Slickrock and Shadow

Steven's Arch high above Coyote Gulch is an excellent detour! Coyote Gulch has world-class photo opportunities and I'm here to show you the best spots to visit.  I'll share lens recommendations as well as time of day advice.  Coyote Gulch has so much to offer in scenery, relaxation, adventure.  I spent 3 days and 3 nights here and want to return again soon. Starting at the Escalante River and then going in upstream order , I shall list the sights and give you my 2¢. Stevens Arch: The most important thing to know about Stevens Arch:  it get better and better as you get closer.  The view from the Escalante River is very fine but if you climb and get up close, you will be richly rewarded. Like many days, the skies were clear in the morning, clouds gathers in the afternoon and then turned overcast.  Hiking up in the morning allowed me to have mostly blue skies and just a few clouds here and there to add interest.  I just waited a few minu...

Black Pool at Coyote Gulch, Utah:  a quiet campsite for single tent Here's my take on tent photography.  On a quiet morning after sleeping our first night at the Black Pool in Coyote Gulch, I got up while my two daughters continued sleeping.  The wind from the previous night was gone.  Nothing stirred.  The tree leaves, the tall grasses and the flat water surface each stood entirely still.  I was able to set up tripod and camera, shutter release and carefully focus.  A long shutter speed later, I had this photo. I carefully rotated my polarizing filter to remove reflections off the wet seeping rock walls, thus keeping the all wonderful colors.  But I also wanted to keep all those reflections on the water.  This ended up being an easy task, but one I did consciously. I have seen plenty of tent photography:  tents in lonely, beautiful places.  I think this shot is a worthy addition to this genre.