The photo workshop ends with a mid-day visit to Dead Horse Point State Park near Canyonlands. The peninsula of land overlooks the Colorado River some 2,000 feet below. The river twists and turns among outlines of dirt roads that trace their way across the desert. A legend says that the point was used as a natural corral for wild horses. The cowboys picked the best ones then left the other horses to die of thirst. Is the story true? Who knows. We watch the dust from the 4-wheel drives traveling through the landscape. Alan asks, “Would you like to try that [View Full Entry]

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On the drive to our last sunrise shoot for this photo workshop, everyone is talking about losing weight. The consensus - if you need to drop a few pounds, attend one of Jim’s photo workshops. Lots of walking, hiking and very little eating will melt the pounds away. Although the clouds in the sky should mean a colorful sunrise for Arches National Park, the cover is too dense for anything dramatic. Once the sun is up, we leave the overlook and drive to the first parking area for P [View Full Entry]

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With clouds covering most of the sky, our sunset shoot in the Island in the Sky section of Canyonlands National Park doesn’t look too promising. But, the views from the overlooks , especially Grand View Point, make the drive worth it. At one stop, we peer over the edge to see a road that winds sharply up the plateau. Alan asks, “If we come back with the jeep, will you take that drive with me?” My reply, “Sure, I’ll just keep my eyes closed.” We take a trail th [View Full Entry]

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This morning, we’re in Arches National Park again for another sunrise shoot. After parking at Panorama Point overlook, we set up tripods in the cold and wait. Success! The clouds scattered throughout the sky reflect the sun’s rays rewarding us with colorful photographic opportunities. Later, the group stops at the Fiery Furnace parking area to catch photos of the sun’s reflections on the sandstone formations. A permit is required to hike here and choosing a ranger-g [View Full Entry]

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Today our photographic journey begins at Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park . Of course that means we rise before dawn for the 45-minute drive from Moab into the Island in the Sky portion of the park. Once again, it’s dark when we take the short hike to our destination. Other photographers have arrived before us but there’s still room to set up tripods before the sun rises. Now, we must wait for the perfect shot. The early morning start is worth it. As the sun rises, it lights up t [View Full Entry]

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We’re up before daylight this morning for the drive to the Windows area of Arches National Park . Our goal? To capture the sun’s first rays peaking through nature’s window. After we arrive in the parking lot, Jim points out areas that would make good shooting locations, including a ledge near the North Window for one of Arches’ classic shots. Another photographer has already staked out the spot and no one from our group chooses to make the journey along the led [View Full Entry]

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After leaving Valley of the Gods, Alan and I travel through southern Utah to Moab to meet Jim Altengarten for one of his Exposure 36 photo workshops. The group consists of five male photography students. As usual, Jim is kind enough to allow me to tag along and document the experience. Although I don’t receive any instruction, I’m allowed to take my own photographs. The workshop begins with a sunset shoot in Arches National Park . First, we stop at an overlook for a far-of [View Full Entry]

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This morning, Alan and I drive south of Bluff to a dirt road that leads into the Valley of the Gods. This “mini” Monument Valley, without the crowds, offers close-up views of spires and rock formations that back up to Cedar Mesa. The dirt road winds for 17 miles without any vendors, tour buses or crowds of tourists snapping pictures. For the most part, we have the road to ourselves. We stop at every photographable spot, taking our time to compose the perfect shot. It’s so quiet that we can hear the leaves of the cottonwood trees shiver in the light [View Full Entry]

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High winds and Alan’s trip to Urgent Care to treat an infection prevented us from exploring the White Pocket area of the Vermillion Cliffs near Page, Arizona. So, we took the day off and waited for Alan’s antibiotics to begin working. By Saturday morning, we were ready to continue our trip through Navajo country to Bluff, Utah and a stay at the Desert Rose Inn and Cabins. This area teems with outdoor activities in a rugged setting. From geology to history to archaeology, it’s best explored by jeeping, hiking or floating down the San Juan River on a raft. We start [View Full Entry]

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Using Page, Arizona as a base, Alan and I are exploring the area along the border of Arizona and Utah. With Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument and Paria River Wilderness - Vermillion Cliffs National Monument within driving distance, we have plenty of choices. After driving west on Highway 89 from Page, we stop at the Paria Ranger Station belonging to the Bureau of Land Management. On the way, Lake Powell and the surrounding cliffs provide a dramatic morning scene as the highway crosses from Arizona into Utah. The lottery to hike “the Wave” has just ended when Alan [View Full Entry]

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