Slickrock and Shadow

Zion Double Falls, Right Fork of North Creek I wrote a true account of my hike to Zion Double Falls for the Zion Canyon Arts & Humanities Council writing contest for 2013.  I won the second-place award.  This story, entitled My Zion , tells of how I reached this remote beauty in the fall of 2011.  The hike was long, slow and had some surprises along the way.  I hiked alone and had lots of time to enjoy the beautiful and isolated surroundings.  Please click on the link and read the true tale. 

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.

Red Poppy Flowers of France Going to California each spring, I loved to see the wonderful wild poppy flowers.  I came to associate poppies with that wonderful orange color so common on the west coast.  Little did I know they come in another color in Europe:  blood red.  Seeing this fields filled with red poppies or smaller clusters of them here and there delighted me every time.  I could see Monet and his wife in these flowery fields as he painted her.  This particular field was south of Sarlat, France. 

Urban Art:  Paris apartment windows and balconies Apartment buildings in Paris plus a telephoto lens creates urban art.  While walking around the Ile de St. Louis on a pleasant morning I enjoyed the city itself.  No particular monument, cathedrals, museums or other points of interest were on the agenda.  The City of Paris was what I hoped to discover.  On all levels, Paris delivers.  Paris does not disappoint.  This morning, I enjoyed these artistic architectural wonders.  Each window & balcony add to the pattern of city life.  It's a wonderful thing.  C'est la vie. Here are a few other photos of the city as art. Rue Montorgueil and Lamp Post Blue Door #14, Paris

Lamp Posts at the Louvre Paris is at night is a fantastic experience.  The monuments all take on more splendor and you feel like your are in a magical place.  A photographer could spend many nights visiting great locations.  I couldn't see them all during my stay but did manage some visits.  My favorite are posted here:  Place de la Concorde, Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre were all wonderful.  A tripod is required for these long-exposure shots.  I brought my carry-along-size Gitzo traveler tripod.  This is a marvelous tool. Some individual comments for specific locations: Arc de Triomphe:  those photos of blurred car circling the arc are not typical.  You need LOTS of traffic for that, much more than on a typical Paris evening.  I liked getting under the arc and shooting up. Place de la Concorde:  the fountain waters turn on and off every few minutes.  If they are not on, wait a few minutes and they will light u...

Welcome to Pont Alexandre III The most beautiful bridge in all Paris is the over-the-top Pont Alexandre III.  this bridge does everything, including spanning the Seine River.  It has beautiful lamp posts, monuments covered in gold, winged horses, angels, great views of the Eiffel Tower as well as the other nearby monuments and landmarks.  This is a short walk from the Place de la Concorde and Musee d'Orsay.  I visited this location in the morning just as the sunrise was starting to light up the golden statues.  I had fun trying to work with different compositions.  The Eiffel Tower in the background served me well in one composition.  The Hotel des Invalides was used in the background of another image.  In a city full of wonderful places to see, I would not miss this wonderful gem. Monumental Morning:  Lining up these monument for a better photograph Lamp Posts of Pont Alexandre III

Golden Statues light up in the late afternoon The Eiffel Tower is seen from all around Paris.  It's the landmark not just for the city but also for the continent.  Many locations give a view of the Eiffel tower.  Which is the best?  Here's my opinion. Eiffel Tower, Paris, France The best view of Eiffel Tower is from the Trocadero The late afternoon light, higher view, great foreground subjects all make the Trocadero my favorite location for viewing the Eiffel Tower.  This park is located on the right bank of the Seine river.  There are many statues, fountains, green areas and trees to use as foreground subjects.  My favorite is this golden statue.  She just glows with beauty and is a strong counterpoint to the Eiffel Tower in the background. This is also a great spot for photographing people with the tower in the background, as seen in an accompanying shot.  Plenty of people have discovered this great location.  Au revo...