Angels Landing is the tower on the left and it is in many of these shots. Again, it is an enormous tower and the wide-angle lens has shrunk it down so you can see it all for these photos.
In today’s post we’re going to look at some of my photos from Zion NP. I love nature photography!! Oddly, enough, the happiest times of my life have all been with a camera in my hand. I absolutely love getting lost in the process of taking nature photos. I’ve given a lot of thought to why I love it so much and this is what I’ve concluded:
- I’m in a beautiful part of nature, and nature is what delights and satisfies me!
- The act of finding the best possible photograph excites and stimulates my creative side.
- The technical aspects of the camera gear and capturing the best possible image appeals to the intellectual side of me.
- The best photos often come after a hike and the physical exertion in nature brings me joy. The bottom line is nature photography involves my whole being in the act of creating art; my body, mind, spirit and emotions act in concert and harmony to create something I find beautiful.
The rapids give this shot a dynamic feel, while the photo above it was very pastoral.
So, as you can imagine, the last few days have been like being in heaven to me because I have spent nearly every day in Zion National Park searching for beauty. Fortunately, you can’t throw a rock in Zion without seeing something gorgeous and wonderful! For the purposes of my posts I’m going to grossly over-simplify and divide Zion up into 3 different categories:
- The Valley carved by the Virgin River
- The East Entrance Plateau.
- Slot Canyons.
When a photo creates feelings, it has worked! I think this one feels calm.
On this trip all I did was photograph in the main Valley and on the East entrance Plateau. In the past I’ve done some Slot Canyons like the Subway and Wall Street but I didn’t have time this trip. Plus the river is running high (waist deep) and because I’m not fond of water and can’t swim, I’d rather do the slots on my return trip in October-November when they’re lower (knee high). The water will be colder then but you rent wet gear to stay warm so that’s no problem. Also, the crowds are already thick so it’s harder get photos in the slots without people in them. In October there will be fewer people and it will be much easier. In this post we will look at my photos from the Valley and in future posts we’ll look at my shots from the East Entrance Plateau.
This one feels a little more dynamic.
The number one key to nature photography is to be in nature. If you think you can get great shots by staying within 20 feet of your car door, you may not be happy with your results. Today’s shots are a prime example of that; I took them by walking right down the middle of the Virgin River in the Zion Valley. I took the shuttle to the Big Bend stop, got out and walked the river down to the Grotto shuttle stop. Now when I say walked the river, I mean about half the time I was literally walking right down the middle of the river. If you have ever done any Canyoneering in the slot canyons of Utah, you know the idea of dry feet is not an option. Water is to be walked through, not around. I’ve done enough canyonerring to have that idea firmly in my brain so I just walked right down the middle of the river. As a result, the majority of these shots have the river dominating the foreground.
This shot was right below the Big Bend shuttle stop. The river does a hard turn here and the cliffs are very sheer and very tall. This conveys that to stop degree. You can’t see them, but there are climbers going straight up the rock wall.
I believe an attractive foreground is generally the key to great nature photos so I always have an eye out for a great foreground. The river has such a wide variety of looks that it gives an endless variety of options. Some shots have calm water so they are peaceful and some shots have fast water so they are exciting. Some have clear water so you can see the moss on the bottom and some are shot from above on a bank with trees and they are pastoral.
The log in the water creates a “leading line.” It’s the first thing your eye sees and goes to and then it follows it into the picture. In that way it creates the illusion of depth. Because it comes from the corner it is dynamic, had it been sideways it would have been calming (boring).
Two things you’ll notice about the river, first that it’s often brown and reddish. The reason is a lot of Zion is red rock country because of the high concentration of iron oxides in the soil. So as the rock erodes the red sand is deposited in the riverbeds. It looks like white sand, but under water it gives a red cast. The second unusual thing is a greenish cast to some parts of the river. Those are the very deepest parts of the river and moss is growing along the bottom giving it a green cast.
This is one of the greener places. I waded over right to the edge of the green but bottom dropped off very fast and I couldn’t go any further than the edge of the green.
One more thing, I have a semi-pro camera with an extreme wide-angle lens. Because it’s so wide you can see from the top to the bottom of the cliffs. But believe me, in person the cliffs are extremely steep and very tall. You have to tilt your head most of the way back to see the tops. Chances are very few of you have a camera that would let you take these photos showing sky at the top.
These are the Three Patriarchs, one of the few shots I’m including not from the river.
I hope you enjoy seeing these photos half as much as I enjoyed taking them!
I caught this raven flying through the frame. I thought of it as an angel taking flight from Angels Landing.
This is a mud flat the flowed into the river. I thought it was interesting, but it reeked! Sorry, no perfume to go along with it!
In the bottom right corner you can see some moss.
It’s interesting to compare our photos and the different ways we look at essentially the same subject. For example, your shots were out in the open, in the river, while mine were shot from the shade of the bank. Your shots were mostly pointed downstream while mine were pointed upstream. You and I are walk-and-shoot types. Meanwhile there are the guys shooting HDR who set up their tripods and wait for exactly the right moment. There are as many ways to photograph something as there are photographers.
You’re right Al. I passed by several of the tripod guys all shooting from the banks and I think they are the majority. But on a bright day with a full frame camera I can set the ISO up high and not have to worry about camera shake. HDR would be a plus but I just kept the left canyon wall (which was in the shade) mostly out of the frame so I didn’t see any need for HDR.
I think you may have the current confused. All my shots were toward the north with the sun behind me. That’s upstream. Shooting toward the sun has become popular but I refuse to do it. Even with HDR I don’t like the shots it gives. I use a polarizer to take more of the glare off the water and out of the sky.
There is no right or wrong way, just what appeals to YOUR eye!
Bob
“I think you may have the current confused. All my shots were toward the north with the sun behind me.” Thus demonstrating how different the same view can look in different hands. I’m just glad we don’t need to wait anymore to have film developed.
Amen!
Hi Bob, Thanks for the photographs of places I have not yet had the privilege of being… yet. But with your inspiration I am starting to explore my world. I retired two years ago (age 53)to be with my husband who is 12 years older. I am just loving all the things I am getting to learn and experience. I am struck how you make all the things in your life support each other. Your photography, blog and your fulltime RVing all matches and supports your life’s philosophy. Thanks for having a life philosophy where sharing with others is important! 🙂
Thanks for you kind words Msbluebell! As I’ve gotten older I try to look at life as a whole and I’m hoping it’s all starting to come together!
Bob
One of these days I’ll learn more of how to do this. Right now, I don’t have even a cell-phone camera, so I’ll just appreciate your pictures.
t’ll happen at the right time Calvin.
Bob
Hi Bob! Your love of nature and photography really shows in your shots. Delving into nature photography has helped me through some tough times in my life…it’s a great way to de-stess and of course you can’t beat communing with nature any old day.
I’m assuming you don’t take Homer on the more strenuous walks? Walking my dogs and going for a hike are two very different activities for me now that my dogs are getting older…they’re more interested in sniffing than walking although one of my dogs is holding up way better than the other. I have to say that they’ve both improved a lot when it comes to being patient while I’m lining up a shot though. Oh, and I’m not too into the tripod either!
I particularly love your shot of the raven flying out…it adds a great dynamic!
Thanks Peggy, Of course the raven was pure luck, but the more you are out there, the more luck can happen!
No, Homer doesn’t go for walks anymore. He stays home while i wander.
Bob
Bob, how come you don’t know how to swim??
Dick, I grew up in Alaska in the 60s when there were no public pools. Nine months out of the year the water is deadly cold, to swim is to die. The other 3 months it’s merely miserably cold. That didn’t have much appeal to me!
Bob
The photography is fantastic! I have to put this place on my list. My list is sooo long! Ha ha ha
Sameer
Four Corners, USA
Sameer, when you do the Grand Circle, you will see it all!
Bob
Bob,
Great pics, as usual. Thanks for sharing.
Safe travels,
Omar
Thanks Omar.
Bob
The pics of Angel Landing brings back some great memory’s. Hiked it with my daughter 3 yrs ago. I’m not real fond of heights but she drug me along behind her and I’m sure glad she did!
Scott, it is an incredible climb isn’t it! Especially that last little but–you can’t hardly believe you are doing something that crazy!
You were very smart to listen to her!
Bob
Good stuff. Thanks
Thanks CAE!
Bob
Gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Scott!
Bob
Great shots Bob, and brings back great memories for me. I’ve been canyoneering there a number of times and have done a few that empty out right where you started this walk.
Doug, there were other people hiking ahead of me, I bet that is where they were going. My knees aren’t up to a lot of bushacking so I didn’t go very far. Wish I were up to some real canyoneering like you did.
Bob