I have been to Moab many times recently and thought I would share what I have, hope you like the the photos and info. As I keep going on Journeys in Utah, I will add more photos. My new photos will be placed at the start of this post.

Arches Nat Park and Goblin - March 2010.

I was in arches for night photos and anything else I can shoot in this god awful desert place. Sand, Rock and dust as far as the eye can see. You have to decide which lens you are going to use before you leave the hotel. What a place, boy am I thirsty.
Noooo we had a great time last night. It was the first time shooting the rocks at night. Mater of fact it was my first time ever panting with light. We stayed out till 11:30, the moon was out but we had no wind at all, temp was about 39deg's. All in all it was a great night for photos.

If you plan to do this a few hints, if you want sharper stars you need to keep your ISO up above 600iso and f stop more open for a faster Exp. time. It is imposable to focus the camera at night so you have to find a focus spot on the lens next to the infinity mark. Problem is many lenses let you focus past this mark and your lens glass acts different when cold and hot. I found that on a cold canon 17-40 f4 l lens your focus at 17mm is just before the start of the infinity mark. Now for the biggest hint is to go out and pick up a light from http://site.gregmcgeeengineering.com/Home.php . The one that I used was MTE M3-2I Flashlight CREE 740 Lumen . I also picked up 4 reachable battery's and charger. This thing is a super nova, about the size of a mini mag with the light out put of a 1candle watt heavy lantern. To save the battery I used this thing for the exposure only but found that you can get over 30 minuets of full power from one battery. Enjoy.

Night1


Night2


Night3


Night4


Night5


Night6


Night7


Night8


Night9


Night10


New Photos from Goblin at night. We had two nights but the wind was so bad that I had to keep inside or be sandblasted, so we lost one night.

Goblin1


Goblin2


Goblin3[IMG]
http://danspage.smugmug.com/National-Parks-and-Wilderness/Goblin-State-Park-Utah/IMG7866x/823585803_8zpD3-XL.jpg[/IMG]


Goblin4



Goblin5


Goblin6


Goblin7 march 2010


Goblin8 This one was as I was walking out at 9:30pm.. It kind of funny- scary.



A few form the drive in for the night photos in March 2010.
Day1 2010


Day 2 2010


Day3 2010


Day 4 2010





Canyonlands National Park, Utah.

Lets start with Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park. We were up and out by 6:00am. Burger King
is about the best you can do for fast food in Moab. Then off to Meas Arch.

The drive to the Meas Arch was about 60mins from Moab, including a pit stop at the first out house
in the park.

From the parking lot at Meas Arch it's only a short walk on a nice trail. If you have any non photographers
with you have them bring a chair or blanket.The light show under the arch can last for over an hour. Only 20
photographers were staking out a spot with their tripods on the day I went. I'm not sure about how much
space is in behind the arch but I can tell you I was late to the party and had to weave my tripod legs
around others.

Because of all the people at the edge of the arch when I arrived (late, march 26 at 07:20)I had only two
photos that I could take,The right and left side. The hump was occupied by hump nazis, lol. The only lens
that would work for me was my 12-24mm on a D200. No filters,even the panos were done at 24mm.

This is the right side of Mesa Arch at 7:34.
#1 This photo took 2Nd place at Betterphoto.com



The guy to my left on some of the hump saw the photo and quickly raised his tripod to get the same sun flair, lol.

#3 This is a pano done at 12mm on a d200 hand stitched. At this time I did not have a program to stitch with.



#5 This is a little darker I think I like it better.


On the next few photos I was attempting to show how polished the sandstone under the arch was from
all the photographers moving around over the years.
I felt the sand stone it's amazing not like glass but it does have a shine in the right light.


#7 Polished Altar of Mesa Arch 2



#9 A small pine growing out from the rock along the trail out of Mesa Arch.


We next decided to take Shaffer Rim Road down to the lower canyon and White Rim Trail. This is a very winding,
very steep and narrow nerve racking road. I have since herd of many people that could not drive down this road.
At white rim trail we turned right for about 40min then turned around and went back by way of potash road.

#11 If you want to do this in one day, you need to visit Dead Horse Point while on the top of the canyon,
then go back to Schaefer Rim Road, an SUV is a must.


#12 This is a pano of the wall at Dead Horse Point.


#13 This photo was taken down the walking trail at Dead Horse Point. You can see the road
below and the Colorado River



#18 This day I only used my wide 12-24 Nikon lens for the wide Shafer Road photos.


I was trying to show the ledge that I was walking on with the pot holes and glittering sandstone.


I did not go to close to the edge about one foot away was about all I could do. It was quite a drop off.
This rock had many light colors of liken. I did my best to show it.
#22


#23 I sure was close to the edge on the next two.


#24


#25This flower was the only thing in bloom March 24 2008.


Next we took the road down back to Moab, Potash road, I did not take any
photos on the dirt part.

A part of Potash Road is a "Dry" river in a slot canyon. Potash Road has a lot
of Indian petroglyph's on the walls of the Canyon along the paved part.

#26 Jug Handle Arch.


#27 If you take this road you should have a jeep.


#28


#29


We took the photos of the petroglyph's on a different day before the trip down Shafer Rim road
to Pot Ash Road. At that time we did not know that this road went up to Shafer Rim road.
I still think that you could do all of this in one day.

We took the photos just after 12:00 noon . The rock had a lot of glare from the sun but a
Pol. filter on the 55-200mm Nikon did very well. The petroglyph's were in the shade by 2:30pm.

#31


#32



#35 This is a large photo I like the people hand in hand .


#36This one is kinda cool looking, a very chubby group.



#38



This is the last one of Canyon Lands trip. This one is of a Bear
I was told is a rare petroglyph.

I hope you enjoyed the trip, and can soon go yourself.
Thanks.

#39
Next Arches!!!!


Ok Now I have a little time to show a little of Arches Nat. Park

This one is the back side of the north window on Windows Arch towards Turret Arch
In the morning. I actually went to shoot Dubble Arch first but it was in the shade.
Note for next trip, " Double Arch afternoon photo".
Large 10 photo Pano. The Jpeg file was 32 Mb I had to reduce it for smugmug.
#40


The Pano was not needed just playing around. If you have a very wide lens you can
get what need in one photo. 12mm on a D200 3.25.2008
#41


#44 This one looks like it would be better in the after noon. Taken on the way out of the park. 3.25.2008



#50 I also took the hike to Delicate Arch in the morning looking to try to shoot something
that I haven't seen before. Most of the photos that I have seen were afternoon photos.


#51You need to take great care walking over to this and many of the angles I was standing
at. One slip and its game over after a 300 foot slide and 500 foot drop of the cliff.

#52

#53



#55 On the way out don't forget to visit the Indian rock art just before the ranch.


Balanced Rock area is a place that I would like to visit a few more times at different
times of the day. I only stopped once.

#56 A few photos from the parking lot.

#57


#58 A few wide photos with 18-70mm Nikon

#59

#59


#60Three Gossips Towers.

#61

#62


#63 Just a few odds and ends

#64

#65

#66


My wife had me put a 1.5foot by 6foot photo of this over our bed in the bedroom,
kid you not! She named it
#68

Phallicus Sandstoneacus

Its tough being a guy

Don't make me take a photo of the bedroom and show you.. lol......

Wow! Fantastic! Living in South West Utah, and I never get over there.
We did take a week long river boat trip down that river. Its was awesome!

Originally Posted by EphTwoEight Wow! Fantastic! Living in South West Utah, and I never get over there. We did take a week long river boat trip down that river. Its was awesome!

I live in Flagstaff and, dont make it up there enough either. I have to start going up there more myself. It is just I get stuck here with all the areas I have at hand, especially this year because of all of the run off we are getting.
Nice shots by the way.

Great shots, makes me want to hop in the car right now....

Great Post!!

Can't wait for the shootout

Awesome post

I have seen many images of Mesa Arch but you did it justice Also I really enjoy your originality in shooting the guard wall at Deadhorse Pt If you want to make some REAL big prints of those shots check this out!

What Marc said.

Thanks for the nice remarks.
Remember not to drink tomuch Beer .

I can't wait for the post after you all get back from Arches.

Magnificent set of photos, Dan.

Dan, that was a great adventure through Canyonlands, Arches, Shafer Road. Dead Horse and Potash with you. Wonderful work on your part, we just got back from there, we tried Shafer from the top and chickened out. got lots of shots from all those areas.

Great photos. Thanks for sharing.

Outstanding images!

I don't know how I missed this one, but these are some fantastic views and some great stories. :) It's been a while since the shootout but it doesn't make your images any nicer to see. I love that you're so dedicated to catching the right light and visiting the same place under different conditions to shoot their best sides.

Dan, I recently returned from the same trip. I had almost the exact experience you had at Mesa Arch. I arrived there at abut 4:30 AM (pitch balack and 25° F) When I got to the the arch it was covered with photographers. I squeezed in at the far right side, but didn't stay as long as you, although I did go at midday and at sunset. If you are interested, you can see my Moab and Canyonlands shots on my smugmug site.

Love your post and your shots.

Dan

Originally Posted by Danspage My wife had me put a 1.5foot by 6foot photo of this over our bed in the bedroom, kid you not! She named it Phallicus Sandstoneacus Its tough being a guy Don't make me take a photo of the bedroom and show you.. lol......

I hate to admit it, but I had the same thought at several of the sandstone formations in your pics. They made me feel vaguely uneasy...

Anyway, beautiful series.

Originally Posted by WillCAD I hate to admit it, but I had the same thought at several of the sandstone formations in your pics. They made me feel vaguely uneasy... Anyway, beautiful series.

I have the one down on the left, and I named it "Dildo Rock"

Thanks for the comments dlplumer and willcad.

I'm thinking about a trip to Moab and/or Goblin in March 20-27 2010. I would like to try a few night photos with spotlights. Any one going to be In Moab on 20-27th in March and has a big light?

I'am Looking at rooms in Moab , the 20 Saturday is all but gone soon.

Originally Posted by Danspage I'am Looking at rooms in Moab , the 20 Saturday is all but gone soon.

Go here: http://www.advrider.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=51 and check out the "Tent space" and related threads for people in the Moab area who're willing to put people up for the night.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by timk519 Go here: http://www.advrider.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=51 and check out the "Tent space" and related threads for people in the Moab area who're willing to put people up for the night. Good luck!

THANKS
That's one great list of space for a tents and rooms but no Moab available.

Originally Posted by Danspage THANKS That's one great list of space for a tents and rooms but no Moab available.

Try posting a note here then.