2. Landscapes

Arches Nat'l Park & Canyonlands, March 2013

Arches National Park has some unique and monstrous rock formations. See the people in photos 3,7, 41, 53, 77 and 90 to get a sense of the scale. Also included are a few photos from nearby Canyonlands National Park. The night photos using "light painting" and longer time exposures have the settings in the descriptions. I visited only a few of the 2000 arches in Arches N.P., focusing on the ones that photographed the best in the existing conditions. Special thanks to Scott Meyer and Dave Billingsley for taking time to show me how to maximize my trip to these two special parks through info, maps, equipment loans and other tips. Once again I recommend using slideshow to see these properly. Thanks for viewing!
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  • Park Avenue, one of the first major formations visitors encounter at Arches N.P. A steep, climbing road takes visitors to the main plateau. The main features in the park are all at an elevation much higher than the Visitor Center and neighboring Moab, Utah.

    Park Avenue, one of the first major formations visitors encounter at Arches N.P. A steep, climbing road takes visitors to the main plateau. The main features in the park are all at an elevation much higher than the Visitor Center and neighboring Moab, Utah.

  • This is a 181 second time exposure at ISO 800, f5.6. The 300 ft. high Tower of Babel was painted with two powerful spotlights during the exposure, one in each hand.

    This is a 181 second time exposure at ISO 800, f5.6. The 300 ft. high Tower of Babel was painted with two powerful spotlights during the exposure, one in each hand.

  • North Window.

    North Window.

  • Tower of Babel in mid afternoon.

    Tower of Babel in mid afternoon.

  • These dead trees, in full morning shade, made a nice counterpoint to the sun drenched rocks beyond. The trees were close to the rock so both are in focus. These are not the tree's shadows, but the actual trees themselves. Devil's Garden Trail.

    These dead trees, in full morning shade, made a nice counterpoint to the sun drenched rocks beyond. The trees were close to the rock so both are in focus. These are not the tree's shadows, but the actual trees themselves. Devil's Garden Trail.

  • March 19th, 2013 at 8:12 PM. Delicate Arch captured at fading twilight with light paint using a single hand held spotlight from across the bowl. Residual light put the soft glow on the foreground. Settings were ISO 400, 20 seconds at f5.6. I cleared this first with the nearby photographers who were doing time exposures. Distance from the camera to the arch was 250 feet.

    March 19th, 2013 at 8:12 PM. Delicate Arch captured at fading twilight with light paint using a single hand held spotlight from across the bowl. Residual light put the soft glow on the foreground. Settings were ISO 400, 20 seconds at f5.6. I cleared this first with the nearby photographers who were doing time exposures. Distance from the camera to the arch was 250 feet.

  • A man in a white shirt sits in one of the arches in the Double Arch formation.

    A man in a white shirt sits in one of the arches in the Double Arch formation.

  • Balanced Rock, a 128 foot high formation was exposed at ISO 800, f11 at 20 seconds with spotlight painting. Taken March 18, 2013 at 6:40 AM in freezing cold. The long exposure makes it look brighter than the pre-dawn glow at the time, which was a very deep blue glow on the far horizon with near black night sky everywhere else.

    Balanced Rock, a 128 foot high formation was exposed at ISO 800, f11 at 20 seconds with spotlight painting. Taken March 18, 2013 at 6:40 AM in freezing cold. The long exposure makes it look brighter than the pre-dawn glow at the time, which was a very deep blue glow on the far horizon with near black night sky everywhere else.

  • The rocks around the path into Sand Dune Arch glow from the setting sun.

    The rocks around the path into Sand Dune Arch glow from the setting sun.

  • This is not the easiest path to Sand Dune Arch, but it's the fastest and most adventurous, and the one I took in and out on both visits. The slot of about 15 inches required me to lift all my lighting and camera gear over my shoulders.

    This is not the easiest path to Sand Dune Arch, but it's the fastest and most adventurous, and the one I took in and out on both visits. The slot of about 15 inches required me to lift all my lighting and camera gear over my shoulders.

  • Sand Dune Arch is close to the main road, making it easier to haul all my lighting gear. I took a 6 battery Maglite (a generous trip gift from Dave Billingsley), smaller flashlights, a propane camping lantern, two spotlights, cardboard sheets, towels, batteries, and 15 pounds of camera gear.

    Sand Dune Arch is close to the main road, making it easier to haul all my lighting gear. I took a 6 battery Maglite (a generous trip gift from Dave Billingsley), smaller flashlights, a propane camping lantern, two spotlights, cardboard sheets, towels, batteries, and 15 pounds of camera gear.

  • Backside of Sand Dune Arch. The arch is in a cozy cove surrounded by high rock walls. I would have called it Kissing Arch, but Sand Dune works, too.

    Backside of Sand Dune Arch. The arch is in a cozy cove surrounded by high rock walls. I would have called it Kissing Arch, but Sand Dune works, too.

  • Sand Dune Arch in midday. Its small size, relatively level access, proximity to the parking lot and enclosed surrounds made this arch an ideal candidate for light paint tinkering.

    Sand Dune Arch in midday. Its small size, relatively level access, proximity to the parking lot and enclosed surrounds made this arch an ideal candidate for light paint tinkering.

  • Looking through Sand Dune Arch from the backside.

    Looking through Sand Dune Arch from the backside.

  • The various lights I used not only had different temperatures, but the amount of time they were applied also affected the color of the final image captured by the camera. This was f5.6, 20 seconds @ ISO 200. The orange glow is from a propane camping lantern.

    The various lights I used not only had different temperatures, but the amount of time they were applied also affected the color of the final image captured by the camera. This was f5.6, 20 seconds @ ISO 200. The orange glow is from a propane camping lantern.

  • This arch needed precise light painting which made hot spots hard to avoid. This exposure was 30 seconds, ISO 200 at f5.6. Taking another longer exposure would have smoothed out the light, but I was running out of time. I really wanted to experiment with two static lights before full darkness.

    This arch needed precise light painting which made hot spots hard to avoid. This exposure was 30 seconds, ISO 200 at f5.6. Taking another longer exposure would have smoothed out the light, but I was running out of time. I really wanted to experiment with two static lights before full darkness.

  • Thirty second exposure at ISO 800, f5.6, two stops over-exposed. I got what I came for with this exposure and practically jumped for joy when the LCD screen popped up with this image. I left a happy guy.

    Thirty second exposure at ISO 800, f5.6, two stops over-exposed. I got what I came for with this exposure and practically jumped for joy when the LCD screen popped up with this image. I left a happy guy.

  • Exposed 20 seconds at ISO 800, f5.6. The overexposed moon is slightly oval due to 10MM wide angle lens perspective distortion. The uniform light on the rocks was accomplished with lots of rapid passes with the directional spotlight on a low power setting using lateral and vertical overlapping patterns.

    Exposed 20 seconds at ISO 800, f5.6. The overexposed moon is slightly oval due to 10MM wide angle lens perspective distortion. The uniform light on the rocks was accomplished with lots of rapid passes with the directional spotlight on a low power setting using lateral and vertical overlapping patterns.

  • Dead Horse Point, a Utah state park close to the entrance of Canyonlands National Park.

    Dead Horse Point, a Utah state park close to the entrance of Canyonlands National Park.

  • Dead Horse Point in late morning on a cloudy day.

    Dead Horse Point in late morning on a cloudy day.

  • Dead Horse Point. The Colorado River is 2000 feet below the rim.

    Dead Horse Point. The Colorado River is 2000 feet below the rim.

  • As hiking paths go, the first part of Devil's Garden Trail is an Interstate. It does not stay that way.

    As hiking paths go, the first part of Devil's Garden Trail is an Interstate. It does not stay that way.

  • The main Devil's Garden Trail to Partition Arch and Navaho Arch gets steep and seems to disappear just past Landscape Arch. This was a little intimidating and I saw several people give it up here. A trail map looks so simple, but never shows the blind turns, drop-offs, and fun little elevation surprises.

    The main Devil's Garden Trail to Partition Arch and Navaho Arch gets steep and seems to disappear just past Landscape Arch. This was a little intimidating and I saw several people give it up here. A trail map looks so simple, but never shows the blind turns, drop-offs, and fun little elevation surprises.

  • Same trail as the previous photo but looking the opposite direction toward the parking lot. Landscape Arch is up ahead to the right, while Navaho and Partition arches are behind camera to the right on a higher plateau.

    Same trail as the previous photo but looking the opposite direction toward the parking lot. Landscape Arch is up ahead to the right, while Navaho and Partition arches are behind camera to the right on a higher plateau.

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    These dead trees, in full morning shade, made a nice counterpoint to the sun drenched rocks beyond. The trees were close to the rock so both are in focus. These are not the tree's shadows, but the actual trees themselves. Devil's Garden Trail.
    March 19th, 2013 at 8:12 PM. Delicate Arch captured at fading twilight with light paint using a single hand held spotlight from across the bowl. Residual light put the soft glow on the foreground. Settings were ISO 400, 20 seconds at f5.6. I cleared this first with the nearby photographers who were doing time exposures. Distance from the camera to the arch was 250 feet.
    A man in a white shirt sits in one of the arches in the Double Arch formation.