Welcome to the Grand Opening, a photo from Utah, West

Photographer's Note

This is taken at Chesler Park area of Canyonlands, Needles District.

The Needles District forms the southeast corner of Canyonlands and was named for the colorful spires of Cedar Mesa Sandstone that dominate the area. There must be thousands of sandstone columns of various size and color. Once arriving, there are several canyons and pockets to explore with many trail options throughout. The district’s extensive trail system provides many opportunities for long day hikes.

Though it is more difficult to get to, which mean it is also less touristic than the Island in the Sky District which is easier to access. I highly recommended.

When we arrived, it was already pitch dark, we just set our tent and went to sleep, imagine waking up and get out of your tent to see all these sandstone columns in the distance in the morning light. It is such a wonderful site to wake up to. See Workshop for a complementary shot of a view I have getting out of the tent, “Good Morning Needles and Canyons”

maximage, avene, BelCan75, eversmile, phwall, hispic, delkoo, rginer, shevchenko, patdeph, Angshu, pablominto, feather ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile

Critiques | Translate

Bartleby (13552) 2009-07-07 9:55

Hi Way,
I never get tired of those wonderful rock formations. Plus you addrd a nice polarized sky. Exposure is fine even though there some dark and slightly burned areas...

Yours,

Philippe

maximage (15537) 2009-07-07 9:57

Bonjour Way,
Superbe image avec des roches extraordinaires en formes et couleurs. Une merveille de la nature.
Excellente lumière également.
Bonne soirée.
max

avene (12675) 2009-07-07 10:01

hello Way,
I'm not ashamed to admit that by now I've become addicted to the red rocks of the American West, as Philippe says - you can never get tired of them. the deep blue of the sky adds to the surreal feel of the scene, and even the harsh light fits the mood (I'd try bringing out some details from the shadows though). nice one :)

best,
Kristine

rodgerg (55767) 2009-07-07 10:30

Hello Way,

A superb light unedr a beautful blue sky. The composition give a very artistic and very graphic effect. Beautiful colors and contrast very well collected.
Best regards,
Roger

BelCan75 (2201) 2009-07-07 11:17

Hello Way,

What an amazing shot. Great to see these canyonlands in such beautiful light. Great POV with good contrasts, great colours and beautiful details. Excellent work!

Greetings,
Ann

dkeus31 (27739) 2009-07-07 11:22

Hi Way
a nice colored image, the light is strong, but acceptable
regard
sdidier

eversmile (11636) 2009-07-07 11:43

Hi Way!

You will smile! I am eating a sandwich and watching your picture in same time, and I was so much absorbed by your picture, and the reading of your note, that I began to eat the paper napkin!!!

I like the strong colors and contrasts, the majesty of the rocks formations. I dream to see some beauties of the north american continent one day by myself... Yellowstone, Painted hills, Antelope and Bryce Canyon, the great Colorado... but through your eyes; it's also a pleasure. I think that's good that you added the morning view in ws: it gives a better idea of the scale.

Best regards
Marine

asajernigan (21427) 2009-07-07 12:01

Way,
This is a great shot of this beautiful sandstone structure. The lighting and colors are great with excellent sharpness and DOF. The deep blue sky provides wonderful contrast for the sandstone.
TFS,
Asa

bracasha75 (24591) 2009-07-07 12:20

Hi Way
What for a intresthing rock formation my dear friend
L:ovely nature shot from Utah
TFS
Cheers,Braca

Deepforest (9260) 2009-07-07 12:36

Hi Way,
Excellent shot. I am absolutely impressed by it! :o) This photo seems to be 3D. Everything is perfect here. Interesting sandstone formation and fantastic crystal-clear blue sky. Congratulations!
Andrzej

rlrad (1845) 2009-07-07 13:34

Hello Way,

I think this is a fine shot, however not up to your normal stuff - looks like you got up a little late. That would be unusual for you!

The pov is great and the composition nice - great title, as well, fits the shot perfectly. The oe areas on the rocks were, I'm certain, hard to deal with due to the contrasting darker tones in the rest of the scene. I envy your visit there, Way, I see it was a couple years back, so this is a testament to how far you have come in your photography, even if it is still better than the average photograph here.

Regards,
Reed

emka (158198) 2009-07-07 13:39

Hi Way, Splendid view of the Needles Disatrict. It is the part of Canyonlands we haven't visited. It looks very interesting, but one cannot see everything. Fantastic striped rocks. Splendid colours.

regards

Malgorzata

Jeppo (17645) 2009-07-07 14:03

ciao Way,

happy to find you back with such a magnificent shot!
canyonlands...both myself and some of my friends from the memorable "navajo trail" trip in 2005 still have this park in our heart....so magnificient..so magic...so breathtaking

thanks for bringing me back to that memory!
ciao
Silvio

jmcl (14535) 2009-07-07 14:48

Hi Way,

The blue sky contrasts the tones of the ground so well .. the harsh light adds to the sense of heat and starkness of this wondrous and powerful place .. I like the amount of and layered feeling of the foreground .. very nice. take care, John

phwall (6787) 2009-07-07 16:34

Hello Way,
This image just jumps off my screen, it is so bright and crisp, great shot. Wonderful colours, the sandstone is superb.
What an exquisite place to go camping, the scenic beauty in America never ceases to amaze me.
Regards
Peter

hispic (9658) 2009-07-07 20:07

Hello Way,
What a crystal clear color! Really beautiful, crisp clear blue sky, amazing red rocks rendered carefully with beautiful sunlight. The ultimate photo with superlative image quality.
Regards, Hisashi

aadilj (18102) 2009-07-07 22:18

Hi Way, this is vibrant and superbly compsoed with such a lovely sight thats been balanced superbly. I love the colorus and the way they are enhanced with the direct light

pauloog (11751) 2009-07-07 23:44

Hello Way,
Details well rendered and good play of light and shadows in this view of Utah, often difficult to take in the harsh light conditions. Wonderful rock profiles against the blue sky. A fantastic world indeed....
Regards,
Paul

KLB (23723) 2009-07-08 0:27

Hi Way

These rock formations are impressive, and the sight always so breathtaking.
You've done a great use of your polarizer to get a great deep blue sky, the contrast with the red tones is striking.
You've succeeded to manage the difficult light, and the dark shades give even more relief.
Excellent work, congrats.

Regards
Karine

delkoo (68) 2009-07-08 1:15

hi way,
The shapes and saturated colrs are quite appealing, i'm a lover of these pictures, full of light and technically very well managed and handled.

didier

baba_flies (8829) 2009-07-08 5:04

Hello Way! Do I have to tell you that I have just been there :))) but what I forgot to tell you is that it was totally overcast with some rain drops falling. It was impressive to stand there but when it comes to picture taking, the whole area was very very poor in color and contrast with an overcast sky above the red rocks, nothing I am proud of to show, almost impossible to achieve something that gives "ahhhhs and ohhhhs". Great photo for me when I look at your upload, very precise and well thought over in my eyes with the stripe of bushland in the foreground ... and yes this deep blue sky. I want your colors too ... :))) Reason to return, hey! Have a wonderful Wednesday, mid week already ... Barbara.

rginer (881) 2009-07-08 5:44

Hi Way,
Wonderful view and an optimistic feeling during the day after looking at this photograph. The light of the sky and the contrast with the rocks. It's a wonderful place to stay. Thanks for sharing.
Best regards,
Roser

tola_ch2004 (549) 2009-07-08 10:21

Awesome picture!
Every thing were very sharp and clear. I am glade that you have capture this moment from a perfect POV.

shevchenko (20560) 2009-07-08 19:50

Hello Way,
These rocks create abstract effect, just look like they are communicating, good pov fo frame it, clear to see the erosion feature, good WS to show wide view and perfectly if large version is available, thanks for sharing the great view at a lonely site.
Ally

patdeph (35750) 2009-07-09 4:25

hello Way
this landscape is really fantastic,so well enhanced by the polarized colors!I can easily imagine how it must be nice to camp here,and if this not very touristic,it's still better!Really splendid!
Regards
Pascale

david_P (512) 2009-07-09 6:33

Hi way,

very beautifull composition !
coulors are great

MarianneS (15338) 2009-07-12 8:54

Waow Way! I did not see this one when you posted it. The colours and light are superb!
An ideal way to present this superb Park.
I hope you are having a nice week-end :-)
Marianne

pablominto (53746) 2009-07-12 23:24

Hello Way,

Amazing colours!
Not only are the rocks outstanding but the sky also provides a matching backdrop...
The scene is well framed with pin sharp details, the angle of light adds a 3D touch to the structures!

Greetings,
Pablo -

Angshu (56760) 2009-07-13 0:32

Sabaidie Way
My second comment on a 'red rock' picture today (first one was that of Kristine). What a treat for the eyes these natural sculptures would be & I'm sure they're not easy to compose as well! Brilliant contrast of the layered red rocks with the polarised blue sky. Loved the view you showed in the WS as well. What I also like is your inclusion of the small bit of flat land in the FG...that gives a lot of depth to the picture!
Best regards
Angshu

crhieatt (5347) 2009-07-28 10:17

Way,

Happy memories! Indeed, Needles - and Chesler - what a fantastic area for hiking - hey - and for photography! The grand views from Island in the Sky are less appealing to me, I prefer that up close and personal experience you can get in this area.

Cheers
Colin

sacimar (38173) 2009-07-29 12:29

Hi Way,

superb picture, the rock formations are impressive, good details, excellent colors and light management, congratulations!

Best regards

Sergio

feather (51130) 2009-08-01 6:11

The American southwest has some of the most difficult lighting conditions to deal with and I think you managed very well here. With such a lots of buttes and mesas to choose from framing decisions are also difficult to decide. Here I think the crucial element is the gap (rather than the rocks themselves) to place correctly, and your choice to off-centre it was a good one. I might even have moved slightly more to the right so the gap appeared slightly more to the left. All-in-all a good shot.
Kath

cdmonson (5304) 2009-08-16 9:31

Hi Way:

Excellent shot of Canyonlands. I was one of those tourists--I've only been to Island in the Sky. Wanted to go to the Needles, but didn't have the time. Composition is excellent with the break in the spires in the left third of the shot--works very well. And of course you can't beat Utah red rock and blue skies. Well done.

Clark

PixelTerror (0) 2009-08-16 9:34

Hi Way
Impressive structures it looks like a hollywood decor and the warm hues on the stones offer a great contrast against the spotless sky
Have a nice day JY

ceky (2592) 2011-06-02 5:22

Hi Way
Thank you for presenting one of the numerous incredible spots of Needle NP... it recalls what was my favourite trail during my last trip in Utah !
Best regards
Georges