Random Pictures From This Last Week

This last week, my Dad was visiting from Alaska. We did alot, but I didn't spend too much time going out just to play with the camera. We spent some time in Red Rock, Las Vegas and Sand Hollow near St. George. Here are some scenery pictures I ended up with. 

 This was at the "First Pullout" on the Red Rock Canyon loop just outside Vegas. I love the variety of color out there. And the clouds were very cool this day as well.

 A hoodoo out at the Sand Hollow sand dunes. Hard to believe that behind this picture, Cedar City was being dumped on with snow. 

 After the heavy rains and winds out at the sand dunes, there were some amazing textures! 

 The balanced rock out at "Moderate Mecca" at Red Rock Canyon. There are climbing routes up the face of this rock but it seems like the rock will detach from the cliff side some time soon.

 Driving though the Virgin River Gorge, take the Cedar Pocket exit and head west onto the dirt road and continue for a couple miles. There are some great rock structures and a beautiful Joshua Tree "forest". In this picture, I like how the 12 foot trees were towering high into the sky. But seriously, they are amazing.

I have always thought the desert looked bland with the gray rock color and neutral colored brush. But the Joshua Trees and blue sky really brighten this scene up. 

White Pass and the Buttes

Scarlet and I headed up to East Zion this morning with intentions of hiking over White Pass between Aries Butte and South Ariel Peak. Never quite made that far as we were intrigued by Jug Handle Arch. Those pictures are another day.  

 We got up there a little late so the lighting was not spectacular, though the views were beyond spectacular. This picture is looking south toward South Ariel Peak.

 Looking southwest past some "midget" hoodoos toward White Pass. 

A mineral stained seam pointing toward the northeast side of Aries Butte and beyond. All morning I played "dodge the airplane trail" so you might see some in the pictures, but the clouds were pretty awesome. If you get the urge to head up to this area, its on the approach to Jughandle Arch found here: http://www.zionnational-park.com/zion-jug-arch.htm

Zion Night Photography

I have been aiming to get out to Zion the last few nights to get some night pictures, but with other projects, I never made it out til last night. The weather was perfect and it made me really miss living on the East Side of Zion. The moon was so bright that I didn't need a flashlight most of the time and getting up there at 9:30 pm, I was finally tired at 1:30 and decided to head home. Anyways, I am happy with what I ended up with!

 I hiked the Canyon Overlook Trail for a good shot of East Temple. Found it about 100 yards shy of the end of the trail.

 These next four shots were all taken at the same location, near Checkerboard Mesa. The view was awesome, and I have been wanting to come photograph these hoodoos for a while. This was the first position I shot at.

 This is the same hoodoo (on the left) but I walked back a little to get the one on the right as well. On this picture, I also hit the hoodoos with a little light to brighten them up. Don't worry though, I also have a few shots without the artificial light. I just like this one :)

 Another shot of the hoodoos, from looking down low, about 18 inches of the ground. 

This picture was taken from the hoodoos, looking away. I liked the way the mountains looked leading into the valley below.

This was a great opportunity for me to get out and really see what my camera was capable of. Learned alot about focusing the lens as well (a few trial and error pics). Hope you enjoyed!

Grafton Ghost Town

It has been a while since I have been out to Grafton, so with nice weather and beautiful skies, I decided to stop by. They have done a great job restoring the old brick and woodwork. They even had the gates and doors unlocked to the un-restored buildings, so I was able to go in and check the structures out!

 An old barn, in which I shot the picture below. Its amazing that these structures are still standing and look this good after so many years in the desert sun.

 The well kept wagon was stored in the barn in the above picture.

 The construction of the old barns built out of cottonwood logs. I liked this picture because of the texture and contrast.

They have done a really good job restoring both of these buildings. They have come a long way since I first went to Grafton in 2003. Both buildings are locked but you can get a good view through the windows.

Zion After a March Storm

Checking the weather early this morning, it said the clouds from last night's storm were supposed to clear up today. Just so happened, they cleared up during sunrise! 

 This was one of my first shots and was taken about 5 minutes after the snow stopped falling. From left to right, the mountains are The Sentinel, Abraham, and Isaac. 

 Here is a shot with Angels Landing in the backgrounds. 

This is at the bridge that crosses the Virgin River on the trail to Emerald Pools.

And last, a reflection of cottonwoods and The Sentinel on the rippled Virgin River.

Early Spring in Zion National Park

We spent some time up in Zion National Park last Friday. We did a little driving around and hiked the Emerald Pools Trail. Couldn't pass up the beautiful weather. 

 East Temple casts its shadow on The Sentinel during early morning.

 4 years ago, there were a projected 500 bighorn sheep in the Zion area. Efforts to count the current population in the last two years have brought a number greater than 5000!

 A maple leaf resting on the amazingly red sandstone of Zion.

 Green moss is brightly lit as the sun breaks through the leafless trees above.

 Seeps and colors on the Emerald Pools Trail in Zion National Park.

A reflection of White Pass during early morning in a perfectly still pool of water.

Playing in the Tunnel...

The goal today was to pick a location that amateur an photographer might photograph, because of the possibilities of contrast, composition, color, etc. I didn't want a location that would be really simple to photograph, but instead something that would force me to get creative. Here is what I came up with...

 Alright, So I found a tunnel that carries a stream under the freeway. In my opinion, composition in tunnels is always very easy (but still interesting), and the lines do a good job at leading the eye. Contrast is there, but the transition is blurred and not attractive. Very little color too.

 Here is a picture, with me putting forward a little more effort. The picture is now somewhat symmetrical, but the contrasting lines are a little more defined. There is more color and your eye leads from the rock to the end of the tunnel. This picture was still a little dark, and in my opinion, an "average joe" picture.

  Here is the last picture I took at the location. I changed position, but still wanted the rock catching the viewers eye, leading it out the tunnel. I wanted a more calm feeling, so I slowed the shutter,which smoothed out the water. Also, I put on a polarizing filter to enhance the green and remove alot of the annoying reflection. Now of course, you cannot see the entire opening of the tunnel, but with the overhead shadow on the water, you get the idea of a tunnel. This was a fun, short (10 minute) project that brought me a better photograph than what I started with.