Number Six

Joshua Tree National Park is a paradise for photographers. The rock formations, the trees, and the lighting all make for wonderful photography. I had spent the day hiking and was using my GPS to mark my route. It is very easy to get lost especially when you are looking for subject matter to photograph. I found this lone and leaning Pinyon Pine just after having lunch and I saved a waypoint on my GPS so I could find it again during the golden hour. Sure enough the lighting did not disappoint me when I returned to the pine tree. I hiked back to my car in the dark. Wonderful experience. Solitude. Silence. It was a very special experience. 

Number Five

Early in the morning on an October crisp day, we noticed the calmness of Moraine Lake in Banff National Park. The canoes were moving ever so slowly and the early light on the mountains provided the prefect background.  I set the exposure and focus for the foreground and shot. Then I did the same for the mid-ground waiting for the canoes to align for a good composition and shot again. The third shot concentrated on the background. Back home I combined the three shots. I pre-visualized this photo before taking the shots. The lens handled the detail well.

Number Four

After a long descent across hot sandstone and a crossing of the Escalante River, we arrived at Golden Cathedral. What an enchanting location. Once there, I surveyed the alcove and decided that the best composition was from the far wall and looking out toward Neon Canyon. I waded into the cold water, setup my tripod and camera, waited for the ripples in the water to disappear and shot for the foreground, mid ground, and background. I love this photo. It is etched in my mind's eye. You can feel the silence in this canyon and alcove.

Number Three

This photograph is a result of hours of waiting. I saw this photograph in my mind's eye and spent hours making it happen. That is the Virgin River in Zion National Park and my tripod is setup on the bridge that the park buses use to transport tourist up the canyon to the lodge. The buses would shake the bridge as they crossed and you could feel the warm air being pushed by them. This photo is a result of four images being composed together after each had been shot at different times of the late afternoon and early evening. I didn't have to walk far, or hike, or backpack to the location, but this is a a result of time and effort. I love Zion.

Number Two

This is Crystal Mill in Colorado. It is an icon for serious fall foliage photographers. I met Ron while seeking fall foliage in western Colorado and we made arrangements to meet in Marble, Colorado so I could ride with him in his 4x4 to the 1894 mill for a shoot. We had the place to ourselves. I took my time searching for the right location. Once I had the composition set I selected a slow shutter speed to capture the fast moving water. By the time we left Crystal it was late evening and we drove the last few miles out in total darkness. Great experience.

Number One

The "Chute" is in Zion National Park along the trail to the Subway. A friend joined me on this five mile hike to the Subway. I found the Chute and spent time with my composition allowing the slower shutter speed to capture the water running down the slot. This is my favorite fall foliage  photograph.

The trail to the Subway is unsurpassed in beauty. 

http://nittygrittygarden.blogspot.com/2015/02/i-have-greenhouse.html

My mid-life crisis cruise:

http://jarvinenj.blogspot.com/2013/11/post-1-planning-in-november-2013-for.html

Two padders:

http://jarvinenkayak.blogspot.com/2014/08/taking-plunge.html

John's Old Photos:

http://johnsoldphotos.blogspot.com