Collaborative travel journal for lovers of the American West! (page 36 of 41)

Hi everyone, I’ll echo what Luke06 said and get back to the topic of this post:

Willis Creek: Easy to access when it’s dry, and the hike is just as easy. I love this very photogenic and refreshing spot. You could fit it in between Bryce and Capitol Reef, or between Bryce and Page if you take Cottonwood Road between the two.

Fred

My contribution for this stunning place.

The magnificent Flume Trail above Lake Tahoe:



And of course, Antelope Canyon:



Thanks for this post—it makes me want to go back!

Hey friends!

Is this amazing travel journal starting to lose a bit of steam? Like our guide (below) for Zion last year...

Hi Fabienne, What a great idea, this "collaborative travel journal"! I just skimmed through it (up to page 36) and saw that many well-known sites are featured: Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend (that place really impressed us), Arches, and other spots like Canyonlands or Bryce Canyon. To avoid repeating what’s already there—and especially to share a place we loved—here’s Delicate Arch. It’s worth the effort (at least it was in July 2007): a 45-minute climb, starting off fairly easy even if you have to pick the right path among some small cairns, then a narrow trail along the rock face, and finally—suddenly—you discover this stunning, delicate arch. Absolutely breathtaking!

Hey Pifil You should’ve moved those two guys on the left out of the way. But if they’re our Chinese friends, no chance of budging them. In the area, at Double O Arch, I had to yell at a group who thought they were at a street fair. Anyway, I hope you stayed until sunset!! Fred

Hi Fred, I have photos of Delicate Arch without "clowns," but I prefer this one for two reasons: - they give a sense of the arch's scale—otherwise, you don’t realize how massive it is, - where they’re standing (next to it and from the back), they don’t disrupt the view. Of course, opinions may vary! Generally, when I photograph subjects of "unusual" size, I try to include elements that provide scale (often people). You didn’t need to do that for your gorgeous Double O photo because the scale is already given by something in the shot... I’m talking about the tree in the foreground. We stayed as late as possible but avoided the nighttime return trip. Best regards,

Fabienne, Like others, I just couldn’t resist adding two photos of places that really stood out for us. Instead of making two separate posts, I’m combining them into this one. 1) Antelope Canyon: When the sun is at its zenith, the atmosphere is incredible, and even though it was 40°C (104°F) at the canyon entrance (July 2007), the temperature inside was much more pleasant. The photos you can take with digital cameras turn out even more stunning than what the human eye sees. For example, we really like this one:



2) Death Valley: Dante’s View: After a tough climb for the car’s engine due to the heat and thinning air as you near the top, the view and the silence are absolutely breathtaking. The photo itself isn’t anything special, but it perfectly captures the emotion we felt when we first saw this landscape:



That’s all—I won’t add any more. Promise! Best regards,

they provide a sense of scale for the arch, otherwise you can't really grasp how massive it is

Absolutely. Personally, I try as much as possible to keep people out of my photos—even if it means using quick fixes to get rid of them (photo editing software, what else?). But here, not only does it not bother me, it actually makes sense. Especially since the silhouettes look nice, and without them, we’d have no idea just how huge this arch really is.

OK Pifil! If it's a matter of scale, then fine! Like this, for example:



A solo sunset is fabulous too, though!!



Fred

Good evening Pifil, Your photo of Antelope Canyon is stunning! I have some beautiful ones too, but I’d give yours a perfect 20/20—no way to top that! The labyrinth is fascinating, and the play of shadows and light makes the site even more mysterious. Those strange mineral waves are just breathtaking. A real favorite, just like Delicate Arch, which is another sublime spot.

About scale, I agree with you—sometimes including people in the photos really helps.

For my part, I’m sharing some photos from a hike we did in the heart of Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument in New Mexico. It’s also a fantastic trail to explore. Have a great evening, fellow travelers!

A very narrow canyon carved by water and wind—it’s amazing how everything curves...

The towering Tent Rocks appear—so striking and beautiful.

A photogenic spot and a great hike.

Hi Philippe, Thanks for your kind words. I wasn’t familiar with Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks Park. It looks really interesting—almost like a mix of Göreme (Cappadocia) with its fairy chimneys, Bryce Canyon for the hike, and Antelope Canyon in white tones. The people in your photos 1 and 3 are perfectly placed; they don’t block the view and provide essential scale. So, I’ll return the compliment! Best regards,

Painted Desert to HOLBROOK (Arizona) in 2009: so hard to pick just one photo... First trip out West, the wonder is daily and the weather’s gorgeous.

Druid Arch in Canyonlands, Needles district. It took me about 8 hours round trip to go see it.



Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone NP

Slickrock! ... For mountain biking fans and stunning landscapes...

Yum. I did those in 2010, 2011, and 2012. In 2012, it was in July—even leaving at 7:00 AM, it was a really bad idea. I almost passed out from the heat. What else did you ride? One of my best memories is the Thunder Mountain Trail near Bryce. Absolutely insane...

I got back this Saturday and just couldn’t resist sharing a couple of photos from this trip with my 15-year-old son—he was totally focused on photography and backpacking... 230 km of hiking over 15 days, a little less than last year when I was solo...

First, Reflection Canyon, which I’d wanted to see for 4 years but had to cancel the last two because of iffy weather. Then King of Wings, which I’d already done at sunset, but this time I wanted a night shot with the Milky Way (the route was planned based on the moon’s and Milky Way’s positions to make it happen)...

Enjoy!





I’m thinking of putting together a travel journal, but I haven’t finished sorting and processing the 8,200 photos I took—between RAW files, HDR, and other bracketing...

Have a great day!

In November, the temperature is ideal. I did Slickrock in 2013 and 2017. It was a treat!

And yes... Thunder Mountain Trail! I loved it! 😎

BREATHTAKING—we’re speechless! Just: THANK YOU!!!!!

I’m thinking of making a travel journal, but I haven’t finished sorting and processing the 8,200 photos I took—between RAW, HDR, and other bracketing...

COME ON! We’re waiting with GREAT anticipation!

Your photos are gorgeous!... 😉

I have the same photos or almost!