To avoid the crowds in Moab it is sometimes best to look for your own. Around almost every corner there is an amazing arch to see, vast canyon, and popular hike that attract large crowds. I have personally been sucked into these locations and have photographed them with many photographers standing feet from me. The beauty of Moab never fully hit me until I started taking in the canyon walls that surround these amazing landscapes. Sometimes finding the best photographs in popular destination takes a new point of view. Shooting with a my 4x5 view camera helps distract me from the ordinary and look for something a little different. This photograph screams Moab to me.
Having taken many trips to Moab over the years every sunset has been different but this one, this one took my breath away! Every photo I have taken over the years has always started from an idea of the photograph I want to capture before it actually happens, a moment in time I can picture (a dream). Although during most shoots nature has taken its own path to change my original idea to capture that moment a little differently. This photograph was different as it was everything I thought it could be before it happened. I setup this evening in hopes the sunset would come to formation as seen here. As the sun was setting and many other photographers where snapping away 50 yards to my right shooting the traditional Delicate Arch photograph we all come to love, I held my position. Minutes later the sun dropped lower on the horizon and the sky began to light up in front my view finder. This is one of the most amazing sunsets I seen in Moab and excited to share it with you!
Hanging Lake is one of Colorado’s most spectacular waterfalls and is a very popular hike from June through September. Located near Glenwood Springs this one mile uphill battle and is a must for your Colorado bucket list. If you are looking for a little more adventure the trail is open year round. When hiking during winter months you should be prepared with crampons to get though some icy locations.
This photograph was taken December 26th after a week long cold spell that came through Colorado. The extreme cold temperatures set the stage for these icicles to from as they are seen here. After reaching the lake an hour before sunrise, I worked my way around the lake looking for the perfect location to capture this incredible winter scene. Getting to this location became more challenging and took a little more risk than I was originally planning on. Walking to the far side of the lake I was able to work my way up a snow covered rock. Looking though my viewfinder pointed at the falls I noticed another smaller snow covered rock. This object was unflattering and knew the only way to capture the true essence of the scene I needed it removed. There was a two foot gap between the large rock I was on and the smaller rock I am now thinking about going to. With both rocks covered in foot of snow and the smaller rock with a 4 foot radius (some pretty cold water below), I was preparing to jump. Packing my gear backup and working my way slowly to the edge of the large rock, I got low and spread my arms. Leaping forward and falling on my stomach I was now on the smaller rock. My heart was already rushing from the moment I arrived as the pure beauty of these frozen falls excited my photographic passion. I now felt like my heart was pumping though my chest (having made the jump) but really from the scene that now presented itself. I was able to capture this photograph moments before the rising sun reached the top canyon walls.
There's a good reason this is one of the most popular hikes in the state of Colorado. Geologically speaking, there are few places in the world that can compare to this marvel of Mother Nature. - visitglenwood.com