About Doug

Born and raised in Northeastern Colorado, Doug Rudnik has had an endearing love for the Rocky Mountain landscape all of his life. He was inspired at a young age by the photography of his uncle, Ronnie Hogan. It was Ron that gave him his first camera, a mid-1950’s Braun Super II 35 mm from the Carl Braun Camera-Werks of Nurnburg, Germany. That camera today would be a real collector’s item! While technologies have changed over the years, the beauty of the natural world has not changed, and neither has Doug’s enthusiasm for capturing its awesome splendor.

I just love being out there. It was John Muir who once said, ‘Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.’ I have certainly found that to be true in my own life, as I’m sure many people have. There is a connection that nature makes with our soul that is unlike any other experience. It was my spiritual upbringing that taught me the majesty of Creation, but it was Creation that taught me how to be spiritual. The master teacher, artist, musician, mathematician, scientist, mother, healer, counsellor, muse – nature has a way of sinking deep into our deepest core to draw out the very best of our being. That’s the whole purpose behind this web experience, for me and for you. It’s my interpretation of life, God and the world through my lens, paired with great inspirational thoughts from deeply expressive humans, presented to you in hopes they will create in you the heart-smile you need to face the challenges before you.” ~ Doug

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Hallett Peak, Colorado

Doug on the Summit of Hallett

LaPlata Peak, Colorado

Doug at the summit of LaPlata Peak, a Colorado 14er on a very very cold day!

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Doug, hiking in RMNP

Andrews Glacier, Colorado

Doug descending Andrews Glacier in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Mount Sherman, Colorado

Doug at the summit of Mount Sherman, a Colorado 14er

Mount Hood, Oregon

Doug at the summit of Mount Hood, Oregon’s highest point, solo ice climb.

Guadalupe Peak, Texas

Doug at the summit of Guadalupe Peak, the highest point of Texas

Mount of the Holy Cross, Colorado

Doug, looking across the Bowl of Tears valley towards Mount of the Holy Cross, a Colorado 14er, submitting Holy Cross the next day

Long’s Peak, Colorado

Doug on one of his several summit climbs of Long’s Peak, a Colorado 14er

Twin Sisters Peak, Colorado

Doug at the summit of Twin Sisters Peak

Long’s Peak, Colorado

Doug at Chasm Lake below the Diamond north-face of Long’s Peak, a Colorado 14er

Wetterhorn Peak, Colorado

Doug climbing Wetterhorn Peak, a Colorado 14er

Mount Meeker, Colorado

Doug on top of Mount Meeker looking towards Long’s Peak, a Colorado 14er

Twin Sisters Peak

Doug on Twin Sisters looking towards Long’s Peak, a Colorado 14er, and Mount Meeker

Quandary Peak, Mountain Goat

Doug with a mountain goat near the summit of Quandary Peak, a Colorado 14er

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Wendell Berry

When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.”

~The Peace of Wild Things

Robert Service

“Let us probe the silent places, let us seek what luck betide us;

Let us journey to a lonely land I know.

There’s a whisper on the night-wind, there’s a star agleam to guide us, And the Wild is calling, calling… let us go.”

~ The Call of the Wild

Ralph Waldo Emerson

“To the attentive eye, each moment of the year has its own beauty, and in the same field, it beholds, every hour, a picture which was never seen before, and which shall never be seen again.”