Stevens Family Calendar -- March

And now, for something completely different ... 

After the chilly pages we offered you in January and February, we decided to warm things up for March (which, ironically, is our snowiest month in Colorado).

These pages feature the beautiful sunset colors of the American Southwest and the brilliant hues of hot air balloons.

Color and grace; Unused photo: Scott Stevens

They mesh together because the featured Bluff International Balloon Festival takes place every January in Bluff, Utah, just up the road from Monument Valley. 

Monument Valley sits just south of the Arizona/Utah border; Unused photo: Scott Stevens

Fortunately, I don't have to give you a complete rundown of that festival, which has ascensions above the town and in the neighboring Valley of the Gods in Bears Ears National Monument. That's because I already blogged about the event here. 

Town and country; Left photo: Scott Stevens; we didn't use either

I also wrote about some of the natural beauty featured in the calendar here. 

I almost used this sunset shot, but opted for the wider view, instead

The other festival I pulled balloon photos from is the Labor Day Liff Off, held right at home in Colorado Springs. And, wouldn't you know? I have blogged about it, too! 

Sunset colors here! Ultimately, I didn't use a lot of actual balloon close-ups

So, all you have to do this month is read a little commentary and appreciate the colors and incredible landforms.

Unused scenes of the southwest: Ristra balloon at the Lift Off; Navajo Twins in Bluff

I know we feature balloons every year, but, hey, hot air balloons are among the most beautiful ways to meld culture and environment.

Magical landscape; magical view

And, of course, this isn't the first year that Monument Valley has had a seat at the table. 

I mean, just look at it this photo we passed by 

As you will recall, I also had photos from this batch in the calendar's opening section. 

Left, petroglyphs at Sand Island, Utah; Right, Labor Day Lift Off; Left photo: Scott Stevens

The main page features five photos. Two are from the Bluff Balloon International Balloon Festival, showcasing the aptly named Valley of the Gods. 

You couldn't ask for a better setting; Photo: Caty Stevens

And, despite being January, we had great weather; Photo: Scott Stevens

One is a great shot Caty got of balloons flying over Prospect Lake in the Springs. 

I won't reveal her secret; Photo: Caty Stevens

The top left is impressive formation for which the town of Mexican Hat, Utah, is named. 

What else would you call it? Photo: Caty Stevens

And, the bottom left is Monument Valley's iconic Mittens formations next to Mitchell Butte on the right. 

Amazing! Photo: Scott Stevens

Calendar Page

The calendar page continues with the southwestern/balloon theme. Two are additional Bluff shots that highlight the beautiful blue sky and the warm tones of the sandstone formations ... 

I augmented the left and middle used photos with some we didn't use on the right;
Left, and middle and lower right: Scott Stevens; Middle right: Caty Stevens

The wide photo is from Goosenecks State Park, which is right next to Valley of the Gods. As advertised, its main feature is dramatic gooseneck bends in the San Juan River. 

You can read about it in that post I referenced above; Photo: Scott Stevens

We had never stopped there before and now I'd like to go back when it's a bit warmer (but not in the heat of summer!) to try for photos with different light angles. 

Speaking of light, two additional squares on the calendar page feature, respectively, the dramatic light of sunset and sunrise.

This sunset shot was taken near Goosenecks and Mexican Hat

I took this sunrise shot in the Valley of the Gods on our way to watch balloons

And, finally, the calendar page features a favorite perspective on hot air balloons -- taken from directly below. 

This is from our mesa-side vantage point in Valley of the Gods

That's our March pages. Now, let's wander through some shots we considered but did not use. 

Balloons 

We didn't go to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta last year, but still had lots of pretty balloon photos for which there was little room. 

Here are a few; Bottom 1, 2 and 3: Scott Stevens

So, let's talk about where we take the photos, starting with the Labor Day Lift Off.

It is always filled with color ...

... in both traditional and character balloons

We don't get as many shapes as Albuquerque, but we always have fun ones

The Labor Day Lift Off has something hard to find in Bluff -- a lake where, on an exceptionally calm day, you can get nice reflections as balloons dip and skim Prospect Lake's surface.

We lucked out and had a very, very calm morning; Photos: Caty Stevens

So lovely! Photos: Caty Stevens

I also had a few evening glow photos from Colorado Springs, but opted not to use them because we featured some in the 2025 calendar.

The ones we considered were from before dark

Walking among the balloons is inspiring; too bad we just couldn't fit it all in the calendar

Labor Day Lift Off is a medium-sized festival. 

It hosts about 75 balloons

The Bluff festival is smaller, but makes up for small quantity with spectacular backdrops.

This place begs to be photographed

That's why, even though we had some nice sky photos ...

Look up! Photos: Scott Stevens

We tended to favor the ones that highlighted the spectacular hoodoos, mesas, buttes and spires ...

We had lots of perspectives on the same landscape and balloons 

For example, we each had favorite photos of a prominent spire that probably has a name, but for the life of me, I can't find it!

These are Scott's

This is Caty's

These are mine

But, when you widen your gaze, there was so much more to see -- and to capture for potential publication.

I liked this one a lot because it showed multiple formations and balloons

Sometimes the balloons were above the bluffs;
Left Photo: Scott Stevens; Right Photos: Caty Stevens

Sometimes they were in front of the rock walls: Photos: Scott Stevens

Sometimes deep in them; Top photo: Scott Stevens

Sometimes behind them; Photo: Scott Stevens

We had so many from Bluff -- many similar to each other.

Selection was all about angle, crop and what else was on the page. These didn't make the cut, but could have if the layout had been different.

So many options, so few pages! Photos: Scott Stevens

Southwest Landscapes

This section also includes scenery shots without balloons. Many of our pretty shots of Valley of the Gods that didn't get used were taken as the sun rose while we were waiting for the caravan of balloonists to arrive from their morning weather briefing in Bluff.

Worth the pre-dawn frost!

There is a just brief window for capturing the fire created by the rising sun ...

A fiery landscape

Ever so slightly subdued just minutes later

As you drive southwest from Bluff, you encounter Mexican Hat. We used one photo on the main page instead of this wider shot ...

Still unmistakeable; Photo: Scott Stevens

Nearby Sand Island provided a few additional petroglyph photos for consideration.

It is an impressive display; Right: Scott Stevens

A closer look

And, Goosenecks State Park, was mind-blowing, but super tricky to photograph because of deep shadows and a scary drop-off.

A pano or wide-angle is definitely in order; Bottom photo: Scott Stevens

Pretty views, but not the one we picked; Right: Scott Stevens

We also considered and rejected a number of photos of perhaps the most western of all landscapes: Monument Valley. 

We were there during the day and at sunset, getting different perspectives

It is almost impossible to take a bad photo of that place.

Personally, my favorites are sunset, which I regret not using; Bottom: Caty Stevens

There are so many iconic views! Left, upper and middle right: Scott Stevens

This is another favorite

You can read about Monument Valley Tribal park (and more about Bluff, as well) here.

Panorama from a slightly different angle: Photo: Caty Stevens

I try to not be redundant with the calendar, although I fear that I am repeating lots of places and designs. 

When a place is a photogenic as Monument Valley, you slip up every now and then

When putting March together, I had another group of dramatic landscape photos I considered: the white limestone formations at Monument Rocks, Kansas. I shared most of them in my blog about the calendar's opening pages and blogged about the interesting location, as well.

Here's one more I thought about using, but didn't

That's all I have for March. Next month, it will be spring! And, a colorful one at that!

Fireweed in Alaska; Photo: Scott Stevens