Slickrock and Shadow

Elemental Opposition Mother nature shows her power during storms.  A recent summer storm led me to Zion national park.  Instead of the powerful waterfalls dropping from high cliffs, there were pretty unimpressive trickles falling.  I need a bigger storm for the big waterfalls I had in mind. To still make this a worthwhile trip, I went exploring for the smaller landscapes in the woods and trees of the canyon floor.  Under weeping rock, I walked along the stream.  It was flowing better than usual.  In a conglomeration of rocks, I found this sinuous small waterfall.  The smallness could not detract from the splendid flow, curve and color in this waterfall.  I took several shots and found this one to be the best.

 White Pocket, Arizona:  a natural pool in the desert  White Pocket: a jumble of sandstone like no other. White Pocket: a remote and small location in the middle of the Paria Plateau. White Pocket: the end of a journey across the desert on 30 miles of unpaved road, the last 5 miles being deep sand. White Pocket: a worldwide landscape photography location so much so that while I was there no less than 8 other groups came and went, one was a family of 6 from France.  None stayed as long as I did.  Most were there for 2 hours and then left.  That seems shameful as it takes numerous hours simply to reach this spot. Well, I planned a summer trip to the desert for photography.  Summer and desert usually don't equal a good time, but I had planned to hike the famous Buckskin Gulch.  This slot canyon would be cool and shaded.  Perfect for summer. Unless it rained. . . . A prolonged and more powerful summer monsoon season came through the so...