Courthouse Wash, Arches National Park, Utah.
Hey, there are even a few fall colors in Arches! This was at sunrise yesterday morning.
{ 14 comments }
From the category archives:
Ron
A train leaving Moab, Utah.
Last year when we pulled into Moab I saw these tracks along this beautiful hillside and thought that would be a perfect setting for a train photo. But, I only saw one or two trains during the couple weeks we were here, and was never in a position to get a photo. This year I noticed a train leaves Moab about the same time everyday, making this photo much easier to obtain. Evidently, the train is hauling uranium tailings from along the Colorado River to a more permanent site. It is a Department of Energy project – not sure why our government is taking on this job and not the original mining companies – they probably took the money and ran.
We had a great sunset last night, but I just couldn’t seem to find the right position or composition, so I came away with nothing. I feel like a let one get away – great sunsets don’t happen that often around here.
{ 6 comments }
Rafting on the Colorado River, near Moab, Utah.
This looks fun! While growing up in Alaska, I did a ton of rafting – I miss that. We just found out that you can rent kayaks and rafts in Moab for not much money, at least compared to what rentals cost in Alaska. I don’t know if we will have time, but it is tempting!
{ 8 comments }
Behind the Rocks Wilderness Study Area (WSA), Moab, Utah.
I spent two evenings hiking around trying to find a nice vantage point to photograph this very unique region – this was the best vantage point I could find. The 24 Hours of Moab was held on the other side of this area. I guess you could say, it was behind Behind the Rocks.
I thought it would be a fascinating area to explore, but these things are huge, I don’t see any way in there without doing some serious climbing with ropes and stuff – something beyond my capabilities! I was reading about the area on the BLM website, and I thought this summed it up well: “There are extreme topographical constraints to foot travel within this WSA”
This was captured with a 100-400 at 400 from 655 meter away on the opposite side of the Colorado River. The exposure was a 20th of a second @ f/11 and a ISO of 100.
{ 7 comments }
Pua Sawicki at the 2009 24 Hours of Moab.
When we left Pua Sawicki well after dark on Saturday night, she was well on her way to another National Championship, and more importantly, a world record for distance traveled by a women on a mountain bike in 24 hours. She once rode 281 miles in a race, but it wasn’t sanctioned by the Guinness Book of World Records – this race would be.
We got up early Sunday morning and immediately checked the on-line results, and were shocked to see her current lap taking much longer then normal. We kept an eye on the computer and finally saw she rolled in about an hour later then normal. We hoped she just had a mechanical problem, and would start knocking off fast laps again, so we jumped in the truck and hurried over to the race so we could be on site before sunrise. Our worst concerns were realized when we arrived only to see her support tent empty of workers and gear, we knew then her race must be over. Her husband Ron later confirmed that she had gotten very sick during the night, and finally had to drop out. Bummer! Pua and her husband are super nice people – we hope they have lots of future success, I’m sure they will.
Since we were already at the race, we went ahead and photographed other riders. The steep hillside pictured below was the scene of many dramatic wrecks. I felt a bit guilty standing there and photographing such mayhem, at least at first. But it became easier, when, every rider had the same response – they would turn to me and ask if I got it! Thanks to the soft sand, we didn’t see anyone get hurt.
Kakkan Creager of team Quadruple Gnar goes head over wheels during the 24 Hours of Moab, in Moab, Utah. Team Quadruple Gnar won the men's 18 and under championship.
{ 21 comments }
Richard Moquin of team Bazi at the 2009 24 Hours of Moab Mountain Bike Race, Moab, Utah.
I thought I would share a couple of photos from the 24 Hours of Moab Mountain Bike Race. I’m here to photograph Pua Sawicki, who we met in our campground – we have camped near them the last two years here in Moab. Her husband and crew have been running me around on all terrain vehicles so that I can photograph her on the course – I’ll post photos of her tomorrow. Right now, she is over a half hour ahead of the nearest women, and looking strong. She is hoping to set the world record for distance traveled on a mountain bike trail in 24 hours.
Nick Nisbet of team Phoenix Multisport 2 leaves at sunset, 2009 24 Hours of Moab Mountain Bike Race, Moab, Utah.
{ 10 comments }
Self portrait, Green River overlook, Canyonlands National Park, Utah.
This is the last light of day at one of my favorite Canyonlands viewpoints. The warm light was really making the red rock glow – I actually used Photoshop to desaturate this image as it didn’t look realistic.
There was no way Janine was going to get out on this point, so I set everything up, changed jackets with her, and had her hit the shutter as I stood on the viewpoint.
{ 17 comments }
Three Gossips, Arches National Park, near Moab, Utah.
I wasn’t in the right position, but as I hiked around Arches National Park Monday morning, I noticed the possibility of capturing the Three Gossips, and the nearly full moon, right at first light. So I went back Tuesday with this image specifically in mind. I love the warm light on red rock!
{ 16 comments }
Hartman Rocks Mountain Biking Trails, Gunnison, Colorado.
Typically on the blog I’m posting photos captured the day before, but I must admit, with all the Fall color photos I have been posting lately, I have fallen a bit behind. Most of the autumn photos were captured over just two days, but it has taken a few more to share them. We have actually been in Moab, Utah since this past weekend, and beginning tomorrow, I will begin posting photos from this area.
A week ago, I alluded to the mountain biking at Hartman Rocks Recreation Area, but never had a chance to follow up. We have been fortunate enough to ride some great trails, like the Slickrock trail here in Moab, or our favorite, the McDowell Mountain Regional Park trails near Phoenix, but we now have a new favorite – these trails, well, rock! They were so much fun! Especially Rocky Ridge and Becks – they were really smooth single track trails, with lots of rises, dips and banked turns that allow you to go as fast as you can peddle. I felt like I was 12 again – well, that isn’t all that unusual. If you find yourself in the Gunnison area, check them out.
{ 11 comments }
Ouray, Colorado
There are a lot of wonderful, historic, Western towns that have been beautifully restored, but none have the mountain setting that Ouray does! The top photo is looking North, the bottom one, South.
Ouray, Colorado
{ 4 comments }
A waterfall near Ouray, Colorado.
I had to wade out and stand in this creek to get this perspective – it was cold!
{ 9 comments }
Dallas Divide, Colorado.
Here is a little tip that I often forget; digital cameras capture some amazingly rich colors in dark light. This photo for example was taken at least 15 minutes before sunrise – it was a 20 second exposure at f/11. The images I captured of this scene with the first warm light of day hitting the hillside are nice and colorful, but look very different, and not nearly as rich as this image captured in very dark conditions. By the way, I didn’t add any saturation with Photoshop.
The Fall images I have been posting this week were all captured by driving down relatively quite little dirt roads, some after a bit of walking around. This is where I prefer spending time and photographing. This photo on the other hand was actually captured from a large, popular pullout along a busy highway. I said all along I wasn’t going to stop here, but it is just to nice to pass up, so yesterday morning I joined the crowds at this spot.
The other photographers gathered around here waited another 15 minutes before firing up their cameras, and probably thought I was a bit off shooting away in the dark like I was. Well, I am a bit off, but this time it might have paid off.
{ 23 comments }
San Juan Mountains, Colorado.
Well we received a lot of rain last night, which meant snow for the mountains. What a treat – they sure look better with fresh snow!
Unfortunately, we also were hit by some very hard winds today. Not only were the leaves being blown off the trees, we saw entire trees knocked down onto the highway. We even saw a stop sign blown over. Needless to say, thanks to the high winds, the window of opportunity for fall colors may have been even smaller then I anticipated.
San Juan Mountains, Colorado.
{ 17 comments }
Sneffels Range, San Juan Mountains, Colorado.
Now we are talking! I think we have found the amazing colors Colorado is known for.
Yesterday we moved to Ouray, Colorado – what a beautiful town! I’m sure I will be posting photos of it eventually. But, the trees around here are far healthier, looking great, and at or near peak. The next few days should be a whirlwind – stormy weather is in the forecast, we need to cover as much ground as possible as this might be a wonderful, but small window of opportunity.
{ 18 comments }
Hartman Rocks, Gunnison, Colorado
We found this spot while out mountain biking earlier yesterday, and had to come back for sunset. By the way, this area has some of the best mountain biking anywhere, but maybe more on that tomorrow.
{ 9 comments }
- Janine riding the Upper Loop, Crested Butte, Colorado.
The Upper and Lower Loops in Crested Butte are great trails. They run parallel a nice little stream, and wind through some great stands of pine and aspen as they climb up the valley. It was a great place to ride and photograph! At 9,000 feet, I’m glad we are acclimatized to the elevation – no wonder everyone looks so fit around here!
{ 7 comments }
A small patch of color along Highway 92, Colorado.
Finding nice patches of color has been a bit difficult, I think most photographers are hoping it improves next week. This was the best patch of color I have seen in awhile.
{ 4 comments }
Cameraman Buddy Squires, producer Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns in Aialik Bay, Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska.
I thought I would do a quick reminder that the Ken Burns series on our National Parks will begin airing Sunday evening on PBS.
As you may know, I helped out a bit when Florentine Films was filming in Kenai Fjords back in 2003 – they have been working on this film for sometime. Ken, Dayton and Buddy were some of the most interesting people I have ever met, and could tell fascinating stories about the people they have met and places they had seen thanks to their past projects. What doesn’t come across in the television interviews I have seen is Ken’s wonderful sense of humor – the group of us sure had a lot of fun, I don’t think I have ever laughed so much while out in the field!
I had the chance to see much of the Alaska portion of the coverage of this series and it was really well done. I can’t imagine the research that must go into a project like this. The series talked at length about people like Adolph Murie, Bradford and Barbara Washburn, Charles Sheldon and Joe Quigley – all people that are well known to Alaskans, but may be unfamiliar to most Americans. I look forward to learning about similar people from other parts of the United States who may be unfamiliar to me.
I don’t think I’ll have a chance to watch it right now – we don’t get much in the way of TV right now, and we are kinda busy, but I do look forward to watching it once we are back in Alaska. Here is the PBS site with much more information including times for The National Parks, Americas Best Idea.
Ken Burns pretending to be deeply engrossed by a beach stone as he hams it up for my camera. He was hilarious. At the time I was sorry my flash didn't fire, but in hindsight, I like the silhouette.
{ 5 comments }
Crested Butte, Colorado.
Crested Butte is a really cool little ski town! The old buildings in the main part of town have been carefully restored and colorfully painted – it is like this on both sides of the street for a number of blocks. This town has a ton of character, and the surrounding area offers endless outdoor activities. [click to continue…]
{ 2 comments }
Janine at a viewpoint in Black Canyon Gunnison National Park, Colorado.
Last week we were in one of the busiest National Parks, Rocky Mountain National Park. Last night we visited one most people probably never have heard of, Black Canyon of Gunnison Natonal Park, but we weren’t at all disappointed, it is a beautiful Park! It consists primarily of Black Canyon. Black Canyon is very dramatic, at places over 2,700 feet deep, with solid rock walls full of interesting shapes, patterns and textures – a photographers dream! We plan on returning and spending a bit more time at this little gem.
Painted Wall, Black Canyon Gunnison National Park, Colorado.
For the image of Painted Wall, I used a 3 stop graduated neutral density filter, and a blend of two different exposures.
By the way, thanks for all the great location suggestions and advice I have received from readers of my last few posts – I really appreciate it!
{ 18 comments }
Red Aspen during a snow storm, Monarch Pass, Colorado.
I love finding the occasional patch of red aspen – they really stand out in the sea of yellow.
When we passed through Monarch Pass a couple of days ago the colors were amazing. We went back yesterday to find most of them had past, I’m sure thanks to the stormy weather. Lots of areas around here are still green, and the stormy weather didn’t hurt those trees, so I think there will be lots of fall to come!
{ 5 comments }
Looking up towards Engineer Pass, Colorado.
We have moved down to Gunnison Colorado and are now trying to figure our way around this new area. I think we are a tad early for the fall colors, which is good as it gives up more time to scout around this beautiful region. Yesterday we explored down a couple of long dirt roads towards Engineer Pass and then Cinnamon Pass, both were a couple of great looking areas above the cool little town of Lake City, Colorado. We look forward to returning as the colors progress.
{ 17 comments }
Bear Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
As you can see, the fall colors in the high elevations are beginning to change nicely – this was from Saturday morning. The lower elevations still have a lot of green – if I had to predict, I think this upcoming week will be a lot better with next weekend possibly being the best. Monday’s predicted cold front could add some nice snow on the mountains and could speed the change up a bit. I’m getting excited for the fall colors!
{ 14 comments }
Sky Pond, with Lake of Glass in the distance, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Our original plan was to spend the night in this beautiful setting, but Park rules don’t allow back-country camping in this area. There is a single back-country campsite about two miles from here, but it had been booked long ago. So, we hiked up, waited for a sunset that never developed, and then hiked out with the last three miles by headlamp in the dark. Although we couldn’t spend the night, it was still a great trip!
By the way, the waterfall in yesterday’s post, Timberline Falls, is just below the distant lake, Lake of Glass.
I have come the conclusion that hiking in the dark is not that much fun – you miss out on the scenery as you stare at the dirt and rocks in your light-beam five feet in front of you for boring mile after mile – I begin to feel like I’m driving. And, even through it seems like you are going fast, we have found we are a bit slower in the dark. But, had there been a great sunset, it would have been so worth it. Actually, it was worth it anyways.
Sharktooths rising above Sky Pond, RMNP, Colorado.
To this far side of the lake was about a five mile steady climbing hike to almost 11,000 feet. Just as I was feeling pretty good about how quickly we made it to this high country destination, I noticed 4 people repelling off one of the Sharthtooths! Gheeze, our hike was probably barely a warm up for them.
The top photo was .8 of a second at f/14 and ISO 100 and a polarizer and two stop graduated neutral density filter. The bottom image was a blend of two photos, one for the sky, one for the rest.
{ 5 comments }
Timberline Falls, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
This cool waterfall is on the hike to Sky Pond – more on the hike tommorow.
{ 16 comments }
