Hidden Secrets

 

 Oneonta Gorge

Larger Image

Sacred Place

Larger Image

 White pocket
Larger Image

Should we reveal our secret places? A lot of photographers like to keep their secret places secret, I on the other hand don't mind letting on for the most part, the top image, Oneonta Gorge was one, a few people where trying to keep it secret, silly because its one of those difficult to get to places and not a lot of people are willing to wade through chest deep water to get there.

White pocket is a relatively unheard of place in Northern Arizona that is very difficult to get to, high clearance 4 wheel drive, navigation skills and some guts are required to make it all the way out there.

"Sacred Place" is a name I chose to give this image, which is a class 2 archeological site, I was asked by the park rangers not to reveal the location of this site and I will respect their wishes.

Some secret places are right in front of us and we don't even realize it, we just have to see.

Ross

Images In Light

The Redwood Forest

5D Mk III, EF 24-70 f/2.8L II, 24mm, f/11 at 1/80 sec, Zeiss circular polarizer.

Larger Image

5D Mk III, EF 16-35 f/2.8L II, 32mm, f/16 at 1/13 sec, Zeiss circular polarizer.

Larger Image
 

The Redwood forest of Northern California has been on my radar for quit a while now, just across the Oregon border, its a pretty good drive, fortunately there are plenty of beautiful coastal stops along the way down.

Fog can be a daily occurrence on this part of the coast, but it can add dramatic lighting if you are fortunate to be there when it is being burnt away by the morning sun.

One of the best times to visit is late May when the Rhododendrons are in full bloom and the wild flowers are sprouting all along the coast.

There are endless possibilities  for photographers along this part of the Pacific coastline, including one of my favorites, Bandon Beach, near Coos Bay a few hours north of the Redwoods.

5D Mk III, EF 24-70 f/2.8L II, 24mm, f/11 at 2.5 sec, variable neutral Density filter.

Larger Image

Ross

Images In Light

Composition

5D Mk III, EF 16-35 f/2.8L II,  f/14 for 1 sec at 16mm.

Lee 2 stop GND filter.

Larger Image

After getting back from my Utah/Arizona trip I Googled Horse Shoe Bend and to my surprise almost all the images that came up where shot in landscape mode, not the Portrait mode I saw while I visited precariously 1000 feet above the Colorado River, I'm thinking that most people want to get the cliffs on both the left and right sides of the canyon or want less sky (I was blessed with nice clouds) so I chose the above composition. 

I wanted some glow in the foreground rocks and tried to capture the fire in the sky, a Lee 6 inch graduated soft 2 stop neutral density filter held back almost enough of the light to not blow most of the sunset.

I came away from that one happy, it was kind of a last minuet decision to run down and shoot at Horse Shoe Bend as we where staying the night in Page. There must have been a couple dozen photographers perched on the edge of that drop that night, most had left by the time this scene had unfolded and the real color shown itself.

 Photog's at Horseshoe Bend

Ross

Images In Light

Slot Canyons less traveled

Buckskin Gulch, 5D Mk III, ef 24-70 f/2.8L II; 1/2 sec at f/5.6, 59mm ISO100,

on a tripod with B + W circular polarizer. 

Larger Image

 

Buckskin Gulch, 5D Mk III, ef 24-70 f/2.8L II; 1/3 sec at f/8, 65mm ISO100. 

 on a tripod with B + W circular polarizer.

Larger Image

A lot of us have heard of Antelope Canyon, well there are others, maybe not as beautiful, but they don't have hundreds of photographers jockeying for position and guides asking you to move on so some one else can have their turn.

Wire Pass, Buckskin Gulch and Paria Canyon in the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument is a series of slot canyons that allow for a peaceful hike that can last up to 6 days if you want with nary a photographer in sight if you get in far enough, spend some time in there and you'll come away with some beautiful images and you wont have to pay for the privilege, unless you decide to get a permit for an overnight trip.

Its located in Southern Utah and Northern Arizona and there are a great many other locations nearby like: The North Rim, South Coyote Buttes, The Wave, etc, etc... 


Ross

Images In Light

My favorite Image for 2009

Image: 5D Mk II, 17-40 f4 L, 3 stop soft GND, Mt Baker B and W.

Larger Image

Kulshan (the Lummi indian name), The most prominent active volcano in the The North Cascades and part of the Pacific Rim of Fire. Renamed Mt Baker in 1792.

Ross Murphy Images In Light