View 306: People on the Edge

Posted on November 19, 2013 by Scott Thomas Photography
People viewing the Grand Canyon from Mather Point at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.

People viewing the Grand Canyon from Mather Point at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/160s, f/16, ISO 200, EV -0.3, 230mm focal length.

It was astounding to me while visiting Grand Canyon National Park how people would go to great lengths to get as close to the edge of the canyon’s rim as possible.  When there was protective fencing, like at Mather Point, it was not bad to watch.  Fencing seldom deterred those who wanted a closer look into the depths of the Grand Canyon. I saw many people climb around and over the fencing to get that once (and maybe last) in a lifetime look into the chasm.

For instance, this gentleman, who looks like he might be wondering why he climbed out onto the rock ledge near Mather Point and how he was going to get back from it.

Man clinging to a rock ledge at the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.

Man clinging to a rock ledge at the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/200s, f/16, ISO 200, EV -0.3, 230mm focal length.

Near Yavapai Point on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, I could not help but smile as this priest, in full frock, was talking on his cell phone while standing one step away from a 4,500 foot (1,372 meter) fall.  Wonder if he was getting better reception there.

A Priest talking on his cell phone along the South Rim Trail near Yavapai Point at the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.

A Priest talking on his cell phone along the South Rim Trail near Yavapai Point at the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/125s, f/16, ISO 280, EV -0.3, 90mm focal length.

When I first climbed down into the Grand Canyon and came upon Ooh Aah Point, it was literally crawling with people trying to get as close to the edge of the canyon as possible. By then I figured it was some sort of thrill seeking gene in these people.  While I did get close to the edge, I never put myself in danger…in my mind. 🙂

People at Ooh Aah Point on the South Kaibab Trail in the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.

People at Ooh Aah Point on the South Kaibab Trail in the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/200s, f/16, ISO 200, EV -0.3, 68mm focal length.

So, do you have the urge to look down from great heights at the edge of whatever it is you are standing on?  Or, are you a bit more careful in how you approach cliffs, canyons, waterfalls or tall building overlooks?

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Assignment 27: Vacation

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Scott Thomas Photography

Have you taken a vacation in the last year? Maybe you call it a holiday. Either way you call it, such times give us an opportunity to relax, improve and renew our lives. While many people use vacation time to travel, others may use the time for other projects or events.

If you have not guessed, this month’s assignment is for you to share your Vacation photos. You will not bore me. I promise! 🙂 So…where or what did you do on vacation?

Vacationing at the Grand Canyon and at Disney's California Adventure.

Vacationing at the Grand Canyon and at Disney’s California Adventure.

As in the other assignments, do not send me your photos. What I would like you to do is post them on your blog, flickr, Google+ or other photo sharing site, personal website or any place on the Internet where you can place a link to it here by making a comment to this blog entry. Then, we can all visit those sites and enjoy everyone’s Vacation photos.

Please, have your photos posted on or before Midnight (your time zone), Wednesday, December 4, 2013.  Might be a good time to start up a blog or join a photo community like flickr.  As I have done for all the Assignments, I will put together a recap with my comments.

If you have any questions, leave me a comment and I will be happy to answer them. I would truly appreciate it if you would help spread the word about this assignment so we can get lots of people to participate. Blog it, Tweet it, FaceBook it, Google+ it, Pin it, Tag it, email it and talk about it to your fellow photographers, bloggers, friends, family, pets and even your neighbors you only wave at every day. Thank you!

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View 305: Trees Above 5,000 Feet

Posted on November 11, 2013 by Scott Thomas Photography

Conditions above 5,000 feet in the western United States are hot and dry.  Soil is thin to non-existent in the rocky terrain of Grand Canyon, Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.  Yet, vegetation from wild flowers to trees found ways to grow.

Blog author standing among Nevada Cedars on the Grand View Point Overlook trail in Canyonlands National Park near Moab, Utah.

Blog author standing among Nevada Cedars on the Grand View Point Overlook trail in Canyonlands National Park near Moab, Utah.

I was fascinated how trees would grow on the sides of cliffs, in hot desert environments and at the edge of massive rock formations. During a typical year, these trees are subject to intense heat to extreme cold with little rain.  When rain does fall, it creates flash flooding and carries soil away with some of the trees living in that soil, too.  These trees have learned to get their water from the air as it condenses in the cool nights on leafs and needles.

Pinyon Pines were my favorite tree to photograph in the parks.  They grew into mangled looking specimens.  Which made them photographic to my vision.

Old Pinyon Pine in front of North Windows Arch in Arches National Park near Moab, Utah.

Old Pinyon Pine in front of North Windows Arch in Arches National Park near Moab, Utah.
Nikon D700/Sigma 15mm, 1/125s, f/11, ISO 200, EV 0.

You can see the kind of soil these trees try to grow in. Yet, they survive even if it is on the wall of the Grand Canyon.

Pinyon Pine tree clings to life at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.

Pinyon Pine tree clings to life at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/125s, f/16, ISO 280, EV -0.3, 250mm focal length.

I found this large Pinyon Pine growing in the shadow of Skyline Arch in Arches National Park.  The ground was a layer of sand with hard rock underneath.  Didn’t seem to phase the trees and brush growing there.

Pinyon Pine growing in the shadow Skyline Arch at Arches National Park near Moab, Utah.

Pinyon Pine growing in the shadow Skyline Arch at Arches National Park near Moab, Utah.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, f/22, ISO 1000, EV 0, 28mm focal length, tripod, HDR Image.

Life finds a way.  Which leads me to believe there is life beyond Earth and lots of it.

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Seduced by the Fisheye

Posted on November 8, 2013 by Scott Thomas Photography

When I first told you I had gotten a Fisheye lens as a present, I mentioned when the subject called for it, I would use the Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX DG Fisheye Lens. Oh, but the Fisheye is a crafty seductress.  Once I do put the Fisheye lens on my camera, I find all sorts of subjects to photograph with it.

For instance, I never thought of it as a lens for landscape photography. The Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park in Utah is large and hard to get all in one frame except from a distance.  With the Fisheye, I was able to get in close (within 5 feet) and accent the arch’s curvature.

Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park near Moab, Utah.

Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park near Moab, Utah taken with a Fisheye lens.
Nikon D700/Sigma 15mm, 1/100s, f/11, ISO 200, EV -0.3.

I found it was fun to shoot into the Sun using a Fisheye stopped down to f/22 like you see here of Turret Arch in Arches National Park near Moab, Utah.

Turret Arch sunburst from North Window Arch in Arches National Park near Moab, Utah.

Turret Arch sunburst from North Window Arch in Arches National Park near Moab, Utah.
Nikon D700/Sigma 15mm, 1/125s, f/22, ISO 200, EV 0.

The real reason I wanted a Fisheye lens was for the Disney themeparks.  For years I have seen other photographers share wonderful photos with their Fisheye lenses. I got my own chance the last couple of months.  First at Disney’s California Adventure in Anaheim, California.

Riding California Screamin at Disney's California Adventure in Anaheim, California.

Riding the California Screamin roller coaster at Disney’s California Adventure in Anaheim, California.
Nikon D700/Sigma 15mm, 1/250s, f/8, ISO 200, EV 0.

Then in Walt Disney World.  The Muppet * Vision 3-D Theater has very slightly curved rows for the seats.  The Fisheye really took the curve and bent it a few degrees. 🙂

Guests take their seats in the Muppet Vision 3-D theater before a performance in Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Guests take their seats in the Muppet Vision 3-D theater before a performance in Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida.
Nikon D700/Sigma 15mm, 1/25s, f/2.8, ISO 6400, EV 0.

Not sure how long this will go on.  I am afraid I am quite smitten. 😉

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Canyonlands National Park

Posted on November 6, 2013 by Scott Thomas Photography

Canyonlands National Park is the less famous and much bigger national park near Moab, Utah.  The park features large open expanses of mesas, river canyons, rock formations and an arch.  While not as famous as Delicate Arch, Mesa Arch is a favorite of photographers and tourists.  The walk to Mesa Arch is short and easy unlike the long and strenuous hike to Delicate Arch. It is known for how the Sun lights up the underside of the rock forming the arch at sunrise.

My wife and I visited Mesa Arch a couple of hours after sunrise back in late September. We had heard there had been some 50 photographers at the arch earlier in the morning.

Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park near Moab, Utah.

Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park near Moab, Utah.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, f/16, ISO 200, EV 0, 28mm focal length, HDR Image.

You can still see sunlight being reflected onto Mesa Arch’s bottom in the High Dynamic Range (HDR) image above.  Note, there are no other people either.  We had the arch to ourselves for 20 minutes before a few other tourists joined us. It is a calming feeling being there. Our National Parks not only preserve beautiful places but also places for us to renew our minds and spirits.

Canyonlands main claim to fame after the Mesa Arch are the many overlooks you can stop at as you travel along the Island in the Sky District road.  This road is paved and gives easy access to the outlooks with parking areas, picnic sites and toilets (Notice I did not say restrooms).

One such overlook is Buck Canyon. Once we parked our car, it was a short walk to the edge of the Island in the Sky District.

Buck Canyon Overlook in Canyonlands National Park near Moab, Utah.

A man gazes out from Buck Canyon Overlook in Canyonlands National Park near Moab, Utah.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/80s, f/16, ISO 250, EV -0.3, 44mm focal length.

Driving here you do not realize how high up you are until you get to one of the overlooks.

Along the route there are five short hikes which can all be done in a day if you start early enough.  For us, we settled on the Grand View Point Trail.  This trail goes along the southern point of the Island in the Sky District right along the edge and up and down through rocky terrain.  At the end, you get a beautiful view covering hundreds of square miles of picturesque landscapes in all directions.

Tourists look out over Canyonlands National Park from Grand View Point near Moab, Utah.

Tourists look out over Canyonlands National Park from Grand View Point near Moab, Utah.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/80s, f/16, ISO 280, EV 0, 28mm focal length.

In this age of information blasting at us from all directions via smart phones, computers and media outlets, it was so very pleasant to sit and look out over the expanse of wilderness and soak it all in.  For me, areas like this represent time…geologic time, which is so much different than Man’s concept of time.  Here, time is measured in eons and not seconds. We see only a very tiny part of it during our lifetimes.  These rock formations show us millions of years of time in their faces and tell us a story of vast oceans, long dry and windy spells followed by rain and floods.  Such natural forces over time created the awesomely beautiful area found in Canyonlands National Park.

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