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Figure 1. Early Morning Fog in Grand Teton National Park.
It is a common sight to see fog, more or less, in Grand Teton National Park in the early morning. The lakes at the foothill of the Teton Range may be an important source to contribute the moisture. The fog adds poetry to the already majestic mountains, but it starts to disappear when sun comes up. So you will need to get up early for this.
On this morning, I started my "patrol" at dawn while my friend still slept in the tent at the Colter Bay Campground. This is one of the foggy morning I've experienced in the park. In addition to the impressive fog belt, the horses on the meadow add some more romance for being in the West. This is a quick shot, but it works well.
There are some pictures that I loved at that moment, but it fades as time goes by. Although I can't remember all details on that day, this image is still in my heart since the moment I clicked it.
Figure 1. Grand Wash, Capitol Reef National Park.
Capitol Reef National Park is one of the Might Five national parks in southern Utah. Although I visited this park several years ago, I didn't spend much time exploring it then. On a recent visit, I stayed three nights in the nearby town and committed myself all these days in this park.
In addition to scenic drive, hiking is a better way to explore the park and get intimate experience. I usually found the park more interesting after I have done some hikes. This park is no exception.
Grand Wash is one of the hikes I have taken during this visit. In some way, it is very similar to the Narrows in Zion National Park, except there is no water on this trail. You are in a canyon carved by flash flood. The towering canyon walls provides not only the thrills, but also comfortable shade in the heat of summer.
The round trip of this trail is only 5 miles. It is flat and with shade most of the time. This is probably one of the easiest trails in summer as other trails don't have much shade to offer. I highly recommend.
Figure 1. Wild Burros, Spring Mountains National Recreation Area.
Does anyone come to Las Vegas for wildlife?
While most people come to Las Vegas for entertainment, nature typically is not a item. True, this city is in the desert, but there are mountains in the vicinity, Spring Mountains, or Mount Charleston as local like to call, to be exact. The summit reaches almost 12,000 feet and it provides the necessary moisture and coolness. The green vegetation gives a sharp contrast to the city below.
On my way back from a hiking to see Great Basin bristlecone pine, I bumped into burros on the road side. I thought I might see them in the lower Red Rock Canyon area as these are heat and drought tolerant animals. It's too comfortable for them to be here.
They are mother and baby burros, though the baby is quite big in October. The mother is not particularly afraid of people, but keep the distance. The baby seems to be more cautious, but doesn't try to run away.
Burros are non-native here and may compete with native animals for food and water. They are allowed to be here because of historic and cultural reasons.
Don't think of only casinos and hotels in Las Vegas. Less than one hour away, you can see nature and may have another perspective of the sin city.
Figure 1. Waterpocket Fold, Capitol Reef National Park.
It's been several years since I was in Capitol Reef National Park. Actually I didn't spend too much time at that time. Many people treat it a stop over between Zion/Bryce Canyon and Arches/Canyonlands National Parks. I decide to commit myself 4 days and 3 nights in this park this time.
The waterpocket fold is the centerpiece of the park. It acts as a barrier for early travelers. The east side of the waterpocket fold usually requires 4WD or high clearance vehicles to enjoy. The west side is easier as there are paved roads near it.
The Scenic Drive in the park offers one of the best views of the waterpocket fold from the west. This shot is taken not far from Fruita Historic District. I spent at this pullout couple times. While I like the blue sky, I find this stormy scene quite attractive. The lighting gives good contrast for both foreground and background. It also hints the hardship of the West in an historic perspective.
Figure 1. Cottonwood Lakes Basin, Inyo National Forest.
While most people enjoy a scenic drive, many gorgeous views require a hike. This hike can be strenuous for some cases.
Talking about great views, national parks are usually the first popping up in most people's mind. This is probably true for many cases, but not all. After all, there is no way to build a road to all scenic spots. That's why you need a hike to get there.
Cottonwood Lakes in Inyo National Forest are one example. This is a rather unknown place for most people, but not so for avid hikers or backpackers. Due to its 10,000 elevation high and about 10 miles round trip, not many people hike this trail. But if you can make it, it is worth the efforts.
This is my second time hiking this trail. My original plan is to reach all Cottonwood Lakes. I liked the clouds a lot when I just arrived the Cottonwood Lakes Basin. I found it so attractive even I haven't seen any lake yet. I decided to just stayed here as long as possible to see the play of light and clouds.
Although eventually I went to Muir Lake and spent some time there, I kept staying here on my return until the black clouds built up and the thunder roared. This is a good hike and I enjoyed every minute of it.
Figure 1. Lake Ellen Wilson, Glacier National Park.
To visitors in Glacier National Park, Lake Ellen Wilson is not a familiar name. It is located at the west side of Gunsight Pass. To see it, a strenuous 16 mile round-trip hike is required.
In 2014, I tried to hike Gunsight Pass Trail from the St. Mary Lake Side to Lake McDonald Side. The total distance is 20 miles,but I only need to hike 14 miles on the first day because I got a reservation in Sperry Chalet, a hike-in backcountry hotel on Gunsight Pass Trail. The trail leads to remoteness and it is one of my most memorial hikes in this park. Lake Ellen Wilson is one of the gems on this trail.
While Lake Ellen Wilson doesn't have the turquoise color due to the lack of active glacial activities, it is still very attractive. The clouds give the contrast and provide rich background in the midday. It is not far from Sperry Chalet and I felt more relaxed to enjoy it than Gunsight lake.
Famous landscape often benefits from easy access. The downside is the crowd. If you don't mind a work-out, you may find something even better in the remote backcountry. Lake Ellen Wilson is just one of them.
Figure 1. Point Supreme, Cedar Breaks National Monument.
Just like Bryce Canyon, Cedar Breaks also features hoodoos as a main attraction for tourists. In some way, it is like a miniature Bryce Canyon.
Point Supreme is one of some roadside view points in this park. This is also a place most people get the first glimpse of the Cedar Breaks Amphitheater because the visitor center is located here. While hoodoos at Bryce Canyon Amphitheater may be in a more dramatic way than here, the scenery here has the charm in its own way.
I've been to Cedar Breaks for some times. I got this shot when the sun shuttled among the built-up clouds. While the time is close to the noon, the lighting in fact is pretty good. The shadow on the ground makes the landscape more alive. The blue sky provides additional color contrast.
So don't think only golden hours the only best time for a good photograph. If you are willing to spend time observing, you may find any time can be the best time.
Figure 1. Desert Chicory, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
After consecutive years of drought, this winter brings a lot of rain to California. The drought is relieved, and the flowers bloom.
2017 spring in Southern California sees the rush of crowds for wildflowers. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is one of many places for the so-called super-bloom, though roughly only a two-week window. I've been to Borrego Springs for many years. I see most crowds this year. It is even difficult to find a parking lot at 9:00am.
Most people are drawn to the field of wildflowers during the super-bloom. The most impressed to me, however, is the desert chicory when I hiked Borrego Palm Canyon looking for bighorn sheep. While I saw this flower last year, I saw so many more this year and they easily caught my eyes along the trail.
Among many shots of the desert chicory, this is my favorite. The lighting is so great and it is full of contrast. I don't even need a macro lens for a good shot of it. I'll call it Flower of Spring 2017 of my own.
Figure 1. Desert Tortoise, Joshua Tree National Park.
Spring is the busiest time in Joshua Tree National Park. The temperature is just right and the flowers bloom. It is also good time to go hiking.
I decided to hike Fortynine Palms Oasis, which I've hiked couple times. Brittlebush was the most impressive and in blossom on the slope. The round-trip is 3 miles with moderately grade. On my way back, I saw hikers gathering on the trail looking for something. I guess it might be a chuckwalla, which I've seen on this trail.
It turned out to be a desert tortoise, which immediately became the highlight of this hike. This animal is on my too see list, but it's very difficult to see because the desert tortoise stays in a burrow most of the time. They might come out for water after the rain, or try to find a mate in spring.
I usually carry telephoto lens while hiking. It paid off this time. The tortoise is not afraid of people, or perhaps it doesn't know what people are. With the right equipment, all I need to do is stay down and take as many shots as I can before it went away. It crossed the trail, and then disappeared in the bushes.
Figure 1. Snow Shower at Grandview Point, Grand Canyon National Park.
There is so called right place right time. It doesn't happen often. But when you are out there long enough, you are sure to see one.
One time I was in Grand Canyon in December. It snowed the day before I arrived. It was not cold enough and so it can't keep. Only snow in the shade still stayed there.
The weather was not stable on that day. While it was quite sunny, there were still lots of clouds in the sky. This is the situation I like. A sunny day without clouds doesn't really make the Grand Canyon grand, even at sunrise or sunset. Certain amount of clouds are essential for a dramatic picture of Grand Canyon. It may even work during the mid day.
I was at Grandview Point and decided to wait because of the clouds. Although the sun was not low enough, the moving clouds create the mosaic contrast. It even snowed in a short time in the mid air, which is my favorite part of the scene. I have some contrast, blue sky, snow shower, and white and black clouds. This is one of the best scenes I've ever seen in Grand Canyon.
Figure 1. White Wolf, Yellowstone National Park.
I made a trip to West Yellowstone during the President Day weekend. To my surprise, it was so warm that it didn't just snow, but also rained. The condition was not right for a winter wonderland type of landscape picture. So I spent more time doing cross country skiing on Rendezvous Ski Trails.
Even so, I still took a snowcoach tour from West Yellowstone to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. The weather didn't quite cooperate on that day, but wildlife was active. In addition to bald eagles, we saw a white and black wolf on the road.
I've seen many wolves before. Most are gray and some are black. White wolves are rare and seeing one is more than just lucky. From the snowcoach driver, this white wolf was active recently between Norris and Madison Junctions. She is not shy from people and even walked on the groomed road.
While we saw her first time when we were headed for the Grand Canyon, we saw her again when we were back. Although she was not far from the snowcoach, it is challenging to take a clean shot because she were in the lodgepole pine forest and at the same time I needed to find a hole from the passengers on the snowcoach. Fortunately I got the window of couple seconds for some clean shots through the snowcoach window glass. The quality is good and I don't complain the bad weather.
Figure 1. Sunset Point, Bryce Canyon National Park.
What can be the best way to start a year? I spent couple days in Bryce Canyon National Park during 2017 New Year holidays. While it was some days after the snow storm, the snowy hoodoo landscape still looked good and I enjoyed very much.
It was foggy in the morning. You can't even see the hoodoos from the viewpoints until the noon. I knew the fog and clouds could go away at any time. So I was not never far from the rim and kept an eye on the sky. Fortunately, it did happen like I expected and I tried to take advantage of the lighting during this period.
The timing is not the preferred sunrise or sunset. It is even regarded as the "worst" timing, high noon. Actually, storm breaking or forming is usually better than golden hours. Some photos don't work at sunrise or sunset, but work at the moment like this. The sun peeked through the clouds every now and then and it gives the mosaic of shadow.
Who says the lighting is plain and lack of contrast during the mid day? Not necessarily if you are sensitive to the change of the weather.
