© 2020 Romi Boon All Rights Reserved
928-821-1880
We visited beautiful Bryce Canyon (in the southern state of Utah) on a brisk and stellar February day. It was truly an amazing day to say the least, and having never been there before I was in utter “Awe”! We were lucky to not only arrive on a sunny day but after a fresh snow fall as well. Everywhere I looked the colours seemed saturated, especially in contrast with the shadow cast snow and the high altitude, deep blue sky (the rim is 8000 - 9000 ft. above sea level) . Albeit very cold (-5C, 23F) and very windy, we hiked to the valley floor below, were it was surprisingly warmer, we even peeled off our jackets! As we climbed back up to the rim, I happened to notice this view across the way, and I knew it would make an absolutely amazing panoramic abstract. With the "rule of thirds" in mind, I captured this shot and a few others of similar. What’s not shown in this photo are the trees above the snow line, but I chose to crop them out so your eye wouldn’t be drawn to them; instead, I want you to notice the the vibrant colors! The snow in the distance is a purple-blue color because it has absorbed the deep blue color of the sky, and the brilliance in the oranges and yellow sandstone is a result of the sunlight reflecting off the canyon wall falling away, below my feet. Notice too that the sun kisses the lip of the sandstone pillars, which helps to define the ridges by separating the two orange tones. This panoramic shot is one of my (all time) favorites, and it hangs on our family’s wall.
I traveled to Grande Cache Alberta to explore Willmore Wilderness Park. This Rocky Mountain park is 4600 square kilometers (2900 sq.miles) of untamed wilderness, and is adjacent to Jasper National Park and Grande Cache. Glaciers, high mountain peaks, thick forests and raging rivers define the area. The hillsides around Grande Cache are not particularly tall but they were notably blanketed in their vibrant fall colors. I stopped at the local tourism office and was informed that there are no roads in the park and that all motorized vehicles (of any kind) are not permitted. There are however, over 750 kilometers of trails for backpackers and horseback riders. I then asked if there were any helicopter tours in the area (I would have loved to get up into the alpine!) but even helicopters aren’t permitted. Needless to say I didn’t get up close and personal with the Rocky Mountains but not all was lost; I was drawn to the abundance of fall colors…. everywhere! With an early start, I headed to Victor Lake; which was just outside of town. It was cloudy and relatively dark but there were a few pockets of sunshine, so I crossed my fingers and hoped I’d be lucky. That said, imagine how elated I was when the sun did appear and shone only on the trees… really, how lucky! I was beaming while I packed up my camera; which reminded me of a reflective quote, “Be a reflection of what you want to receive”. *If you look closely along the shoreline, you’ll see a dock and a couple outbuildings too.
