Blog

I thought some of you might enjoy taking a peek behind the curtain to see what it's like writing a book. It certainly isn't glamorous or exciting. Instead it is often quite scary. This seems to especially be the case when you know that the first volume was so well received...

Listen, can you hear it? The autumn grasses rustle as they gently sway in the breeze. Shh! Do you hear that gentle whooshing sound? Can you hear it increases in volume and then decreases only to increase again, incessantly like the waves of the sea? That’s the wind moving through the forest...

Day after day and year after year I post images of our incredible natural world. I celebrate it's beauty and its power to lead us into healing and wholeness. Yet if I limit myself to merely posting photos while watching silently as our environment is swallowed up for the sake of "the economy" then perhaps my love of nature is only an illusion...

With over 300 miles of hiking trails, it's no wonder that Rocky Mountain National Park saw a record-breaking 4,590,493 visitors in 2018. Colorado's famous protected lands are home to 124 named peaks at 8,789 feet or higher, part of The Continental Divide and an abundance species of mammals, birds, fish and plants...

I was asked by one of my staff members, who helps run one of our social networking sites, to write up a little description of one of my days. The challenge is that they vary so greatly that none are quite the same...

In the annals of nature photography, Erik Stensland may someday be as synonymous with Rocky Mountain National Park, as Ansel Adams is with Yosemite...

Six hundred and eighteen days ago I embarked on a new project at the request of the Rocky Mountain Conservancy. They wanted a new hiking guide for Rocky Mountain National Park that would address the new realities of the Park with its rapidly growing number of visitors...

My heart sunk as I approached the meadow. This spot which for years had been the most fertile section of wildflowers, usually filled with a mixture of elephant head, scarlet and sulpher Indian paintbrush, pinnate-leaved daisies and arrowleaf senecio, was now just a field of gravel with a few sprouts of green struggling to poke through...

Some would call him lucky to spend so much time surrounded by Colorado's iconic peaks and valleys, but Estes Park photographer Erik Stensland said his career of capturing Rocky Mountain National Park comes with bad weather, early mornings and long treks...

In early December we held a pre-sale of my upcoming book, "Hiking Rocky Mountain National Park: The Essential Guide". The sale lasted just under two weeks and during that time we sold 667 copies! That will give me a real boost in helping to pay for the printing...

I was thrilled to learn that Backpacker Magazine came out with their list of the best gifts for hikers and my book, Whispers in the Wilderness was listed as one of the recommended items. You can see their other list of gifts here: https://www...

Over the years I've focused my photography primarily on creating large prints for homes and businesses. Later I started creating numerous publications with my images such as books, calendars and cards...

In the mailbox today was an award from the Colorado Independent Publisher's Association. It appears that my book, Whispers in the Wilderness won second place for Motivational & Inspirational books as part of their CIPA EVVY Book Awards...

In 2013 as I was writing my first coffee table book, Wild Light, I realized I would need to form my own publishing company. At the time I had no idea what direction it would take. I've now published six books, am in the process of preparing three others for publication and have produced a number of calendars and greeting cards as well...

Hiker at Finch Lake, RMNP

On August 23rd of 2017 the Rocky Mountain Conservancy asked if I would create a new hiking guide for Rocky Mountain National Park...

I'm pleased to announce that we are now taking registrations for my 2019 photography tour of Slovenia and Croatia. We'll be heading back to some of the most beautiful locations on this planet, just in time for peak autumn colors...

In mid-May I was contacted by Active Interest Media and asked if I would consider being a part of three commercials for Tamron Lenses. Since Tamron makes some pretty good glass I agreed. They let me test out the three lenses for about a week so that I could get comfortable with them...

The Images of RMNP gallery is blessed with an incredible team of people, marked by integrity, authenticity, and a passion for the well-being of others. We hope that you will stop by the gallery and get to know each of these remarkable people...

Beginning on June 1st we are resuming our First Friday Celebrations. On the first Friday of each month through the end of this year we join with the other galleries and studios in town to celebrate the arts...

The National Indie Excellence Awards awarded Erik Stensland's new book, "Whispers in the Wilderness" two of its top awards for independent publishing. It was given the top honor in the inspirational category and in the gift book category...

Yesterday, Denver's Fox 31 News came up to Estes Park and did a little story about me and my new book, "Whispers in the Wilderness". If you didn't catch it on the 5pm news you can watch it below.

http://kdvr...

The Estes Park News, one of the local papers to Estes Park, Colorado recently released a short article about Erik Stensland titled, "Book By Estes Park Author Recognized As Best Inspirational Book Of The Year...

We just learned that my book Whispers in the Wilderness won a silver medal in the Nautilus Book Awards in their Photography and the Arts category. The Nautilus Book Awards are in their 20th year...

I recently supplied the Ritz-Carlton in Aspen, Colorado with 127 of my prints. These were images of aspen trees and moose. For this job we supplied primarily smaller prints. I doubt I'll be heading out there any time soon, so if you visit let me know if you saw them...

Tomorrow, we celebrate 11 years since I opened the gallery in Estes Park. It has gone from just a dream to now having a well-known business, fabulous employees and so many encouraging supporters like you...

I was recently interviewed by Matt Payne on his podcast F-Stop Collaborate and Listen. This is my favorite photography podcast as Matt interviews some of the very best landscape photographers across the world and really gets at what motivates them and what lies behind their imagery...

(Note, this is not a partisan political post, but just the opposite. Please read to the end.)

I know that there are many who follow my daily posts who would consider themselves to be pro-life...

Estes Park, Colorado— Whispers in the Wilderness, a new book by local photographer and author Erik Stensland has been recognized as the best inspirational book of the year by the Independent Book Publishers Association at their 30th annual award ceremony last week in Austin, Texas...

To create a house, a road or a barn requires a very pragmatic, studied and linear approach. It requires research, mathematics and detailed drawings that are precisely followed. To do otherwise would be foolish because our physical world must be approached from a physical perspective using its laws and tools...

My life is found in solitude. By this I mean that it is only in solitude, stillness and silence that I have the opportunity to reflect, to take stock of my life and examine its direction, to consider my motivations and the deep longings hidden from view...

I was very honored to be interviewed for the 2018 edition of the Rocky Mountain Journal a publication by Active Interest Media that is designed for people planning to visit Rocky Mountain National Park...

When I share a photograph I’m trying to say so much more than, “Look at this”. My wish with every photo is:

• That you will hear a message of hope for our messed up world.

• That you will perceive the voice of beauty calling you into wholeness and health...

The latest issue of Colorado Life Magazine (December 2017) devotes a big section to life behind the scenes in Estes Park, Colorado. Most people who visit Estes Park know if from perspective of the visitor but this article takes a good look at what it is like to live in Estes Park...

I had a delightful conversation with Doug Fox, an amazing interviewer who worked for many years as a major news anchor in Dallas, Texas. He delved into my past life and adventures in the Balkans and then into my transition to becoming a photographer...

Colorado Public Radio did a 15 minute interview with me about my life as a photographer and about my upcoming book, "Whispers in the Wilderness". You can hear the interview, see some of the photos I shared with them and read a summary of the interview at this link:  https://www...

In November of 2015 I was out in Utah on a photography trip when I received a phone call from Backpacker Magazine. They were wanting to feature me in a commercial they were shooting for Casio Watches...