyes adjust to what's already there.

On a recent outing, I did exactly that.

Instead of rushing down the trail looking for the next photograph, I sat down to eat lunch and simply observed. Within minutes, I began noticing tiny blooms I'd completely overlooked while walking. Those quiet moments turned into several of my favorite photographs from the day.

It made me wonder how many beautiful things we miss simply because we're moving too fast.

That's one of the reasons I started the El Paso County Wildflower Project.

Yes, it's about documenting the wildflowers growing throughout El Paso County. But it's also about encouraging all of us, myself included, to look a little closer at the natural world around us.

There's another goal as well.

Every photo submitted helps document when a flower was blooming and where it was found. Over time, those observations can help us better understand how our local wildflowers respond to changing weather and seasonal conditions. One person could never document an entire county, but together we can build something truly meaningful.

If you live in El Paso County, I'd love your help. You don't need an expensive camera. A quick photo with your phone, along with the date and location, can become part of a growing community resource.

And if nothing else, I hope these tiny flowers encourage you to slow down the next time you're on a trail.

You never know what might be quietly waiting to be noticed.

07/23/2026

Today will likely be spent behind the keyboard; same as the last couple of days. I'm making great progress on my Journeys Of The Crew project. Website will be live this evening.
Tomorrow will be all about the camera! 📷
Enjoy the Monkshoods below. Careful, they are toxic.

07/21/2026

𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆𝘀 𝗢𝗳 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝘄

They say, Middle Grade (MG) fiction generally ranges from 20,000 to 55,000 words, with a "sweet spot" hovering right around 35,000 words.

Book 1 is complete! ✔️
Book 2 is 90% complete.
Book 3 is ~30% complete.

More on this in my email that I hope to have out by Wednesday evening. (See 1st comment 👇)

07/20/2026

Have you ever had a photo play tricks on your eyes?

These two Aspen Fleabane blooms are in the exact same positions in both images. The only thing I changed was which flower I focused on.

Here's the interesting part: the smaller bloom is actually farther back in the scene. But when it's the one in focus, it suddenly appears to jump forward, almost as if it's closer than the larger flower. In the other image, your brain flips the scene the other way.

Nothing moved. The flowers stayed exactly where they were. Only the focus changed.

It's a fun little reminder that our eyes don't just see sharpness... our brains use it to judge depth, too.

Which image fooled your eyes more?

07/19/2026

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝟲-𝗛𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗽... 𝗧𝘄𝗶𝗰𝗲?

Sometimes the best finds are the ones you don't even realize you've made.

A few days ago, I drove three hours to photograph Colorado wildflowers, then three hours back home. While reviewing my images, I zoomed in on one photo and realized I'd accidentally photographed a flower I'd been hoping to find: the tiny Mat Saxifrage.

The funny part? I never even noticed it while I was standing there. It was that small.

So... I turned around and made the six-hour round trip all over again a couple of days later.

Five minutes onto the trail, there it was.

Even better, it had rained earlier that morning, leaving tiny water droplets clinging to the blossoms. Sometimes the timing just works out.

So, was the return trip worth it?

I'd say yes.

07/19/2026

I spent a rare evening out with some friends at the Paint Mines. (Permit required) Just as the Milky Way was about to move into position, clouds materialized out of nowhere! Boo.

07/19/2026

Congratulations, Eric Weiland Photography, on your image being used in Forbes!

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiecartereurope/2026/07/19/7-stargazing-accessories-you-need-this-summer---and-when-to-use-them/

🤜🤛

From stargazing tents and meteor-watching camp chairs to solar eclipse glasses to smart telescopes, here’s the gear worth packing for trips to dark skies this summer.

07/18/2026

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲...

I took SO MANY pics today!