Utah

Balanced in Time

A wonderful night in Arches National Park with beautiful clear skies gracing the Balanced Rock monument. Techie Info: The Milky Way:15 images stacked in Starry Landscape Stacker (ISO 6400/20sec/f2.8). Foreground from a single exposure (ISO 1600/618sec/f4).

Reflections from Park Avenue

We had the opportunity to spend a month near Arches National Park last year (2019). A lot of overcast days and rain reduced the days available for Milky Way photography. However, one of the weather events created some interesting possibilities. When I visited the park, there were small water puddles on the floor of the valley in Park Avenue. This puddle is actually pretty small but looks big due to the use of a wide angle the lens in close proximity to the ground. The Milky Way and reflection in the puddle are from 15 images stacked in Starry Landscape Stacker (ISO 6400/20sec/f2.8). The rock formations are blended in from a single exposure (ISO 800/395sec/f3.5).

Balanced Rock Milky Way

Ok, ok there are a gazillion images from Balanced Rock but this was my first time here. So cannot help posting another one from there. Techie Info: The Milky Way:15 images stacked in Starry Landscape Stacker (ISO 6400/20sec/f2.8). Foreground from a single exposure (ISO 1600/618sec/f4).

Dragon's Lair

A Milky Way from the Black Canyon of Gunnison, south rim in western Colorado. It surrounds part of a deep, steep-walled gorge carved through Precambrian rock by the Gunnison River. Roads and trails along the north and south rims have views of the Black Canyon's dramatic drops and the striated Painted Wall cliff. Light from a lone camper was visible on the valley floor.

Where the Trolls Dwell

Painted Wall during the night hours at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

A Bryce Spectacle

This was my first time to Bryce Canyon National Park and I had driven through the pre-dawn hours not knowing what to expect. It was a toss up between Sunrise Point and Sunset Point. Not knowing which one to pick, I bet on Sunset Point and it what a sunrise it was.

The Glow

Another shot from Sunset Point with the sun cresting over a cliff. It was totally amazing to experience the glow and color reflecting off the hoodoos and Thor's hammer

Peekaboo

After a somewhat disappointing evening in Canyonlands National Park due to overcast skies, I was starting the drive back to camp when I noticed the sun peeking through the clouds. Of course, it was then a frantic attempt to find an interesting composition before this fleeting moment passed. Adrenaline was pumping as I scrambled around looking for something decent. I feel pretty lucky that this composition presented itself at the last moment.

The Abyss Below

I was returning to Dead Horse State Park after ten years and I was pretty excited as I had remembered the views into the canyons as totally mesmerizing. To make matters more interesting the winds started picking up as soon as we got there and before we knew, gale force winds and amazing cloud formations were starting to happen as the evening progressed. Here is one of the compositions from the evening as I held on to my camera and tripod worried about getting swept across the edge in the abyss below.

The Storm is Coming

We spent a month last year near Moab and had the opportunity to enjoy the grandeur and beauty of Canyonlands National Park. The evening started out uneventfully and I was about to head back home when all of a sudden the wind picked up and before I knew it the dust and clouds started creating these amazing formations in the sky. I frantically grabbed my camera and ran looking for a decent location to capture this amazing scene unfold in front of my eyes.

Nature's Altar

The Milky Way rises over Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park. The skies here are stunningly dark, capable of being lost in as you lay and gaze at the ancient sights above.

Haunting Rock Art I

During our explorations near Moab, we came upon these amazing Petroglyphs that were carved out in 6000 B.C. to 100 B.C. period. It was amazing to spend the night here photographing the Milky Way and imagine what was happening here thousands of years ago.

Ute Whispers Thru Time

Another MW image with Petroglyphs from the Ute Indians (1300 A.D. - 1880 A.D.). The Historic Ute rock art is identified and dated by the horse and rider figures. Horses were introduced to North America by the Spanish in the sixteenth century. Other figures, or elements, painted in red and white on the panel include a white bison, a human figure with leggings, several large human figures, and large circles believed to be shields. The Ute people practiced a hunting and gathering lifeway.

Spiritual Visions II

Spiritual Visions I

Tree and the Wave

Court of the Patriarchs

This is the Court of the Patriarchs in Zion National Park. One of my favorite places in the park, the three towers absolutely dominate the scene. It's a great place to watch sunrise or sunset, and this is the latter. It was extremely windy and a fleeting moment of beautiful light