One from Zion - Added a few more

anonymouscuban

My wife and I spent a day and half in Zion. I was quite overwhelmed by the beauty of the park. I was actually quite humbled by it. My feeling was that I would never really be able to capture how awesome this place is with my camera. I took quite a few photos but haven't really felt like going through them. I gone through all of them three times already and nothing really seems to jump out at me. I haven't deleted anything because I may just being going through a bit of a funk right now and am maybe being too critical.

I did manage to find one I kind of like and thought I share with you all. Hope you like it. Doesn't do the real life view justice... not even close:

DavidTO

I had the exact same experience in Zion, and pretty much failed at getting any shots I liked. I fared much better at Bryce on that trip. It's awesome as well, but on a scale that I could manage.

I think for Zion it really comes down to you have to be there at the right moment lighting and cloud-wise. Bryce seemed more forgiving, to me at least.

Did you get to Angel's Landing? I stopped short. I don't do well with heights.

anonymouscuban

Yeah man. I'm a little dissapointed I didn't get much in the way of photos I like but I am really happy I got to experience Zion. Absolutely breathtaking.

We didn't make it all the way up to Angel's Landing. We made it up to the last peak just before you trek up the last hill. My wife saw the last stretch and got a bit nervous about hiking up. I promised her before we started hiking up that we would turn back as soon as she decided so I had to keep my promise. I was going to trek up by myself but I felt bad leaving her waiting. I was told the last part is about an hour or so round trip. Add more time for me to take some photos and that was too much time to have her sitting, waiting.

Funny story on the way down from Angel's Landing. We got to point of where you go down the switchback trail, just above the river. There was a dutch guy that was keeping our pace. By that time, it what quite hot so I was in shorts and hiking shoes, my wife down to shorts and a bikini top. Well, we get to one spot and we're taking in the view and the guy stops and gestures to his camera. I assume he wants me to take a photo of him. He shakes his head and gestures to my wife and I; He wants to take our photo.... so I thought. I pose next to my wife and he says... "No you please. She." .

I asked my wife if she was OK with it and she was. He snapped a few pics of her and then thanked us. Then we were off. My wife joked about ending up on some Dutch porn site. . What's funnier is she tells me... "I'm not sure what kind of shots he got since I was completely backlit."

David_S85

Add me to the list of those who didn't process or do much with my Zion shots from the '06 DGrin Shootout. The Bryce experience seemed to produce much more opportunities and results, but something about Zion just didn't get my photogenic side going. The place is beautiful and I was always wanting to do more there. Just nothing much in results came from it. My wife loved it, but she isn't much the shooter, so she saw the place from a different perspective.

stirinthesauce

I absolutely loved Zion. I do agree with the sentiments on clouds/lighting. When I was there, the clouds were not playing nice as in none. Would love to go back and I believe Zion is a place where one could spend year after year learning, studying and exploring new places for differing perspectives and compositions. I believe one could spend there whole life shooting there and have something different every year. However that is probably true with most places. Coincidentally, I found the Grand Canyon more difficult to shoot but came away with better shots. Bryce was a lot of fun as well but enjoyed Zion the most. Interestingly, my pictures suffer worse from Zion. I was only at Bryce during the day, no magic hour light however did manage some decent ones.

-Jon

anonymouscuban

Well, glad to hear I'm not the only one that went to Zion and came out with little to show for it. I went through the line up again and found a few more shots.

2 - This is the similar to the first shot, just a bit further up the trail, higher up the mountain. I think the framing works better in this one:



3 - One taken while hiking up to Angel's Landing. I was in between two mountain sides, looking out towards the valley. It was beautiful... the contrast between light and dark, the trees and rocks in the foreground with the rock face in the background. The photo is not bad I think, but doesn't do what I saw justice:



4 - This one I took from road bridge that crosses over the river. We were driving by and I pulled over quickly to see if I could get down to the river easily. No dice so I took this shot:



5 - Not sure when I took this one. Don't remember taking it.

Mitchell

You last shot here is my favorite of the bunch. I found Zion to be a great place to shoot. As always, the early morning and late day light was the best.

Your shots exemplify why it is so tough to shoot in this location. The dynamic range throughout Zion is always challenging. Most shots have that bright sky coupled with the detailed shadows in all the rocky crevices. The key for me was bracketing. Virtually every shot I took at Zion was a 5 stop bracketed exposure. If I had something I really liked, I came home and did my own blending. Most single exposure shots will be underwhelming.

anonymouscuban

Mitch,

First, thanks for recommending Zion to me. The experience was wonderful. I enjoyed the place very much and spent a really nice time with my wife there.

You're right about the dynamic range of the place. I used my graduated ND filters and still had to bracket a bit.

Doug Solis

Nice series, I really like your shot of the Watchman, such a beautiful spot at any time of the year.

PrevailingConditions

Thank you so much for posting this. I too went there earlier this year and didn't get anything that I really liked. I guess misery really does love company! It is an absolutely beautiful place and I hope to get back there to spend some quality time.

I actually think your last shot is pretty nice.

Mike

spacefuzz

Cant wait to visit there myself, I like #4 best

zoomer

That story about the guy that wanted to shoot your wife made me seriously laugh...I can just see the look on your face when he told you to please step away from his model....I do completely understand how that could happen however .

Landscapes are tough....especially tough when you are not shooting them during the gold hour and you didn't get any clouds. So don't be to hard on yourself. Next time invest in a Graduated ND filter and hold it in front of the lens to darken the sky....really all you need to get some decent shots.

Thanks for sharing the shots you did get. 4 is not bad, you could crop even a bit more of the sky out.