Utah
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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.
With plans to tour and photograph Monument Valley, we checked into the KOA campground (not far from the park’s entrance). A very polite and young clerk from behind the counter quickly informed us that the park was closed but she excitedly suggested we visit The Valley of the Gods instead. She had us intrigued, so off we went; not knowing that we were about to be astonished. We traveled north from Monument Valley (through the small community of Medicine Hat) before turning west down a side road and to the entrance of the 17 mile scenic route. The road was gravel, windy, very dusty and very bumpy and (honestly) it seemed like we had traveled for miles before we saw one towering pinnacle; and we thought, “Is this it?”. A few miles further though, I was captivated and enthralled by the tall, red, majestic, mesas, buttes, and cliffs that towered above the valley floor! “Oh wow!” My chin dropped, and then I quickly grabbed my camera because the sun was setting fast and I knew the mountain shadows would grow The “Valley of the Gods”, was truly “God-like”. My soul was truly captivated and I was moved to tears; I felt at peace with Mother Nature in the grandeur of the valley. It was hard to leave, knowing my many travels were coming to an end; it was time to go home. * Valley Of The Gods is located in the south-western Utah.
We arrived at Monument Valley with plans to tour and photograph the valley; we were so excited! We didn’t however do our homework prior to our arrival, and were disappointed to find out the park was closed because of Covid. So, we made the most of our time here and decided to explore the area around Monument Valley instead. We chose to explore a side road that was paved to begin with, then it turned to gravel and then it turned into a forestry service road. We were alone and it felt freeing to be alone; the only car in the middle of nowhere and away from civilization. Suddenly I saw something move across the rocky desert scape, “Wild donkeys!” I said with excitement (I had never seen them before). They were a far distance away so with my camera and long lens in hand I slowly walked towards them; not knowing anything about wild donkeys, I wondered if they’d be curious about me. Then with some trepidation I wondered what would I do if they did! Quit quickly however, they ran off and I didn’t even get a single shot. We continued on and as we turned a corner, these four wild donkeys stood right in front of us! Now, knowing how skittish they are, I quietly (and quickly) got out of the truck to take aim. Initially, they were huddled together but as I approached them (ever so carefully) they backed off and stood as you see them here; just as curious about me as I was about them. I knew how very, very blessed I was for this once in a lifetime opportunity, so with that in mind, I made sure all my settings were I wanted them and held my camera steady. What I love about this photo is how perfectly lined up they are!
*A Full Format (larger image) available upon request. My favorite place to park my RV for the night is off-grid, with Mother Nature. It's here that I've had the most amazing, non-intrusive views, the best meals and glasses of wine (yes, the very best of times!). Losee Canyon was one such place. As I approached Bryce Canyon from the west, I was pondering where we might spend the night when I suddenly noticed a gravel road. I quickly slowed down and without any further thought or discussion, I turned. The road was in poor condition (and dusty) so I decided I wouldn't venture too far from the main highway. Then, to our complete surprise, we happened upon a staging area and trailhead! It was the very most, perfect off-grid parking spot to stay in for the night! Who would have thought, so close to Bryce Canyon! Although it was a dreary and cold when we arrived, we still hiked part of the trail. Oh gosh, we were so very amazed by the trail, we vowed to hike it again in the morning. The next morning we got up early, with plans to hike and explore even further than the night before. We were so pleased that the weather had cleared and although it was cold, the colors were amazingly vivid. When this bluff came into view I pointed, "Look at the strange formation, and look at the colors!". I have not done any color corrections to this photo, it is exactly as I saw it. LOL, we didn't hike very far; we were too busy taking photographs! * I love the foreground tree!
There's nothing better than stumbling across an incredible and unexpected landscape, and "Burr Trail" (Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah) was indeed one of those amazing experiences! While travelling late we decided it was time find a place to boondock (dry-camp) so from "Scenic Byway 12", we turned on to Burr Trail road. It wasn't long before we found the most impressive and quaint spot in a ravine, it was captivating! That said however, the banner views were yet to come! As we drove down Burr Trail, the steep, red canyon walls closed in on us. Occasionally the sun crested the ridges far above us however the canyon was (for the most part) illuminated only by the bounced lighting from red canyon walls. That stated, you can well imagine how magnificent the warm/red lighting was; we were encapsulated in a photographer's dream! In this particular photo, I absolutely love the dark shadowed slope. It, combined with the other lines in this photograph, give you a strong sense of focal point and direction. Doesn't this shot make you want to know what's around the next corner!
I 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”! I was not only lucky to arrive on a sunny day but after a fresh snow fall too! 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, I even peeled off our jacket! On the climb back up I happened upon this view and knew it would make an amazing abstract. With the "rule of thirds" in mind, I captured this shot as you see it. There were trees above the snow line however I chose not to include them in the shot. Notice the the colours! The snow in the distance is purple-blue in color (drawing from the blue sky). The brilliance of the orange and yellow sandstone was the result of reflective lighting from where I stood (I was standing on a vertical ledge and the sunlight bounced back off the wall of the ledge below me). Did you notice that the sun highlights the lip of the yellow sandstone? It's exactly what I looked for when I shot outdoor portraiture. I thoroughly enjoy abstract photography; I hope this photo leaves you wondering, “What is it and where is it?”.
On a cold February day we visited Bryce Canyon National Park, in southern Utah. This was my first visit so you can imagine my “Awe” and my excitement too! This view is facing east; towards Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. We were lucky the sky was so clear on this day, and from up here we could see for miles! We live in such an amazing world, with such beauty but what I saw before me was truly, truly breath taking. I'll never forget my awe for what Mother Earth had created. I recognized how very lucky we where to be there on a sunny day and (photographically) how lucky that bits of snow still remained. Although it was very cold (-5C) and windy along the canyon's edge, as we hiked down to the bottom of the canyon where it was incredibly warm and soon we were peeling off our jackets! Although this isn't my favorite Brice Canyon photo it certainly shows its vastness.
The Butler Wash ruins (a cliff-dwelling) are located 14 miles southwest of Blanding, Utah, on Highway 95 and is within the boundaries of Bears Ears National Monument. It was an easy 1/2 mile walk on a slide rock base to a canyon, perched viewing platform. The ruins themselves were located across the the way (across a deep canyon), and it was from here that I took this photo. Although this photo isn't my favorite it's the memory (story to follow) that goes with it that makes me chuckle. The Anasazi people inhabited this area around 1200 AD and although the site had been stabilized and reconstructed to some degree, the authenticity remained true to the original site. As I shot this photo my mind wandered to the life of the Anasazi whom farmed on the canyon's floor; imagining their simple lives, children playing, the winter's cold and the summer's heat. Although the ruins were the highlight of our stop, it was the memory of being locked out of my brand-new motor-home that comes to mind first! I had the keys and the fob (to both the coach and the driver's door) in my hand but neither worked! Why?! Noting that it was late in the day and the cold of night would be upon us soon, I began to worry. Unfortunately, we didn't have cel service so calling a tow truck was not an option. Fortunately however a kind gentleman saw our dilemma and drove us to Blanding so we could buy a new battery for the key fob (presuming that was the problem), and with no money in our pockets, he lent us some. By the time we got back to my motor-home, it was getting dark and very cold (I was wearing a t-shirt). We were anxious to get in but... surprise! You can imagine our surprise when, even the new battery in the fob didn't fix the problem! "No way!", we exclaimed! So, left with no other alternatives, we borrowed an axe from our new-found friend and smashed the small passenger side window. Oh dear, as you can imagine, it exploded and tiny bits of glass flew everywhere! It was in the vents, under the seats and even to the very back of the RV; we cleaned for the next 2 hours! But at least we were warm :-) Sometimes when things go wrong it becomes the biggest story and the most memorable! 🙂 *We later discovered that the locking mechanism within the door was not attached during manufacturing, thus we got locked out.
We arrived at Monument Valley with plans to tour and photograph the valley, We were so excited! It wasn’t however until we checked into the KOA campground (near the entrance) that we discovered the Valley was closed to visitors (because of covid). We were very disappointed but we decided to stay and explore the outlining area instead. Being an early riser, I’ve seen many beautiful sunrises but none were quite as amazing as this. Knowing how quickly the golden colors would change, I hurried outside and walked to a clearing where (only) these monumental mountains were in view. 5 minutes later, the colors were gone and the clouds dissipated. Okay, so I didn’t get to explore Monument Valley but I consider myself very fortunate to have been here (at the right time) to photography this beautiful sunrise.
We entered Bryce Canyon's valley bottom trail early, when the sun was still relatively low and when we knew the shadows would be still strong. Together, this made the already vivid colors of the snow and pillars even more vibrant; we were amazed and exclaimed, “Oh wow!” It was chilly here (at 9000 feet above sea-level in February) but I was so fascinated and focused on getting these amazing shots that I forgot just how cold my hands were! *See the other Bryce Canyon photos These pillars are called “hoodoos” and they can reach over 200 feet (60 m) height. They extend for more than 20 miles (30 km), from the north to the south end of Bryce Canyon National Park. I named this photograph “The Grace of Bryce” because these pillars (hoodoos) stand so stately but yet they appear so so graceful.
We visited beautiful Bryce Canyon National Park (in Utah), in 2015. Having never been there before I was in absolute "Awe"! We were lucky to arrive on a sunny day (after a snow fall) and everywhere I looked the colors seemed saturated. I happened upon this view and knew it would make an amazing abstract. These colorful pinnacles are called “hoodoos”; they’re eroded limestone, some of which reach 200 feet (60 m) high. They extend for more than 20 miles (30 km), from north to south within Bryce Canyon National Park. We purposely arrived early for this photoshoot; when the sun was still relatively low and the shadows were strong and long. Together, it made the vivid colors of the hoodoos strikingly vibrant and the contrast separated some of the columns. “Oh wow”, we remarked (thrilled and with complete amazement). It was chilly here, on this February day (at 9000 feet above sea-level in February) but I was so fixated on getting (these) amazing shots that I forget how cold my hands were! *See the other Bryce Canyon photos. I named this photograph, “The Hoodoo Expressway” because the pillars remind me of people, whom appear to be making their way through the canyon's exit, in the far-off distance.
This photograph was taken at the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, though it really could be anywhere. On this particular day we purposely walked barefooted through the sand; it was a February morning so it was cold! Why would I do such a thing you might ask, because I try to do something different every day and by doing that I create a memory specific to that day. That said however it helps to photo document everything. There are many ways in which I could have cropped this photograph however it's important to remember the direction of flow; and in this case its flow approached me vertically. So, because the footprints approached ME (a mother) I just had to call this photo "Homeward Bound” ....where you’re always welcome.
On a cold February day, we visited Bryce Canyon, in southern Utah. This was my first visit so you can imagine my “Awe”! We live in such an amazing world, with such beauty, but what I saw before me was truly breath taking. We were very lucky that it was a sunny day and also very lucky that bits of snow remained in the shaded areas (which added yet another color to the scene) . The vibrant colors of Bryce where very saturated when we were there; the result of the bounced lighting between these pillars. Albeit very cold (-5C) and windy along the canyon's edge, as we hiked down to the bottom it grew warmer and warmer, eventually we had to peel off our jackets. When we climbed back up to the canyon’s ridge, I happened upon this view; I knew it would make an awesome abstract!
It was with great excitement and enthusiasm, to arrive at Monument Valley National Monument; in anticipation of our long-awaited photo shoot (it was on our bucket list). That said however we were told our 25-foot RV would not be permitted inside the park. We were so disappointed! We were offered a jeep tour but we really wanted the freedom to roam and not be rushed; as most photographers do. Disappointed, we continued on our way, but imagine however how elated we were when we came across a country gravel road that was just outside the park! Without hesitation we turned in and we didn’t have to go very far before we found ourselves over the moon in excitement, “Oh wow”, we declared, “what a gift!”. We parked in (what felt like), our own, private cubbyhole and viewing area. It was here that there we enjoyed the entire day and we got some very unique shots, including this one (yay!). I intentionally included this gnarled cedar tree in this photograph. I felt it was needed to help create a sense of depth and to break up the vastness of the blue sky too. That said, without the tree in the foreground, this photograph would have lacked interest too. Now, with more substance to the photograph, it demands the viewers' attention and then makes them look deeper. We were ever so thankful for this spectacular day! “Pinch me!” Monument Valley is located in northern Arizona and on the south east border of Utah. It’s known for its towering sandstone formations that soar 400 to 1000 feet above the valley floor.
We arrived at Monument Valley with plans to tour and photograph the valley; we were so excited! We didn’t however do our homework prior to our arrival, and were disappointed to find out the park was closed because of Covid. So, we made the most of our time here and decided to explore the area around Monument Valley instead. We chose to explore a side road that was paved to begin with, then it turned to gravel and then it turned into a forestry service road. We were alone and it felt freeing to be alone; the only car in the middle of nowhere and away from civilization. Suddenly I saw something move across the rocky desert scape, “Wild donkeys!” I said with excitement (I had never seen them before). They were a far distance away so with my camera and long lens in hand I slowly walked towards them; not knowing anything about wild donkeys, I wondered if they’d be curious about me. Then with some trepidation I wondered what would I do if they did! Quit quickly however, they ran off and I didn’t even get a single shot. We continued on and as we turned a corner, these four wild donkeys stood right in front of us! Now, knowing how skittish they are, I quietly (and quickly) got out of the truck to take aim. Initially, they were huddled together but as I approached them (ever so carefully) they backed off and stood as you see them here; just as curious about me as I was about them. I knew how very, very blessed I was for this once in a lifetime opportunity, so with that in mind, I made sure all my settings were I wanted them and held my camera steady. What I love about this photo is how perfectly lined up they are!
We arrived at Monument Valley with plans to tour and photograph the valley; we were so excited! We didn’t however do our homework prior to our arrival, and were disappointed to find out the park was closed because of Covid. So, we made the most of our time here and decided to explore the area around Monument Valley instead. We chose to explore a side road that was paved to begin with, then it turned to gravel and then it turned into a forestry service road. We were alone and it felt freeing to be alone; the only car in the middle of nowhere and away from civilization. Suddenly I saw something move across the rocky desert scape, “Wild donkeys!” I said with excitement (I had never seen them before). They were a far distance away so with my camera and long lens in hand I slowly walked towards them; not knowing anything about wild donkeys, I wondered if they’d be curious about me. Then with some trepidation I wondered what would I do if they did! Quit quickly however, they ran off and I didn’t even get a single shot. We continued on and as we turned a corner, these four wild donkeys stood right in front of us! Now, knowing how skittish they are, I quietly (and quickly) got out of the truck to take aim. Initially, they were huddled together but as I approached them (ever so carefully) they backed off and stood as you see them here; just as curious about me as I was about them. I knew how very, very blessed I was for this once in a lifetime opportunity, so with that in mind, I made sure all my settings were I wanted them and held my camera steady. What I love about this photo is how perfectly lined up they are!
