Another new image from my trip to the Narrows this past fall. This was a shot I’d been eyeing for a few years, but never seemed to have everything line up correctly. Either the light wasn’t right, wrong time of day, wrong time of year, etc. Finally got it all to line up last year. Hiking the Narrows is quite an amazing experience.
Another new image from the Zion this past fall.
The Narrows, are named the Narrows for a reason! Huge boulders and sheer cliff faces force the Virgin River through some very tight paths.
Deep in the Narrows, in Zion National Park, Utah, this tree was growing straight out of the cliff. Approximately 100 feet above the river below and several hundred feet below the top of the cliff. I found it amazing the tree could survive in such a seemingly illogical location. Light had just illuminated its leaves but had yet to reach high enough into the sky to light the lower portions of the narrow canyon. I felt it left an incredible scene of stark contrast as the tree blazed a brilliant yellow against a dark canyon wall.
Another new image from a trip to Zion National Park in Utah this past fall. I’ve had on my list to hit the main canyon of Zion during peak color for the past few years. This year I finally hit it in full stride. The park is an amazing photographer’s playground, especially during fall color. Zion is definitely one of my favorite parks to hike and explore in. On this trip I focused primarily on the main canyon and the Narrows. Had some great weather and even better color. More images are on the way…
I finally got clouds at one of my favorite locations! Blue Lakes Pass located in the San Juan Mountains in Southwest Colorado is one of my favorite locations in Colorado. I’ve been going here for a couple of days every year for almost 3 years now and I always seem to get a nice sunrise, but nothing I consider print worthy. Finally this past fall was a nice change and I had awesome clouds to go with a amazing sunrise.
After tent camping the night before with a couple of good friends, I hiked up to the ridge in the dark and cold. It was a little sketchy in the dark and my friends actually ended up turning back about half way. The clouds were moving very quickly and I’d get glimpses of a brilliant crescent moon in between the gaps. I was hopeful the clouds wouldn’t all clear out before sunrise as they have on me so many times in the past. This time everything worked out and there was enough of a gap on the horizon for the sun to shoot through and light up the clouds giving me an amazing sunrise show.
Shot of our tents from the night before:
Finally a new image! I know, I know…it’s been a while! I should have several more coming over the next few months. This past fall I was able to get out for some great backpacking trips to Zion, Canyonlands, Arches, and Death Valley.
This is a shot from the iconic Mesa Arch, in Canyonlands National Park near Moab, Utah. When the sun pops over the La Salle mountains the light reflects off the sheer cliff walls and bounces up to illuminate the arch. Truly a breathtaking location for sunrise!
My images are now available at Walnut Street Gallery in Ankeny. Be sure to stop in and check them out. I just delivered a large batch to them this morning, so there should be a lot to choose from!
Finally have my images up from a week long backpacking trip in the Pacific Northwest. We spent half the week on the Olympic Coast in Northwest Washington and the other half visiting waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. Visited some really great locations and had amazing weather!
Taffy Skies : Prints Available
Thor's Well : Prints Available
Leave It All Behind : Prints Available
Kings and Pawns : Prints Available
The Punchbowl : Prints Available
Somewhere In Between : Prints Available
All You're Missing : Prints Available
A Path Less Taken : Prints Available
This spring I had the opportunity to visit Las Vegas for a conference. Figured while I was there I’d hit the area a few days early and do one of my typical photo blitz tours of a couple areas I’d never been to before. So a friend and I met up with one of my other long time friends and fellow photographer, Monte Trumbull, and we logged some windshield time!
Unfortunately the weather and conditions just didn’t cooperate at Death Valley. While I didn’t get any images, I still had a great time and got some good scouting in for future trips.
We left Death Valley heading for Lake Tahoe. Drove out of the desert and into a full on snowstorm for two days. I love being in the mountains when it’s snowing!
First Blush : Prints Available
Pastel Shores : Prints Available
Funny (almost not so funny) trip note: Always make sure you have gas when you’re in the middle of nowhere!
Heading into the mountains from Death Valley towards Lake Tahoe we encountered a full on snowstorm that was making blizzard conditions heading into the mountains. Pass closures forced us to make a detour. We coasted into a town (if you can call it that…) on vapors to the gas station that was on the GPS only to find out it was closed! Another small gas station in the town was out of gas because their fuel truck didn’t show up. The next town was 25 miles away. No way we would make it. Fortunately the owner sold us 5 gallons from his truck to the tune of $8 per gallon. Most expensive 5 gallons I’ve ever purchased, and worth every penny!