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I hope you enjoy! Vermillion Cliffs National Monument https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/the-pinnacles/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/The-Pinacles.jpg The Pinnacles Ogres have layers. Good landscape images have layers. This image has three layers, can you find all three? California https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/the-divide/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/The-Divide.jpg The Divide This is such a cool little swirl with so much going on.  Vermillion Cliffs National Monument https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/taffy-twirls/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/taffy-twirls.jpg Taffy Twirls This perspective focuses on the crazy sandstone texture of the Wave. Its such a cool place with some amazing geology.  Vermillion Cliffs National Monument https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/ocean-wave/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Ocean-Wave.jpg Ocean Wave This pool in the Wave was just delivering wonderful conditions that were beyond amazing for photography.  Vermillion Cliffs National Monument https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/mobius-arch/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Mobius-Arch.jpg Mobius Arch This arch is bigger than you would expect but not as big as you might want. But overall its a pretty cool little arch with cool texture, and one heck of a backdrop. California https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/mirrored-wave/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Mirrored-Waves.jpg Mirrored Wave For this image I waited till the slight breeze came to a complete standstill. I wanted the water to be fully mirrored so the ground and the water were as symmetrical as possible.  Vermillion Cliffs National Monument https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/calming-spires/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Calming-spires.jpg Calming Spires Tufa are these strange structures that form in lakes. These ones are particularly big.  California https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/weeping-rock/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Zion-Collected-Her-Tears.jpg Zion Collected Her Tears The falls over weeping rock are pretty awesome, mostly because they are in a cool spot.  Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/birch-creek-temple-falls/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Birch-Creeks-Temple-Falls.jpg Birch Creek Falls I wanted to get this image for a while. The falls that flow out between the Court of the Patriarchs and the Sentinel are frequent, but often disappear quickly. So a combination of fall colors, waterfalls and swirling clouds was kind of a rare combination of conditions. It was awesome! Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/zabriskie-channel/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Zabriskie-channel.jpg Zabriskie Channel Death Valley was hit with some big storms over the past few months. This past storm helped reset the washes around Zabriskie resulting in some awesome coloration due to new sediment deposited in the stream bed by a flood. The thing that drew me to this image was the curve of the river and the distant final destination of the water. If you wanted to look at this as a metaphor, we are all born of water and we all enter the world the same. In the end we all know our final destination, but everything in-between is a mystery. The view being blocked by the unknown hills and valleys of life. If we pay attention at least the ride will be fun.  Death Valley National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/warm-glow-eureka/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Warm-Glow-of-Eureka.jpg Warm Glow of Inspiration These dunes hidden deep in the northern part of Death Valley are wonderful.  Death Valley National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/the-pyrimid/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/The-pyrimid.jpg The Pyrimid I was recently fiddling around with older images and came across this one. I realized it had a lot going for it so I set it up and fixed a few problems. When I switched it to black and white, it felt like the image came alive.  Death Valley National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/mellow-yellow/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Mellow-Yellow.jpg Mellow Yellow In a grand landscape of colors shapes and surprises, this small canyon and its elegant turns, wonderful color and soft light was the place to point my camera this evening. Little things that pull this image together. The soft lighting, the small bushes throughout the channel and the little white stream bed that is reveling the steady progression of erosion.  Death Valley National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/lucky-number-six/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Lucky-number-6.jpg Lucky Number Six Always look for sand and mud patterns in Death Valley. Always. This pattern created a natural six and was really awesome for photographing.  Death Valley National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/eureka-dunes/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Eureka-Dunes.jpg Eureka Dunes I love these types of images where the light is casting a warm glow across the landscape and the dunes are catching the light in such a way to be elegant.  Death Valley National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/enlightened-eureka/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Enlightened.jpg Enlightened Sometimes I swing in a different direction when it comes to a photo edit. For this image, I went with overexposed to give the image an ethereal feel rather than a high contrast look. The image felt too peaceful, almost like a ribbon dancing in the wind or the swirl of bird wings in slow motion.  Death Valley National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/vermillion-wave-rider/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Vermillion-Wave-Rider.jpg Vermillion Wave Rider I can't describe how pretty it was to photograph this scene. I suspected it would be awesome, but it was so much more than I thought it would be. I have seen versions of this image over the years and I never really planned on photographing it. But with my most recent trip to the wave, I had the opportunity. In the end, it was so amazing to see how this rock caught the light while the background faded away. It was just stunning.  Vermillion Cliffs National Monument https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/twisted-ponderosa/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Twisted-Ponderosa.jpg Twisted Ponderosa This image is an homage to Marc Adamus who originally photographed this tree year and years ago. As a local I feel conflicted with his image as it is one of the more heavily manipulated images I think I have seen from him. Though the spirit of the tree remains in that image the reality of the landscape is severely altered. But to my knowledge Marc does not go out of his way to say that his images don't have major editing. In fact many of his images look heavily edited. But in some ways so do mine.  so this little twisted guy is a reminder that hidden in plain sight are really cool things. Small simple but wonderful at the same time.  Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/a-stone-guide/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/A-Stone-Guide.jpg A Stone Guide Leading lines that lead you home in Zion Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/hold-on/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/A-reminder-to-hold-on.jpg A Reminder to Hold On A tree that has been holding onto the edge of existence for so many years now. Sometimes we need to do that too until things settle in and we get comfortable. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/wind-blown/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Wind-Blown.jpg Wind Blown A huge rainstorm a few days before created stunning mud patterns. Then a cottonwood happened to let go of a few leaves to let the wind carry them into the new mud. I as the artists happened to spend a few minutes here composing the shot to make a very nice transition image.  Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/nude-fins/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Nude-Fins.jpg Nude Fins Have I photographed these hoodoos before. Yes. Why did I do it again? Because the light worked really nicely and this image is better than my last one.  Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/mirrored-reality/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Mirrored-Reality.jpg Mirrored Reality I don't really ever intend to sell this image. What I do like about it is the inverse reality that it shared. What the world looks like upside down and revealing things in a slightly different way.  Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/king-hoodoo/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/king-hoodoo.jpg King Hoodoo King Hoodoo. All hail!The lesson in this image is to understand that not every sunset is filled with great clouds in all directions. Sometimes its the lone wispy clouds high above. If that is the case, working with angles and a few good subjects can  make for an overall nice image. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/hide-and-seek/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Hide-and-Seek.jpg Hide and Seek Cottonwoods hiding behind rock walls in the Canyons. Sneeky little buggers make it hard to make nice shots. This guy got caught though.  Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/head-of-the-rock-hoodoo/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Head-of-the-Rock-Hoodoos-2025.jpg Head of The Rock Hoodoo's These hoodoos have dogged me for years. Literally... years. Every time the sunset or sunrise was supposed to be good, it happened in the wrong direction or not at all. Just frustrating. This past summer, it finally happened. Conditions aligned and I was graced with clouds, color and light. Kind of one of those relief moments where I feel like I can move on to other subjects.  Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/cosmic-vortex/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Cosmic-Ashtray.jpg Cosmic Vortex The Cosmic Vortex is one of the more weird things you will find out in the deserts of Southern Utah. The basin is filled with very very fine sand and the drop in is fairly steep, so I ended up not dropping into the bowl. I didn't want to drop in and suddenly not be able to make it out. So I enjoyed the sunset and then walked a very long walk back in the dark.  Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/canyon-popcorn/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Canyon-Popcorn.jpg Canyon Popcorn A cottonwood in full fall color Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/calf-creek-tangles/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Calf-Creek-between-the-trees.jpg Calf Creek Tangled Beauty This is an image I have revisited multiple times. I like the framing that these two trees create with the waterfall in the background being highlighted. On this occasion the lighting conditions seemed to have really worked out and the end result is this nice overall image.  Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/volcanic-aspens/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Volcanic-Aspens.jpg Volcanic Aspens I was not expecting these images when I came across them. I was expecting aspens, but coming across this field of aspens popping up from an old lava flow was a real treat. And to my surprise there was this wonderful little stand of trees that created this wave form from left to right. It took a few attempts to get this right, but I really liked the way this image came out. Cedar Mountain, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/prophets-of-the-desert/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Prophets-of-the-Desert.jpg Prophets of the Desert I love Joshua trees. They provide what seems like an endless opportunity of great photos to capture. On this trip I was playing with a drone and wanted to explore a slightly different area. Ended up having a great sunset while I was out here. Beaver Dam National Conservation Area, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/golems-eye/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Golem-Eyes.jpg Golems Eye Every once in a while I find faces in the rocks. I didn't notice this one until after I got home and was working on the image, but I love the Golem face in this image. Not only does this image highlight the beauty of Bryce it also contains a few iconic views in a single image.  Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/cool-blue-fall/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Cool-Blue-Fall.jpg Cool Blue Fall This image is a play on reality with the sky actually being a lake. This image was taken looking down a steep hill that descended to Navajo Reservoir in the valley below. These two aspens rose above the rest standing as lone fall sentinels in the evening light.  Cedar Mountain, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/oasis/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Oasis.jpg Oasis Calf Creek Falls is just stunning. That is why it has become one of the busiest hikes in the Region. I have mixed feelings about that, but I still love it. Its one of those places I plan on taking my kids to for the rest of my life.  Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/promise-of-fall-cedar-mountain/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Promise-of-Fall.jpg Promise of Fall I don't generally consider myself a country person. I like small towns and all, but I don't really connect with "country" life style. I like trucks as a tool, not as a state of being. ATV's are fine. They are fun for about 30 minutes then they kind of feel like driving a smallish car. Cows bring me zero joy. The idea of farming for a living sounds awful. But when all the element come together in a picture, that I might be able to get behind. The above image has rural flare with broken down mountain structures, a pictures cow, and rolling hills leading to red rock and rainbows. On many levels this is the kind of photo that I think most photographers like to capture even though it wasn't jaw dropping conditions. Sometimes being simply pleasant is enough. Cedar Mountain, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/wolverine-meadows/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Wovarine-Meadows.jpg Wolverine Meadows These little fluffs of cotton are found along the riparian areas in Alaska. They were way cooler to see than I would have expected, but they create such a wonderful little landscape of wonder.  Wrangell St. Elias National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/wolverine-glacial-basin/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Wolvarine-Glacial-Basin.jpg Wolverine Glacial Basin This was a particularly pretty valley carved by a glacier that has since dissappeared, Wrangell St. Elias National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/wave-rider/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Wave-Rider.jpg Wave Rider Waves of ice from the Root Glacier.  Wrangell St. Elias National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/university-range/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/University-Range.jpg University Range Sometimes after a really crappy hike you are rewarded with one of the best sunsets you will see in ages. This stunner of a sunset had nearly everything you could want in an image. Dramatic clouds, colors, big wild mountains, and adventure. This unnamed peak lit up at sunset and I loved working with it as it was just fantastic.  Wrangell St. Elias National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/through-the-valley/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Through-the-Valley.jpg The Valley of Wolverines The University Mountain Range at Sunset from where wolverines walk. Wrangell St. Elias National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/397/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/The-Russel-Glacier.jpg The Russel Glacier Wrangell St. Elias National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/the-mighty-university-range/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/The-Mighty-University-Range.jpg The Mighty University Range This was the best sunset we had of our entire Alaskan Experience. We had swirling clouds and amazing colors for what felt like forever. What a wonderful experience to get to see, particularly because it capped off a really difficult day of hiking.   Wrangell St. Elias National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/the-mighty-chitistone-river/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/The-Mighty-Chidistone-River.jpg The Mighty Chitistone River The chitistone river has been carving its way through the mountains of Alaska for many years. It's efforts have resulted in the Chitistone gorge seen from high above in this image. It's tireless work is shredding the glacially carved mountains. to pieces.  Wrangell St. Elias National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/the-goat-trail/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/The-Goat-Trail.jpg The Goat Trail Don't be lulled into complacency by this image. The trail barely seen in the image is nothing to shake a stick at. It is filled with cliffs, stream crossings, bears and one wolverine.  The views are stunning, the hike is challenging and mud tries to kill you.  Wrangell St. Elias National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/braids/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/The-Final-Braid.jpg The Final Braid The chitistone river is not the biggest river in the region, but it has claimed many lives. This little river also happens to be one of the most important routes into the interior of Wrangell St. Elias National Park as it was the path that gold miners use to take back in the early days of Alaska's gold mining days.  Wrangell St. Elias National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/the-dramatic-russel-glacier/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/The-Dramatic-Russel-Glacier.jpg The Dramatic Russell Glacier The Russel Glacier on our final morning was feeling a bit dramatic. Swirling clouds, dramatic light and ever shifting conditions. I particularly liked the conditions as they were something that I do not personally see all that often in my neck of the woods. This image only shows about a quarter of the Russel Glacier as it extends for a few miles to my left and in multiple different directions up the different arms seen in this image.  Wrangell St. Elias National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/painted-mountain/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Painted-Mountain.jpg Painted Mountain I thought a particularly pretty mountain in Alaska. I doubt it has a name, and may be too small for most people to even bother to try to scale.  Wrangell St. Elias National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/mountain-race-tracks/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Mountain-Race-Tracks.jpg Mountain Race Tracks The Russell Glacier is fed by at least eight different arms. As these different arms merge together they drag with them the mountains they are churning to dust. the end product are these race tracks of ice that streak across the face of the glacier.  Wrangell St. Elias National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/ice-feeder/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Ice-Feeder.jpg Ice Feeder I include this image mostly to show how huge glaciers are fed. The mountain behind the clouds is a 15,000 ft monster that has a huge ice shelf that continually feeds the Russell Glacier The Russell glacier then in return devours the landscape and churns it to dust.  Wrangell St. Elias National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/hole-in-the-wall-glacier/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Hole-in-the-Wall-Glacier.jpg Hole In The Wall Glacier Hole In The Wall Glacier is one monster of a glacier that is very different from many of the glaciers in the area. In particular it has something like five different arms that are steadily feeding into it from a relatively small area. The lower parts of the glacier here in view had an ice cave at the base of it, but the distance and the danger to it meant we weren't going inside.  Wrangell St. Elias National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/387/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Harsh-Lands.jpg https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/harsh-alaska/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Harsh-Alaska.jpg Harsh Alaska After coming off the most intimidating trail of my life in some of the most surreal conditions I have ever hiked in, we were graced with some of the most dramatic clouds swirling around unnamed peaks in some of the most wild places in Alaska.  Wrangell St. Elias National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/flowers-of-the-glacier/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Flowers-of-the-Glaciers.jpg Flowers of the Glacier On the edge of the Hole in the Wall glacier, small plants are beginning to migrate into the landscape. These early establishers are often pretty little flowers that pop up in pockets across the landscape. Though not the brightest little flowers out in the world, I really enjoyed this nice pop of color in the landscape.  Wrangell St. Elias National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/castle-rainbow/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Castle-Rainbow.jpg Castle Rainbow On our journey across and over the Chitistone Pass we were graced with intermittent rainbows in the valley below us. This was one of many rainbows that appeared and disappeared rapidly before eyes.  Wrangell St. Elias National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/castle-mountain/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/castle-mountain-at-sunset.jpg Castle Mountain at Sunset Alaska is home to stunning landscapes, but none of them are easy to get to. By time we had arrived at this location I was feeling beat to death. Every part of me hurt. Luckily I did have a bit of a reset and was able to walk again. One of the advantages of getting to the location early was it allowed me time to find something interesting. So when sunset occurred I had time to bounce between a few compositions, this was one of those from that evening.  Wrangell St. Elias National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/blackwhite-russel-glacier/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/BW-Russel-Glacier.jpg Light Pillars of Russel Glacier On the morning of the last day at the Russel Glacier, dramatic light pillars dropped through the clouds. These god beams cast dramatic patterns across the monster glacier. When I created this image, I thought it might make for a great black and white image.  Wrangell St. Elias National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/thors-sunrise/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Thors-Hammer-Sunrise-2025.jpg Thor's Sunrise For this image, I really wanted a bright poppy image of Thor's Hammer out at Bryce. Even though I currently have an image of this hoodoo already on this site, I like revisiting places like this to see what else I can get and to see if I can get newer images. I like getting slightly more recent takes on places I have been with better gear and a lot more knowledge. In addition, I find it enjoyable to still find quiet alone time at an iconic location. I was here all by myself. The other photographers who showed up later didn't bother getting out of bed early enough and stayed high rather than dropping into the bowl.  Bryce Canyon National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/horsetail-falls/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Horsetail-Falls.jpg Horsetail Falls Columbia River Gorge https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/multnomah-falls/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Multinoma-Falls.jpg Multnomah Falls Columbia River Gorge, Oregon https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/west-temple-milkyway/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/West-Temple-Milkyway.jpg West Temple Milkyway A setting moon light the landscape so well that I could take a night image showing the vast west desert of Zion National Park and capture the milky way above the park. This to my knowledge is the first image of the West Temple with the milky way over it. It's probably not, but I don't know of any others.  Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/spring-bloom-zion/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Spring-Bloom-Zion.jpg Cholla Blooms of Zion In ten years of photographing Zion, this is the second time I have been able to see cholla in bloom in the park. Frankly the last time, it wasn't even in the park. So this is kind of a cool moment for me to see. In particular, it was really stunning to see all the other cactus in bloom along side the cholla.  Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/smithsonian-thunder/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Smithsonian-Thunder.jpg Smithsonian Thunder Smithsonian Butte is a large mountainous structure on the foothills of Zion National Park. On this evening I was photographing sunning wildflowers and thunderclouds over Zion. On the way home this lightning storm was billowing up south of the park. Pulling off to the side of the road, I pulled out the Telephoto and lined up this little hay barn and just began photographing. Over the course of 30 minutes I was able to catch a handful of lightning bolts. In the end I combined three images together showing the lightning over the mountains.  Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/a-treasure-of-utah/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/A-treasure-of-Utah.jpg A Treasure of Utah Sometimes you can find yourself in the middle of what feels like city and you are able to find a slice of nature. This image taken just outside Springville Utah highlights the beauty of the Wasatch Front along the shorelines of Utah Lake. Taken at sunrise Utah Lake https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/utah-lake/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Utah-Lake.jpg Utah Lake One of the more hidden areas of Utah is Springville. It is nestled up along the bottom of Utah Lake as has won some accolades as being a great place to live. Even I, the southern Utah lover spent a few years here getting my Masters in Biology. While there I would occasionally run out to Utah Lake to find a view that was particularly interesting. On this evening. The phragmites were sticking out of the shallows and the calm air created a peaceful evening.  Utah Lake, Springville Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/wasatch-winter-morning/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/On-a-Winter-Morning.jpg On A Winter Morning "On a cold and frost morning"Winter is not a time of year I do much photographing, but on occasion when conditions are as good as this you just have to go out and photograph. With a fresh wind blown snow and billowing clouds this scene captures the feel of both the cold and beauty of the Wasatch Front on a winter morning.  Utah Lake https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/deadhorse-point-dawn/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Deadhorse--Point-Dawn.jpg Deadhorse Point at Dawn Deadhorse Point kind of holds a dark point in cowboy history. Supposedly cowboys would take unwanted horses and put them up on this plateau and leave them there. Since this part of the plateau can only be accessed by a small 15 foot wide neck, it was easy to trap animals there. Then they could wear them down (or kill them) since there is no water up there. I don't know if these stories are true. Now instead of a dark past, it is considered one of the most iconic views in the American Southwest. This little state park in Utah is one of the most visited parks in the state. Deadhorse Point State Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/illuminated-west-temple/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Illuminated-West-Temple.jpg Illuminated West Temple This type of light is referred to as dappled light. It can produce stunning results when the right conditions and the right landscape come together. This evening I had both stunning landscape and stunning dappled light. Great light shafts were illuminating the West Temple (another photographer captured a rainbow this same evening). Of all the images I created this evening I particularly enjoyed this stunning view where the top of the west temple was illuminated. Below it was a dark band followed by another light band of light. I liked the back and forth contrast created with the scene. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/spirit-of-the-west/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Spirit-of-the-West.jpg Spirit Of The West After having a wonderful evening photographing the dancing light across the West Temple, I reoriented myself to face north to catch the spectacular light on the clouds. This image felt fairly right at the time when I created it in the field. When I brought it back to the digital darkroom and began playing with it, I realized the image had a true western feel. An open plain with rolling grassy and cactus filled landscape. Large billowing clouds catching the pure light of the west. To cap it off are the iconic views that have landed in a fair bit of Hollywood films. In fact, if you watch The Good Dinosaur by Pixar, this grassy field and the mountains in the distance are the backdrop for where the hero finds his courage. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/factory-butte-flower-bloom/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Factory-Butte-Flower-Bloom.jpg Factory Butte Flower Bloom An explosion of wildflowers near a stunning mountain called factory butte Southern Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/flower-factory/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Flower-Factory.jpg Flower Factory These flowering events are rare. I have only seen it once in 2018. It may have occurred some time in the past few years, but I am not aware of it. For this even I was treated with a sweeping landscape of yellow flowers and a monstrous mountain as a backdrop. Southern Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/prim-rose/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Prim-rose-at-powell.jpg Prim Roses Lake Powell Prim Roses are some of my favorite flowers in the southwest. They pop up in the spring and carpet large swaths of the desert. In fact, the most enjoyable part about it all is that when they appear it is often a surprise as they only really open in the evening or early morning. Often time I go to bed not expecting much, but wake up to fields of flowers across the landscape. Such a great experience. Lake Powell https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/lake-powell-badlands/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Lake-Powell-Badlands.jpg Lake Powell Badlands Much of the landscape around Lake Powell is actually known for being pretty amazing. In fact, ,many of the hikes in the Grand Staircase actually start in the Grand Staircase and then work into Lake Powell. In fact this structure straddles the two monuments and is a real treat to actually photograph. Lake Powell, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/dead-horse-point/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Dead-Horse-Point.jpg Dead Horse Point A little overlook that happens to be world famous with a killer view. Dead Horse Point State Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/archangel-falls/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Archangel-falls-in-autumn.jpg Archangel Falls Archangel Falls in Zion National Park is one of the prettiest waterfalls in the park. Part of its beauty is that is is girdled by trees that just come alive during the winter and make for stunning images Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/purple-kinesava/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Purple-Kinesava-New.jpg Purple-Kinesava Zion National Park has so many cool views that are off the beaten path, that require a bit of wandering. This is one of them. This no on a trail but in a stream bed. This part of the park is rarely visited, but not unknown. There is so much awesome here. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/kolob-cliffs/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Kolob-Cliffs.jpg Kolob Cliffs The cliffs of Kolob are some of the best cliffs in and around southern Utah. They have interesting structure and shape along with the fact that they can catch some really nice light at the end of the day. That is what this evening was. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/watchman-in-spring-vertical/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/The-Watchman-in-Spring-Vertical.jpg Spring Watchman One of the most impressive sunsets I have ever seen in Zion. The light crept up the valley and lit up the Watchman at dusk as a light drizzle saturated the colors of the evening. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/layers-of-the-colorado/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Layers-of-the-Colorado.jpg Layers of the Colorado The great architect of the southwest is the Colorado River. Though it is only one river, it is the final resting home for much of the water in the southwest. All the rivers in the region drain to her and with that they carve a tapestry with the Colorado at its heart. Like a giant tree of life with branching roots in all directions it creates layers upon layers of wonder in the canyons. Canyonlands National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/hoodoo-arch/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Hoodoo-Arch.jpg Hoodoo Arch This scene literally blew my mind. I have never seen so many hoodoos as big as they are here. Each hoodoo is hundreds of feet tall and can fit school busses on top of them. It was unbelievable. Canyonlands National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/yin-and-yang/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Yin-and-Yang.jpg Yin and Yang Finding peace in canyonlands is often about finding a nice set of rocks to sit on and watch the light shift across the landscape. Canyonlands National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/warrior-pair/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Warrior-Pair.jpg Warrior Pair A warrior and his companion Canyonlands National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/visiting-spirits/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Visiting-Spirits.jpg Visiting Spirits A collection of spirits that visit the ancients of a time forgotten. Canyonlands National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/the-grand-gallery/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/The-Grand-Gallery.jpg The Grand Gallery The Grand Gallery is the most impressive set of petroglyphs and pictographs I have ever seen. I am grateful that they are in the middle of nowhere. They deserved to be protected. Luckily these ones are a bit high up and this has prevented vandalism. Canyonlands National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/spirit-warriors/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Spirit-Warriors.jpg Spirit Warriors The two spirit warriors standing watch over the other fighters and hunters of a past time. Located deep in the desert of Canyonlands. Canyonlands National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/spirit-gathering/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Spirit-Gathering.jpg Spirit Gathering A stunning panel of petroglyphs in Canyonlands National Park Canyonlands National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/moses-and-zeus-ancients/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Moses-Zues-and-Ancients.jpg Dance with the Ancients Moses and Zeus are a couple of famous towers out in Canyonlands National Park. As I wandered around the structures I was looking for a cool composition. When I saw this rock I thought to myself "If I were a little Native American boy and a storm was passing over, I would hang out under that rock." And right there I found this big horn carved into the rock. The photo was surprisingly hard to pull off and the clouds were just not wanting to comply, but I think I did the best I could with what I had. Canyonlands National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/layered-canyons/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Layered-Canyons.jpg Layered Canyons The views in Canyonlands are hard to match... and hard to photograph. Sometimes the landscape seems so big its just so hard to put together. For this image I had to use the telephoto and bring all the landscape down to a small ridgeline highlighting the layers of the canyon as light gently lit the landscape. Canyonlands National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/holy-ghost-panel/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Holy-Ghost-Panel-2.jpg Holy Ghost Panel The Holy Ghost Panel is a famous panel in Canyonlands National Park, luckily its a long way from anything and another 3.5 miles of hiking past that to get there. So some remoteness helps protect it. But in the end it is one of the coolest panels I have ever seen. Now the name comes from Mormon (Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints) theology probably. The Holy Ghost being a member of the godhead. Now why this panel got named such, I am not sure. I suspect that the head reminded pioneers of a ghostly figure and with the fact that the Book of Mormon is supposed to have taken place somewhere here in the America's it connects the dots a bit. In my mind I see robot, but I can see ghostly figure too. Overall I think it was one of the coolest panels I have ever seen and no doubt will gladly revisit it sometime in the future. Canyonlands National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/holy-ghost-and-freinds/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Holy-Ghost-and-Friends.jpg Holy Ghost and Friends Canyonlands National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/ekker-and-elaterite-buttes/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Ekker-and-Elaterite.jpg Ekker & Elaterite Buttes Ekker and Elaterite Buttes are prominent structures seen from most vantage points in Canyonlands. In this image I was able to capture them as the early dawn light lit them up. This image is a special image for me as it was the highlight morning while traveling through Canyonlands National Park along the White Rim Trail. This experience was one of my top 10 trips and solidified Canyonlands as one of the best national parks in Utah. Canyonlands National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/cougar-petroglyph/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Cogars.jpg Cougar Spirit Finding any native American drawing that depict cougars is rare. This is my first. This image taken in Canyonlands was a one of the highlights to a trip deep into the park. In addition the fact that these petroglyphs also is surrounded by many other interesting figures was a really exciting find Canyonlands National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/peace-on-the-colorado-river/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Peace-on-the-River.jpg Peace On The Colorado River A silent morning on the edge of the Colorado River. The still air of dawn had not been broken yet by car engines or birds singing. Silence was my companion as I composed this image. The gentlemen who were with me were off doing their own images someplace else so I had the view of the glowing mountain to myself. Canyonlands National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/345/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/snail-spiral.jpg https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/344/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/hunted-snail.jpg https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/343/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Cone-Shell-Black-and-White.jpg https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/342/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/pine-cone.jpg https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/341/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Clam-Shell.jpg https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/340/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/purple-flower-stem.jpg https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/339/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Succulent.jpg Succulent https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/338/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/devil-seed-pod.jpg https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/337/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Craw-Claw-Merged.jpg https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/fern-cayon/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Fern-Canyon.jpg Fern Canyon Fern Canyon in the Redwoods is a particularly cool little spot to visit if you have the time to adventure. Located on the coast this, small stream drains out of the coast cliffs leaving this impressive canyon with wall covered in ferns and other plant life. It definitely is going to be a place I come back to in the future. Redwoods National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/335/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Gods-Hand.jpg https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/tortoise-rock/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/tortoise-rock.jpg Tortoise Rock Sometimes hidden faces are found within rocks. My dad spotted the Tortoise within these rocks. Can you find it too? Joshua Tree National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/timber-top-mountain/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Timber-top-to-Red-Mountain.jpg Timber Top Mountain Timber top mountain at sunset. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/deer-trap-mountain/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Deer-Trap-Valley.jpg Deer Trap Mountain I was a kind of terrified taking this image. The thunderstorms were rumbling all around while I was here trying to get an image on the edge of a 2000 foot cliff. Lightning has a tendency to do what it wants and I was for sure close enough to be on its list of things it could strike. In the end the lightning dropped a bolt right behind the West Temple. A very cool experience indeed. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/eagle-crag-rainbow/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Eagle-crag-rainbow.jpg The Eagle Crag Rainbow This is kind of a unicorn image for me. I for years have tried to get an image of the Eagle Crags on the south side of Zion and frankly have failed. They are almost always too far away to make the image work, or the conditions are cool, but not good enough. The list of reasons why the photos don't work out is probably as long as a Storm Light Book. Recently though I explored a new area of Zion I haven't really been before and was graced with a massive rainbow off to the right of the Eagle Crags. Many of the shots of this evening didn't work, but this one turned out to be an interesting image. The rainbow has a lot of red due to the amount of rain and how low the sun was on the horizon. It is an image you won't find anywhere else, which makes it kind a cool unique image in my book. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/mountain-of-the-sun-deertrap/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Mountain-of-the-Sun-From-Deer.jpg Behind the Mountain of the Sun This thunderstorm gave me a bit of a scare as it wandered its way by me while I was photographing this scene. In the end I got a unique scene I haven't really scene photographed in Zion. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/maples-in-zion/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Maples-in-Zion.jpg Maples In Zion It is so rate I actually get to photograph maples in Zion. There aren't that many and the few that do exist, are found only in a few places in the main canyon. I recently found a few and was able to catch them while they were in this nice orange glowing state. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/great-white-throne-in-fall/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Great-White-Throne-in-Fall.jpg The Great White Throne in Fall For a person who has photographed in Zion for 10 years, I am a bit surprised It took me 10 years to cross the river here and photograph up on this bench. The week before I photographed this image, I noticed these maples in blazing glory across the canyon. At the time it was raining and I had kids, so not a good time to go walk across the river and photograph. So I took a mental note of them and then headed back to see what I could do. Luckily for me the colors were still doing their thing, though not nearly as intense. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/upper-kanarraville-in-gold/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Upper-Kanarraville-in-Gold.jpg Upper Kanarraville in Gold I revisited a location after nearly six years. Since my last visit, I have gone through three cameras and a lot of new experience. In addition, the last time I photographed it, it was in the morning. So taking the chance to revisit in the afternoon was kind of a fun change. What I wasn't prepared for was how much the sun lit up the canyon. The light illuminated a majority of the front of the canyon and that resulted in a deep golden glow that lit up much of the canyon. I think I got it, maybe I didn't. What do you think? Southern Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/kanarraville-falls/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Kannaraville-falls.jpg Kanarraville Falls Chat GPT had this to say about my image: "I finally made it back to Kanarraville Falls! Six years ago, I left this place with its red sandstone and rushing waters ingrained in my mind, and I knew I had to see it again. Fall seemed like the perfect time, with the sun casting that warm, golden light across the canyon walls. This waterfall has this graceful, double-stream flow that's as mesmerizing as ever, pouring over the slick, curved rocks with that silky, dreamlike motion I love to capture. It's surreal how the colors pop against the water's smooth flow - nature's art at its finest! So glad I finally got back here." The worlds writing has been reduced to the tone of an influencer. Southern Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/escalante-river-mud/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Water-Whispers-Escalante.jpg Water Whispers Every year I spend a few days in the canyons of Escalante. Every year I do so I notice the evidence of floods. This year was no different. Here this little channel in the sand was created by a flood that was so big it filled huge sections of the canyon and probably raised water levels from about 4 inches to 6 feet deep. This little channel was a reminder of that event. A reminder that there are places still wild where mother nature roars and life has found a way to be stable in her presence. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/two-towers-at-dawn/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/two-towers-at-dawn.jpg Two Towers At Dawn I have places I like photographing, this is one of them. Tucked into a greater landscape is a hoodoo garden. I have photographed there probably a dozen times or more over the years. On a recent one on one photographic workshop I took a gentleman here to experience it himself. In the end we were given a sunrise to be remembered. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/two-tones-of-escalante/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Two-tones-of-escalante.jpg Two Tones of Escalante I have seen this tree multiple times, but the way the light and the way it was isolated yet had the contrasting backdrop made for kind of an appealing image to me this go around. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/two-merge-to-one/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Two-Merge-into-one.jpg Two Rivers Merge A tall vertical highlighting a river merging to one again, with bright fall colors guiding you deep into the photo. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/singing-canyon-2/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Singing-Canyon.jpg Singing Canyon Sometimes you need to revising a spot after 6 years. I find as I go through my catalog of images I find I have images that I have taken and places I have visited that date back multiple cameras and a lot of iterations of my photographic skill. With that in mind, I revested this location to see how I could do a slightly different take on the image. Turns out I ended with a nice panorama of this spot. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/shades-of-fall/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/shades-of-fall.jpg Shades of Fall Shades of fall with red rock. What more can you ask for? When I was processing this image, I was thinking about how Provia film renders colors. As a photographer who has shot digital my whole life I do not have much experience with that type of film, but I have seen enough film photographers to know what the look is. I tried to render that a bit in this image. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/scaled-fall/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/fall-in-focus.jpg Scaled Fall One of the things I have learned over the years is to pay attention to your feet. The canyons of the southwest flood regularly. A lot of times they leave little pockets of mud in all sorts of surprising areas and when fall leaves fall on them, it creates interesting compositions. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/escalante-arch/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Escalante-Arch-In-Fall.jpg Escalante Arch in Fall I have been to this arch probably a dozen times. This was the first time I got to go there in fall color. I was particularly surprised by the quality of light, in particular on how the tree catches the light and how the reflected light bathes the back canyon wall in such a way that it brings out all the color. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/emerging-spires/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/emerging-spires.jpg Emerging Spires I have been eyeing these towers for a few years now. In fact I have tried this composition before in years past. Now I don't know if this is better or worse than any other time I have photographed it, but I finally decided to do something with this image. The sunset on this day was not of particular note, but overall the image has a calming quality to it. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/escalante-canyon-cottonwoods/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/dancing-cottonwood.jpg Escalante Canyon Cottonwoods Cottonwoods turning their fall colors. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/the-mojave-desert/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/The-Sanoran-Desert.jpg The Mojave Desert A dusky scene of the Mojave Desert. The Mojave Desert https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/comet-tsuchinshan/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Comet-Tsuchinshan-Joshua-Trees.jpg Comet Tsuchinshan This is my second chance to photograph a comet as it has passed by earth. The first attempt didn't work very well, but on this second round of trying I was far more successful. I wanted to go for a look where the commet was shooting down towards the earth while also highlighting the alien like trees found near my home location. In order to do this I set up this compositional pyramid that leads to this heaven meet earth alien world look. I think it turned out kind of unique and special. Beaver Dam National Conservation Area, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/313/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Kinesava-Aurora.jpg Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/reflection-canyon/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Reflection-canyon-v2.jpg Reflection Canyon Reflection Canyon, Lake Powell under the Milky way and the planet Jupiter Lake Powell https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/panther-creek-falls/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Panther-creek-horzontal.jpg Panther Creek Falls In Utah we simply do not have waterfalls like this. Water falling down cascades sure, but the air is so dry that very few plants grow on the rocks just outside the waterfall. So having the opportunity to photograph a waterfall as magical as this was a really cool experience. Washington https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/panther-creek-falls-vertical/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Panther-Creek-Falls.jpg Verdant Cascade In Utah we simply do not have waterfalls like this. Water falling down cascades sure, but the air is so dry that very few plants grow on the rocks just outside the waterfall. So having the opportunity to photograph a waterfall as magical as this was a really cool experience. Washington https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/verdant-growth/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Verdent-Growth.jpg Verdant Growth Talk about an enchanting scene. A carpet of clobbers, fern arms sticking out of the clovers like green arms of a deep sea monster. Vine like branches stretching across the image leading back to a garden of glowing leaves. This was a fun image to edit. Redwoods National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/stream-of-life/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/stream-of-life.jpg Stream of Life I spent much of my teenage years playing Magic the Gathering. Though I personally had an affinity towards the red cards and how they functioned, there was always something enchanting about the cards that were always associated with the color green. Many of the images were filled with large monsters, deep jungles and forests with mythical creatures moving through them. This image reminds me of such a place. The leaves almost make a stream of life that acts like a river of color above the fern floor. I probably could have pushed this image more down that direction, but I also know that more I push in that direction the more the shadows would look too dark as a print, so I made a compromise. Redwoods National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/stand-forward-redwood/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Stand-Forward.jpg Stand Forward Ferns are the ever present friend of redwoods. They make the landscape view like apartment buildings amongst sky scrapers. Interestingly enough this view would actually be something very similar to what dinosaurs would have seen for much of their early history. Gymnosperms (redwoods) and early vascular plants (ferns) would have dominated the landscape for much of the history of dinosaurs. Angiosperms (flowering plants) began to show up on the scene in the early Jurassic but took many millions of years to dominate the landscape. Meaning that yes, the forests of ancient times would have been mostly filled with ferns, bryophytes (mosses and stuff) and pine trees of a sort like these. Redwoods National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/peace-in-the-mist/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Peace-in-the-Mist.jpg Peace In The Mist Mists in the redwoods is a special experience to photograph. As I worked on this composition the mists would come and go with varying thickness making it a very dynamic photographic experience. In general I do not get to photograph mist all that often. I just don't live in a place that has these types of conditions. In fact, mists and humidity are frankly something I don't deal with much resulting in some challenging photographic experiences for me. But in the end, I find this a successful image as it highlights the understory of a place like this when a bit of light can hit the ground, the nature of redwoods and how they are just so much bigge than anything else and how mists are an important part of this community as they give life nourishing water all year long even when the rain isn't falling. Redwoods National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/nursery-leader/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Nursery-Leader.jpg Nursery Leader This image highlights one of the coolest things about the redwoods, the nursery trees. Nursery trees are trees that had fallen but turn into platforms for new life. The plant material the rains down on the surface of the log, along with the decomposition of log material itself creates a soil layer on the surface of the trees. From these fallen giants springs forth new life. Many plants specialize in growing on these logs and many different plants and animals can be found thriving on the surface and within these logs. Redwoods National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/growth/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Growth.jpg Growth The middle doldrums. The redwoods have this kind of middle empty space where the forest floor is packed with life, and the upper canopy of the redwoods simply towers above everything else. This empty no-man's land acts as some sort of flyway corridor for birds, and frankly interesting viewing areas for us photographers. This image captures the beginning of that transiting to no-man's land. The short trees peter out while the redwoods simply grow forever upwards. Redwoods National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/giant-growth/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Green-Mass.jpg Giant Growth One of the overwhelming aspects of photographing in places like the redwoods are scenes like this. Thick undergrowth that feels chaotic and overwhelming. Sometimes the scenes are frankly impossible to photograph why others are surprisingly easy. This one fell somewhere in the middle. I find the green mass that it is, sits with a natural circular flow that makes almost a target like effect. It was one of the more fun images I had to edit on this trip. Redwoods National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/corkscrew-tree/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Corkscrew-tree.jpg Corkscrew Tree The Corkscrew tree of the Redwoods is a very very impressive monster. Its is hard to tell from this picture alone, but I think the tree is made up of at least 5 different trees that are performing a slow motion dance where they entangle their bodies with one another like lovers on a good night. These trees spiral high into the air with their tops disappearing into the canopy of the redwood forest. It was such an impressive set of trees to see in person. Redwoods National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/narrows-summer/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Summer-Cumfort-in-the-narrows.jpg Summer Cumfort in the Narrows This photo feels like summer comfort. Warm water, green plants and the light warm glow of the sun reflecting off a neighboring wall. It makes for a relatively pleasant image that shows the texture complexity of the narrows. It also proves that even in the lower canyon where people are abundant, there are small scenes that can be captures that remind you that wilderness can be found in small pockets. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/anchor-of-the-narrows/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Anchor-of-the-Narrows.jpg Anchor of the Narrows The further I hike up the Narrows the more I realize how much it is an oasis in the desert. The lower part of the narrows are generally very tall, with sparce amounts of vegetation relatively speaking. The further up one travels, the experience changes. The canyon, still deep seems to allow for more light to creep its way down. Because of this the plants begin to show up in higher numbers and the walls turn into a landscape of hanging gardens. When combined with the canyon glow of the deep, it makes for a truly magical experience. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/kolob-rainbow/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/kolob-rainbow.jpg Kolob Rainbow A little over 10 years ago I began my photographic journey in the Kolob Canyons of Zion National Park. My first images of Kolob were not spectacular but were a start that helped me understand how to use my camera. Flash forward 10 years, I find myself getting a photo the encapsulates a decade of knowledge and experience. This photo came about through dedicated planning, watching radar and understanding how light moves across the region. On top of that, I had gear that had improved by leaps and bounds from those early days. I don' t fear getting my equipment wet. So as I stood there getting drizzled on, my only fear was lightning, not failure. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/kolob-rainbow-pano/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Kolob-Pano-Rainbow.jpg Promise of Life A little over 10 years ago I began my photographic journey in the Kolob Canyons of Zion National Park. My first images of Kolob were not spectacular but were a start that helped me understand how to use my camera. Flash forward 10 years, I find myself getting a photo the encapsulates a decade of knowledge and experience. This photo came about through dedicated planning, watching radar and understanding how light moves across the region. On top of that, I had gear that had improved by leaps and bounds from those early days. I don' t fear getting my equipment wet. So as I stood there getting drizzled on, my only fear was lightning, not failure. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/rainbow-over-the-west-temple/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/West-Temple-Rainbow-v3.jpg Rainbow Over the West Temple There are photos that help define a career of work, this might be one of them for me. On the eve of this photo, severe weather was predicted for southern Utah. I of course sat there at 11PM thinking about how I might take advantage of this, and conditions looked primed for a spectacular sunrise in Zion. So at 5AM when I woke up, I was disappointed to see that conditions looked like they had shifted later in the day and my morning was going to be a bust for rainbows. But here I was, awake at 5AM and figured, why not lets go check it out. Off I went and headed into Zion National Park. I arrived at 6:15AM, about 30 minutes before sunrise not sure where to go. So making a last minute decision I hoofed it up the Watchman Trail at the front of the park. I knew I was well behind to get to the top with time to spare, so I hiked with all my speed. My muscles burned, and I was sweating like a dog in the humid monsoon morning air. I arrived to the top of the shelf about 2 minutes before sunrise. From here I frantically tried to put something together, but not much came to me, so I went further. When I got the prominent overlook, some color began to appear in the sky and soon enough magic happened. The rainbow appeared before me dropping in just in front of the West Temple. A view a decade in the making. After I composed my shot I had enough time to take 4 or so sets of images and the rainbow disappeared. Maybe 30 seconds. Ten years of searching for 30 seconds of opportunity. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/star-dunes/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Star-Dunes-Pano.jpg Star Dunes The Great Sand Dunes are impressive. Massive mountains of sand that frankly are intimidating to even consider climbing. They are the largest dunes in North America and rise hundreds of feet off the valley floor. They are also surrounded by mosquitos... So many mosquitos. Good thing I brought pants, a long sleeve shirt and a lot of bug spray or this photo would not exist. Great Sand Dunes National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/prancing-dragons/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Dancing-Dragons.jpg Prancing Dragons The prancing dragons of Black Canyon are some of the coolest rock patterns I have seen. In fact I didn't know these were called the dragons, but I picked up on the design on my own accord while I was out photographing this sunrise. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/angel-wing/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Angel-Wing.jpg Angel Wing A single shaft of light punched through the clouds creating this Angel Wing of a rainbow that drifted across the sky and then faded. Black Canyon is one of the most interesting canyons you can come to and explore without having to do some extensive hiking. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/cliff-palace-rainbow/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Mesa-Verde-Palace-Rainbow.jpg Cliff Palace Rainbow My phone was buzzing with warning of flash floods for the local town of Cortez, then I entered the national park and I lost all cell service. Sometimes crap weather is crap weather, other times its the catalyst to epic conditions. As we drove further into the park the dark clouds ahead were building and the lightning was beginning to flash. Soon after arriving to the cliff palace the first bands of rain began to pound us so we ran away and hid in the car. We drove around a bit but soon realized the double rainbow appearing over the tree line would probably line back up with the cliff palace. So with a pep to my step I zipped back to the cliff palace and had one of the scariest/greatest photoshoots I have had in years. The lightning was rumbling and dropping just up canyon. The wind and rain was blowing into my lens making photographing painfully difficult. In the end though, I think I got one of the coolest images of the Cliff Palace I have ever seen... Well at least one with a rainbow. Mesa Verde National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/292/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/The-Towers-of-Green-River-Overlook.jpg Towers of the Green River Overlook A series of towers descend in the distance of Canyonlands National Park. Silence was the mood of this image, true silence, peace and awe. Canyonlands is one of the few places that evokes that feeling. Canyonlands National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/291/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Gods-Hand.jpg Gods Hand The grand overlook in Canyonlands is one of my favorite views in all of Utah. The grand vista and the canyons of madness wind their way below. In particular, this view provides views of a section of canyon that looks like a four fingered god reached down and removed a chunk of earth as if it were a sand box to play in. Canyonlands National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/aurora-joshua-tree/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Aurora-Joshua-Trees.jpg Joshua Tree Under the Aurora On May 10-12 the world was graced with a huge geomagnetic storm that caused aurora's to appear way further south then normal. Of course for the first day of this event, the largest of the events, I had cloudy windy awful conditions to photograph in. I did what I could, but it was on day 2 that I got this beauty. I went out one more time and lo and behold, the aurora showed up one last time for just a few minutes in my area before they retreated back north. Beaver Dam National Conservation Area, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/horseshoe-bend-storm/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Horse-shoe-bend-new-2024.jpg Horse Shoe Bend This photo capped off a very difficult art show for me. A storm came through and destroyed a few booths, cleared out the customers and essentially turned a slow day into a dead day. I didn't loose my booth but it turned out to be a very disappointing show for me. So after calamity the event organizers pulled some strings for me and gave me the opportunity to photograph at Horseshoe Bend for free. It ended up being a wildly awesome sunset and I was presented with this scene above. The clouds parted opening a spot for the sun to drop down and light up the landscape. It was an awesome sunset. Lake Powell https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/guardian-at-dusk/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Guardian-at-dusk.jpg Guardian at Dusk The Watchman in Zion has been a source of photographic inspiration for about a decade for me. I hope I get more years to continue to photograph it. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/taylor-creek-cliffs/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Taylor-creek-cliffs.jpg Taylor Creek Cliffs The Taylor Creek Cliffs are often photographed, but rarely like this. I had to wander to what turned out to be a National Park study plot looking at plants within the community for this image. Never intended to be there, but here I was seeing light dance and research at work. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/fruit-of-zion/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Fruit-of-Zion.jpg Fruit of Zion This turned into a spectacular morning for me in Zion. I was able to photograph bands of light dynamic conditions and eventually this pleasing shot, an image of a prickly pear cactus ripening its fruit. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/night-watchman/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Astro-Watchman.jpg Night Watchman The milky way in Zion National Park. In view is the Watchman Mountain and the Virgin River. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/striation/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Striation.jpg Stiration Sand as is makes its way through the landscape with light dancing along its edges. Death Valley https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/sierra-dunes/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/sierra-dunes.jpg Sierra Dunes The soft light at the end of the day in Death Valley is a lot of fun to photograph. I didn't spend much time with it on my first sunset at the dunes, but on my second excursion into the sea of sand, I spent a bit longer after the sun set and played with the dunes. Death Valley https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/telescope-peak-salt-stream/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Salt-stream-to-telescope-peak.jpg Salt Stream to Telescope Peaks Death Valley is a land of discovery for a landscape photographer, but it requires work, and exploration. I didn't know what I would find when I traveled out by the Devils Golf Course, but what I found were these remnants of old stream beds running into the salt flats. The next day after the initial discovery, I decided to head back to them for sunrise and catch some grand landscapes. In the end I think the image creates a pleasing expansion of light and color highlighting some of the best views of the main valley of Death Valley National Park. Death Valley https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/the-race-tracks/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Racetracks-Death-Valley.jpg The Race Tracks I have known of the racetracks for many years and have wanted to visit it simply because of what it is. I was always a bit afraid to go because of the road, so when I had the chance, I took it. The drive took us deep into the back country of Death Valley late into the night and into an area that was much colder than I had gear for. Luckily with a bit of planning, I was about to manage the 30 degree temps with my 35 degree bag, but it did make for a cold morning trying to figure out what to photograph. The racetracks them selves are on the south side of the playa. The closer you get to the far cliffs, the more prevalent the racing rocks are. The fun aspect about seeing these rocks, it really does feel like you are looking at small races between rocks as many of them will have parallel tracks and with one rock in the lead. For this image, I really wanted to highlight the racetrack as it wandered off into the distance. Though not the largest rock with a racetrack, this particular rock had a track line well over 200 feet long with a few bends along its run. Death Valley https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/mesquite-dunes/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Mesquite-dunes-s-curve.jpg Mesquite Dunes The genesis of this image was watching the clouds form and seeing how they mimic the curve of the dunes across the landscape. Mesquite Dunes, Death Valley https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/fish-hook/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Fish-Hook.jpg Fish Hook I first saw a composition like this by Michael Shainblum I do believe. In some form or another it has been repeated by a handful of artists including Sara Marino and Alex Noriega. The exact shape is neither the same, but how the light plays across the dunes where sharp edges are formed in a landscape of smooth edges. I didn't set out to recreate this type of image, but the opportunity stumbled upon me. While amongst the dunes I noticed how the light played across a dune next to me and as I pointed my camera at the dune, I realized I had stumbled across an image I in some form or another had seen for a while. As I worked the scene a biological shape began to stick in my mind. Though the image is named fish hook, it actually reminds me of a group of insects called tree hoppers, in particular the group that mimics thorns. These insects body are shaped into large hooks to both hide but to prevent consumption. I guess I am a biologist at my core. Mesquite Dunes, Death Valley https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/artist-pallet/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Artists-Pallet.jpg Artist Pallet Ten years ago I traveled to artist pallet, drove up in mid day, said "yup" and drove away. I didn't quite appreciate it yet for what it was. I was new to photography, didn't really know what I was doing and overlooked this spot. Flash forward 10 years and I have a bit of a different take. I really like the contrasting soils of the landscape I just don't like the amount of people found here these days. I struggle to photograph in places with lots of people these days. It seems to be the natural progression of photographers as they do this for a while. So when I did this image, I simply avoided them. I waited till morning and went away from the main area and did my best to compose something I loved. Death Valley https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/tranquility-desert-falls/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Tranqile-Desert-Falls.jpg Tranquility Desert Falls A panoramic image of Calf Creek Falls with a dollop of fall colors. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/sunset-arch-2023/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Sunset-Arch-2023.jpg Sunset Arch I first visited this arch in 2016. Seven years later I revisited this arch to recreate one of my most iconic images I have ever created. With better equipment, better understanding of photography and a better grasp on photography I wanted to create a superior image to my last attempt. I am proud of this new image. This image is a culmination of seven years of growth. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/riparian-fall/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Riparian-fall.jpg Riparian Fall Take a moment to appreciate this image as it is a bit more complicated than my other images. Amongst the riparian floral resides one rabbit brush providing a contrast to the rest of the environment. In generally rabbit brush is a disturbance species and takes over when a landscape has been altered. Here the willows hold these plants back preventing them from taking over a landscape though they still reside within the community. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/native-alcove/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Native-Alcove.jpg Native Alcove This is a view that probably has not changed much for the past 500 years. No double cottonwood trees have come and gone, but the petroglyphs behind me indicate that this area has been used by humans for many centuries as a sanctuary in the desert. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/metate-arch/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Metate-Arch-wide.jpg Metate Arch I have been photographing this area for close to 10 years. This is the first time I got an image of Metate Arch that I am happy with. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/guardians-of-blood/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Guardians-of-Blood.jpg Guardians of Blood I have tried for years to get a sunset like this at this location in Escalante. In 2023 it finally happened. These three hoodoos have been long standing subjects of mine and have been called Guardians of the Galaxy, Three Wise Men, but now they have returned to be the Guardians of Blood. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/golden-trail-to-calf-creek/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Golden-Trail-to-Calf-Creek.jpg Golden Trail To Calf Creek I have for many years wanted to photograph Calf Creek Falls in the fall season. This time when I arrived, there were these collections of golden leaves that lined the lower pool surrounding the waterfall. With a bit of effort I was able to line up a composition that created a golden trail of medallions to the waterfall in the distance. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/dance-in-the-canyon/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Dance-in-the-Canyon.jpg Dance in the Canyon There is more to landscape photography than big grand landscapes. Though I love those images, I am trying to stretch my photographic skills when it comes to isolating interesting subjects. This is an example of the dance of cottonwoods amongst the canyons in Escalante. The image above has a layered aspect to it allowing for the viewer to wander through the image. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/armed-monster/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/cold-and-hot.jpg Armed Monster I wanted to go for something a bit different with this image, showing contrast between the cool branches and the warm leaves of the call colored tree. I like how the branches resemble monster arms in the woods. Its something different that I do not noramally do. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/towers-of-the-virgin-in-blue/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Towers-of-the-Virgin-Blue.jpg Towers of the Virgin In Blue The fall leaves in Zion have always enticed me and many other photographers. I was hoping to get out to Zion in 2023 and explore and see what the views were like in a different spot. Along the way I found some old pioneer debris and some views I had not photographed before. In the end I left this image a bit cool because I liked the feeling of the image. Not every image needs to be warm. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/dance-of-the-cottonwood/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Dance-of-the-cottonwood.jpg Dance of the Cottonwood An experimental image Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/tree-ents/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/tree-ents.jpg Tree Ents The Tree Ents of Zion. I have seen these cottonwoods for years, but this was the first time they popped out in such a way that worked well for an interesting composition. In addition I had to get a bit off the main path and follow an animal trail to get the view. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/sandstone-river/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Sandstone-Rivers.jpg Sandstone River I wanted an abstract image that highlights Zions Patterns. This image reminds me of the flowing rivers of life and how we are adrift upon them. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/road-to-the-great-white-throne/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Road-to-the-Throne.jpg Rode to the Throne Every once in a while I re-visit views in Zion with better gear, more experience and better conditions. In 2023 I had it a goal to go back and photograph the Great White Throne of Zion near Big Bend. The fall colors were not in full glory, but were doing there thing in a decent manner. In addition the clouds really came to life creating some dynamic conditions. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/dappled-towers-of-the_virgin/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Dappled-Light-Towers-of-the-Virgin.jpg Dappled Light of the Virgin Towers In all my years of photographing Zion, I have never photographed dappled light across these mountains. I have seen it in passing but nothing like this. The sun sent beams across the cliffs making shifting patterns of light and dark, I just had to be ready to photograph it. Towers of the Vigin Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/cabins-of-kolob/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Cabins-of-Zion.jpg Cabins of Kolob This is an image I have had an eye on for years now. Though the original plan was to photograph this while all the leaves were blazing red, these maples just didn't seem to want to go that way. So as the golden hints of fall began to decorate these leaves, I headed out and photographed this scene within the canyons of Kolob. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/bridge-mountain-to-the-watchman/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Bridge-to-Watchman-in-Snow.jpg Bridge to the Watchman This image was not taken recently but has not been on the website. This stunning sunrise was from some years back when I decided to hike my way up a stupid steep hillside to see what views I might be able to get within the park. In the end it was a lot of hiking and sweating and hoping. After getting up high enough to have spectacular views I trained my camera on the distant peaks. In general the Watchman (far right peak) gets more attention that Bridge Mountain does (left peak), but I like having them both in view because you can see truly how amazing the front half of Zion is. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/angels-landing-in-big-bend/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Angels-Landing-big-bend.jpg Angels Golden Throne Fall in Zion was difficult to predict and plan in 2023. Due to high summer temperatures sticking around in the lower canyon and what seemed to be cooler temperatures hitting the high country, there was a lot of difference between times of when colors showed up during this year. As the season began wrapping up, I decided to head out one more time with the family and wander along the river so the kids could get a chance to wiggle and see something interesting. Along the way they found bones, birds, deer and cactus. I found myself with a view I had never photographed before. Though I had seen this perspective dozens of time, this was the first time when conditions finally aligned for some great conditions. Image taken in Zion National Park near Big Bend. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/beaver-dam-double-rainbow/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/beaver-dam-double-rainbow.jpg Beaver Dam Double Rainbow I knew there was going to be good weather this evening and I got some great conditions by Beaver Dam Wash near the Utah Aarizona border. Southern Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/the-imlay-boulder/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/The-Imlay-Boulder.jpg The Imlay Boulder In a recent adventure up the Narrows of Zion I was surprised to finally find the time of day to photograph this rock. I have tried for years now and have been unsuccessful, but after going up way further then I have ever gone, I came by this rock much later in the day than I normally do. I guess that was the trick, because I got here while there was spectacular light bouncing off the walls. I guess you have to push yourself some times to get the desired outcome. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/emerald-pools-summer-tranquility/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Emerald-Pools-Summer-tranquility.jpg Emerald Pools Summer Tranquility Emerald Pools is one of the iconic hikes of Zion, though most never experience it while it is running in full glory. Though I live right outside the park, I have seen emerald pools running at full capacity about 10 times total. But in those ten times, I have only ever seen it once in the summer running at full capacity many years ago. Well 2023 has graced us with some surprise weather events including one hurricane and some extreme thunder storms. And in a surprise twist, we were given multiple days of large rain storms from morning till dusk. On one of these such days I ventured back into Zion to photograph some of my favorite falls, Emerald Pools and those at Temple of Sinewava. Luckily for me, Emerald Pools put on a show for me. I just had to get absolutely drenched. Good thing that my camera is weather sealed and didn't have any issues the entire time. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/snow-canyon-sunset-rainbow/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Snow-Canyon-Rainbow.jpg Snow Canyon Sunset The monsoons of 2023 have so far been pretty good to us here in southern Utah. I have managed to chase a few big storms and catch some epic light, but this is the first big rainbow of the year. This image was taking in Snow Canyon on a rock outcrop sitting in the middle of the park. When I began this hike, I didn't know where I was going to end up and didn't know if the conditions would turn into such spectacular ones. I did have some hunches though and my weather spidy senses turned out to be correct. The rainbow first shows up faint and faded. Then after a few minutes the sun punched through the clouds again and out came the full arch of the rainbow. This is the south view of the double bow. Not wanting to ruin the moment I sat in silence photographing and taking in the smell of wet creosote bush and listened to the call of a lone red tail hawk somewhere in the distance. Snow Canyon, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/life-in-the-storm/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/LIfe-in-the-Storm-Coral-Pink-Sands.jpg Life In The Storm Learning to read clouds and weather conditions is a challenge. This photo shoot was one of the successful reads. I watched the clouds and radar for hours leading up to the photo shoot and made the decision to run off to the sand dunes. In the end, the colors and light came through and created a rainbow in one direction, orange curtains of rain in another and finally this light show of colors on the clouds. It was one of those moments where your experience and patience pay off. Coral Pink Sand Dunes, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/birch-tree-narrows/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Birch-Tree-of-the-Narrows.jpg Birch Tree of the Narrows On my way back from Big Springs in the Narrows, I discovered something magical. A one hour window in the later afternoon where the light seems to penetrate the canyon in such a way to make the walls glow and provide the views photographers dream of. I came across this tree at such time. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/big-springs/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Big-Springs-Pano.jpg Big Springs Big Springs was more of a gauntlet and a challenge than I expected. I first hiked the narrows in my late teenage years... I think. Maybe it was when I was 22, but I am pretty sure it was earlier. The first trips I only went up a mile or so. On my second round of exploration I hiked up to Orderville Slot canyon and went up as far as I could go. Then came the winter adventures and I hiked up to the Imlay Boulder. Then for what ever reason, that became the top. I have hiked up to the Imlay boulder over 4 times now, but this year I was determined to make it to Big Springs. If you are unfamiliar Big Springs is the top of the bottom up route of the Narrows. It is 4.5 miles of river walking one direction about 10.5 miles including the river walk and the round trip. The hike was brutal because of my ankle, and to my surprise some very deep water. But after hiking for 3+ hours one way I made it to the end of the line, Big Springs. You know what, it was pretty cool. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/volcanic-cathedral/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Vocanic-Cathedral.jpg Volcanic Cathedral A cathedral in the desert. Nevada https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/three-sisters/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Three-Sisters.jpg Three Sisters The dynamic sky in southern Utah's Goblin Valley while looking at the three sisters hoodoos. Goblin Valley, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/the-three-sisters-at-sunrise/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Three-Sisters-at-Sunrise.jpg The Three Sisters at Sunrise The Three Sisters in Goblin Valley are an iconic set of hoodoos of Southern Utah. They are some of the first set of goblins you get to see as you enter into the park and they happen to line up nicely with many celestial phenomenon as well. Goblin Valley, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/the-mountains-of-madness/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/The-mountains-of-madness.jpg The Mountains of Madness The Mountains of Madness are said to be a far off mountain range that contains a lost civilization built by the Elder Things. There the Shoggoth assisted the Elder Things in creating a vast city lost to time and man. The walls totally un-natural and mystifying for those who behold them. I believe I have found a close representation of what these walls of chaos and madness look like. Nevada https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/snakes-and-towers/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Snakes-and-towers.jpg Snakes and Towers This is not the first time I have seen or photographed these structures, I just don't feel like I was particularly satisfied with the outcome until recently. With the soft light grazing the tops of the hills and the clouds being highlighted in a soft yellow, I am happy with the way this image come all together. Hanksville, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/madness/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/On-the-edge-of-madness.jpg On The Edge of Madness This little bush may have been made famous by the works of Guy Tal, but I am not sure. I had no intention of copying anything he had done, but when I saw the edges of the stick being slightly lit up by either evening light or by its own natural color, I pulled together an odd idea while I had my telephoto out. Hanksville, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/islands-of-the-desert/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Islands-of-the-Desert.jpg Islands of the Desert These spires of the desert reminded me of some sort of series of volcanic islands. Nevada https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/evening-primrose-cathedral-gorge/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Castle-Cathedral-Bloom.jpg Castle Cathedral Bloom I was awoken this morning by the calls of chattering western kingbirds above my tent. They were arguing away as couples who have lost interest in one another and were waking up my kids. So I sacrificed my warm spot next to my wife to my oldest daughter and I headed into the cool morning air to photograph a superbloom of evening primrose flowers covering the landscape of Cathedral Gorge. The morning was relatively quiet away from the trees where the birds were singing. Not much lives out in the grassy and sandy flats that make up much of the park. There was one bird who sat along singing on the cathedral. His job was to be the organ for Gods long term creation project. Nevada https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/red-mountain-blume/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Red-Mountain-Blume.jpg Red Mountain Blume We were blessed with some pretty decent wildflowers this year due to all the rain we received. This explosion of color was photographed right on the edge of St. George Utah within the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. St. George, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/wildflowers-red-cliffs-desert-reserve/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Desert-Princeplume-and-the-Castle.jpg Desert Princeplume Recently I have been romping around my local cliffs and desert landscapes here next to my home. I ended up catching a few scenes that were quite impressive, including this wonderful explosion of color called Desert Prince Plume. Southern Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/garden-of-eden-arches/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Garden-of-Eden.jpg Garden of Eden One of the more overlooked sections of Arches, I decided to give this section a shot. I think it turned out interesting. Arches National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/upper-emerald-pools/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Upper-Emerald-Pools.jpg Upper Emerald Pools The upper emerald pools in the spring of 2023. Rarely do we get this much water rushing through this waterfall. It was a super cool treat to see. The mist was a pain though. Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/temple-of-the-sun/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Temple-of-The-Sun-At-Dawn.jpg Temple of the Sun Mud, high winds, one broken tent, one sick kid and one night of lost sleep all went into the making of this image. The mud came from the spring run off lending to a small stream running through the region that was muddy. The wind was howling. I ended pulling a weather report in the wilderness and the outcome was bleak. Winds of 15-20mph with gusts of 40+. Thus the broken tent. And to top it off it seems that out kid was having some sort of stomach bug that or she is becoming lactose intolerant. But the kids were champs while we wandered around Capitol Reef, particularly in this unexplored section of the park. Capitol Reef https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/gunlock-falls/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Gunlock-Falls.jpg Gunlock Falls In 2020 we had a combination of rain and snow melt that resulted in these waterfalls cascading over the spillway and across these wonderful red rocks creating a beautiful scene. I did not photograph it. Now in 2023 we have been blessed with the largest snow pack on record and with all the rain and snow we have been getting, Gunlock falls have started back up and I was able to snag myself a sunrise with the large curtain falls of the cascade in view. Gunlock Reservoir https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/sonoran-desert-bloom/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Desert-Bloom.jpg Sonoran Desert Bloom Shortly after a blazing sunrise I wandered around Saguaro National Park looking for wildflowers beginning to bloom. I stumbled across this display of brittlebush flowers blooming. I did my best to line up a few cactus and the wispy clouds at sunrise for what I feel is a calming yet colorful sunrise in the desert. Saguaro National Park, Arizona https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/winter-joshua-tree/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Winder-Wonderland-Joshua-Trees.jpg Winter Wonderland in Joshua Trees I spoke to the biologist who monitors the native species within the region and he said it was the first snow fall that had really carpeted the area in the eight years he has been working there. It was a bitterly cold morning and a very cool experience to photograph these plants in such a strange winter wonderland. Beaver Dam National Conservation Area, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/stand-of-giants/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Stand-of-Giants.jpg The Great Stand of Giant Joshua Trees In recent trips I have been wandering into new areas of my favorite Joshua tree grove. On this occasion I got to explore a new stand of trees that were of particular note as they were simply giant trees. Not the biggest I had seen, but very big trees for this region. Beaver Dam National Conservation Area, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/frozen-moonrise/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Moonrise-on-a-Frozen-Joshua-Tree.jpg Frozen Moonrise of the Joshua Trees This was my coldest photo shoot of the 2022-2023 winter season. Temperatures were a balmy about 20F or so if I remember correctly and the wind chill was brutal. Usually this landscape is much warmer, but due to a freak set of winter storms we were frozen here in Southern Utah and this section of the desert got its first snow is probably close to a decade. Beaver Dam National Conservation Area, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/grove-of-frozen-joshua-trees/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Grove-of-Frozen-Joshua-Trees.jpg Frozen Friends An icy cold morning in the Mojave Desert of Southern Utah. Beaver Dam National Conservation Area, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/petrified-shark-fin/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Petrified-shark-fin.jpg Petrified Shark Fin This image was taken at sunrise in Petrified Forest National Park as I was trying to figure out where to shoot. It was definitely a struggle trying to figure out where to go and what to see in what happened to be a very overwhelming landscape. I like this image because the repeating triangle feature within the image and the zebra like rock that sits just below the Chinle layer of earth. Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/petrified-forest/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Petrified-Forest.jpg Petrified Forest When I visited Petrified Forest National Park I mostly did it because I needed a mid way stop point on my way back home. I didn't expect for it to be as cool as it was. I needed a place to camp so I picked up a back country permit and wandered off into the desert to photograph the bad lands. I didn't expect to find a forest of fossilized trees to be essentially everywhere. So that first night I made it a goal to pull together an image that incorporated all that I saw. This is one of those images. Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/petrified-badlands/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Petrified-Badlands.jpg Petrified Badlands A large chunk of petrified wood sits on the edge of its demise as the earth erodes around it. The large fin like hills surround it. Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/white-mountain/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/White-Mountain.jpg White Mountain This was the largest white dune I could find while visiting the park. I ended up crawling up this dune, but before I did, I photographed its pearly façade. White Sands National Park, New Mexico https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/skeletal-sands/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/skeletal-stands.jpg Skeletal Sands Two plants, what lifted, one buried into the ever shifting sands. The skeletal underbelly of the first plant makes for an interesting image as this plant tries to lift itself from the dune. White Sands National Park, New Mexico https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/scattered-yucca/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Scattered-Yucca.jpg Scattered Yucca The thing that I really like about this image is the scattered nature of the yucca in the distance drawing you into the image to see what all is there. The front yucca stands on stilts making for an overall interesting image to me. White Sands National Park, New Mexico https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/rolling-dunes/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Rolling-Dunes.jpg Rolling Dunes Rolling sand dunes of White Sands National Park White Sands National Park, New Mexico https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/emergent/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Emergent.jpg Emergent White Sands National Park, New Mexico https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/elegant-sands/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Elegent-sands.jpg Elegant Sands A sandstone set in over white sands national park. This turned into of the most challenging situations for photography I had ever done. I lacked the right eye gear to keep my eyes from being blinded by sand. I struggled to deal with the wind and I was tired and a bit out of my element. White Sands National Park, New Mexico https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/dunes-of-wind/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Dunes-of-Winds.jpg Dunes of Wind White sand dunes blown by high winds in White Sands National Park White Sands National Park, New Mexico https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/sonoran-sunset-organ-pipe-nm/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Sanoran-Sunset-in-organ-pipe.jpg Organ Pipe Sunset Sunset at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument with the landscape carpeted with wildflowers blooming in the spring. Organ Pipe National Monument, Arizona https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/organ-pipe-cactus-national-monument/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Organ-Pipes.jpg The Organ Pipes The Organ Pipe Cactus are a strange tentacle like cactus that grow nearly 20 feet tall and seem to like hugging close to the cliffs around the southern half of the monument in which they live. These cactus are only found within a small region of the Sonoran Desert near the gulf of California, away from the potential of frost. On this morning we had soft distant clouds resulting in a pastel sunset. Organ Pipe National Monument, Arizona https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/trio-at-dusk-saguaro/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Trio-at-dusk.jpg Trio at Dusk Having these three sentinels standing so close and evenly spaced made for one of my best compositions of this entire night. The patch of warm sky and vibrant light hitting the cactus resulting in a dynamic image. Before I ever took this image I spent nearly 30 minutes planning out different shots. This one shot was shot number 2 of the night. I was lucky though, the sky exploded a minute after the sun went down in color and I was able to catch a few beautiful and peaceful images from this evening. Saguaro National Park, Arizona https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/sonoran-sunrise/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Sanoran-Sunrise.jpg Sonoran Sunrise Sometimes you get lucky and sometimes you are so overwhelmed by the photographic conditions it is actually hard to photograph. This image is a bit of both. I was surrounded by photographic elements, wonderful skies, and dangerous plants. I struggled to get a shot this morning, but this one I really liked. Saguaro National Park, Arizona https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/javelina-rocks-saguaro/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Saguaro-East.jpg Javelina Rocks Of all the locations in Saguaro National Park East, this was my favorite spot I got to visit. Along much of the area the landscape felt very over grown, but here the rocks provided some space to breath and a chance to get at eye level with the tops of some of the cactus. This area unfortunately is very popular with visitors and even photographers. While here I witnessed two or three photographers come through and one family photo shoot. But even with all those visitors, if you put in the effort you can wind up with a shot that no one had that night. I just had to sit on sharp rocks on the edge of a six foot drop into a cactus. Saguaro East https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/temple-of-the-sun-vertical/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Temple-of-the-sun-vertical.jpg Temple of the Sun (vertical) The Temple of the Sun in fall in Zion National Park Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/the-subway/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Subway-in-Fall.jpg The Subway The Subway in Zion has been one of my favorite hikes I have done within the park. Unfortunately, I have seen on every trip someone nearly passing out. This hike is long and requires a lot of body work. There is ducking, stepping up and down, balancing on rocks and when you do the top down route, swimming. This makes for a duzy of a trip no matter how you slice it. This image was taken on a bottom up trip in the fall. It was cool and quite fun to do. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/hoodoo-devils-garden-night/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Three-Wise-Men.jpg Three Wise Men The Grand Staircase is home to some of the last great night skies around the country. Very little light pollution stretches across the horizons making it one of the best places left to take night images. On my recent trip to the area for doing an art show, I took a bit of my time to head back to an old haunt and photograph a set of hoodoos that I have been acquainted with for a long time. Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/snow-textures/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/spines-below.jpg The Spine Below The Surface A fresh layer of snow covers a normally sandy hill. Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/toadstools-snow/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Snowy-Toad-Stools.jpg Snowy Toadstools Toadstools is an area of Southern Utah that I return to over and over again. I find each time I go I photograph a different conditions or different spot or different and unique composition that I didn't see before. On this trip I ended up photographing the main toadstool of the area, but under a fresh powdering of snow at sunrise. This resulted in some stunning conditions, particularly with the sun pocking through the clouds lighting up the landscape. Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/lower-emerald-pools-waterfalls/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Lower-Emerald-Pools.jpg Lower Emerald Pools The Lower Emerald Pools with waterfalls is a rare treat to behold while in Zion. This image was taken on a quick family adventure while visiting the park. I had decided to go a bit further than the rest of the kids and photographed the falls from an overlook. On the way back I saw this and composed the image with the water coming off the cliff side. This is the first time I have ever been able to photograph all three waterfalls like this. I have experience from a distance, but never like this. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/temple-of-sinawava-in-snow/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Zion-Temple-of-Sinawava-in-snow.jpg Temple of Sinawava in Snow Having a frosty Temple of Sinawava was a photo I had been shooting for for years, but the conditions never aligned where I would have a waterfall and the snow. I finally got it in the winter of 2022-2023. The southwest this winter has turned into a record snow year. The waterfalls of Zion have never run this good in what feels like ages. I have been grateful to be able to photograph it just a bit. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/211/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Ecco-Canyon-Falls.jpg https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/hawaii-tide-pool/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Anini-tidal-pool.jpg Hawaiian Tide Pool A tidal pool on the island of Hawaii at sunrise with the clouds reflecting in the still tidal pool waters. There were a few little fish hanging out near the rocks when we were looking around the pool. I was hoping for an octopus, but you get what you get. Kauai, Hawaii https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/209/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Rocketship.jpg https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/208/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Guacamole-Reflection-Pools.jpg https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/tunnel-beach-kauai/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Tunnel-Beach.jpg Tunnel Beach Tunnel Beach in Kauai was one of the best snorkeling spots in Kauai. As for sunsets, its also one of the best with dramatic peaks highlighting the dramatic landscape of Kauai. Kauai, Hawaii https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/tunnel-beach-pano/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Tunnel-Beach-Pano.jpg Tunnel Beach Panorama Sunset at tunnel beach with cascading waves over soft sand creating a magical experience. Kauai, Hawaii https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/hanalei-pier-kauai/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Hanalei-Pier.jpg Hanalei Pier Panorama I miss Kauai so much these days and when going back and editing images I find myself right back at the beach wishing I was there again. This image was taken early into my trip at Kauai. The morning was a bit rainy, but the conditions were quite pleasant. Hanalei, Kauai https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/emerald-pools-waterfalls/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Emerald-Pools-Waterfalls.jpg Emerald Pools Flood This was an experience to photograph. The rain was coming down and any canyon that could flash flood was flooding. I cross two rivers that flowed into the Emerald Pools region that I had never seen before and this was the only safe view I could get of the waterfalls I could get due to the flooding and slippery wet conditions. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/calf-creek-falls-box-elder/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Calf-Creek-and-the-Trees.jpg Calf Creek and the Trees The calming waters of calf creek are some of my favorite places to visit and experience. I love it here and when you get it just right you can get it all to yourself. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/court-of-the-patriarchs-summer/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Court-of-the-Patriarchs-Summer_.jpg God Speaks to his Prophets Court of the Patriarchs are named after biblical prophets Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In addition to these biblical prophets, tucked amongst these peaks is another named after a Mormon (The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints) prophet from the Book of Mormon. This peak is called Mount Moroni, which is actually seen on the right side of this image. When I came across this scene, the god beams (photography term) were shooting out from behind the clouds and the rays of God combined with the prophet named mountains and a bit of scripture from various text is where the name of this image comes from. Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/zion-bonsai-tree/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Zion-Bansai-tree.jpg Zion Bonsai Tree I decided to revisit this image for this new website. I have been sitting on it for years now and some form of it or another has been floating around my art booth on and off for years. But I think this will be the final version and the one that will be incorporated into the art booth in 2023. I hope you enjoy. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/thunder-storm-zion/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Thunderstorm-at-Dawn.jpg Thunderstorm at Dawn One of my more unique images of Zion National Park with dramatic monsoon skies over some of Zion National Parks most iconic peaks, particularly the two brothers. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/mount-kinesava/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Mt.-Kinesava.jpg Mt. Kinesava Mt Kinesava in Zion National Park has been a muse of mine for years, this was one of the first images I ever took of it that really solidified my desire to keep exploring this area. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/the-narrows-zion/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Narrow-Dreams-Zion.jpg Narrow Dreams The Narrows is one of my favorite places to photograph and when there is a bit of fall colors it is even better. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/grand-wash-cliffs/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Grand-Wash-Cliffs.jpg Grand Wash Cliffs The cliffs that drain into Grand Wash in Capital Reef are some of the most colorful cliffs I have had the privilege to photography. Capitol Reef National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/gifford-barn-capitol-reef/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Gifford-Barn.jpg Gifford Barn This photograph was initially photographed 5 years ago. Five years of experience and a lot of photography later I am introducing the newly remastered version of that image. Capitol Reef National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/factory-butte-snowstorm/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/The-Factory.jpg The Factory The image does not reveal how cold this was, how bitter the wind was and how difficult it was to photograph. I had to photograph between blasts of icy wind so the camera would not shake. The sun was setting casting light across the falling bands of snow coming out of the clouds. Epic moments like this are a blast to be a photographer, though the body hates every moment of it. Hanksville, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/cottonwood-factory/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/The-Factory-of-Cottonwoods.jpg The Cottonwood Factory These large cottonwood trees are wonderfully placed at the base of these lunar like cliffs near Hanksville in Southern Utah. I had known of this area for ages after driving by it some 10 years ago, but hadn't quite figured out how to get to the right spot, but decided to explore some back roads and finally found the region. It was a nice discovery, particularly because it didn't feel like I was just following other photographers to the area as it has become a very popular spot to photograph. Hanksville, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/lunar-badlands-utah/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Lunar-Sunrise.jpg Lunar Sunrise The badlands near Hanksville, Utah have become a very popular spot for photographers to go out and photograph. I sometimes go over here, but for this trip It was just a camping spot. This wasn't the destination, but it did make for a killer sunrise before we descended into Canyonlands. The badlands below are some of the finest to photograph. Hanksville, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/sphinx-of-goblin-valley/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Kathlenes-Rock.jpg Sphinx of the Desert This rock formation is a prominent rock on the side of the road near Goblin Valley. It just isn't photographed. So after meeting up with my wife along her work trip we hung out here and photographed the rock formation while the kids played and wandered amongst the other hoodoos just out of view. Near Goblin Valley, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/goblin-valley/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Goblin-Valley.jpg Goblin Valley Sunset at Goblin Valley on this trip turned into a subtle and beautiful landscape. The hoodoos and the rock picked up a deep saturated colors and the tranquility of the moment was captured in the image, I think. Goblin Valley, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/gooseberry-mesa/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Rainbow-Over-Gooseberry.jpg Gooseberry Rainbow A rainbow from Zion to Gooseberry Mesa was a beautiful sight to behold. It was a pleasure to photograph. Virgin, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/yant-flat/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Yant-Flat-Evening-Light.jpg Yant Flat Evening Light The swirling sandstone of Yant flat can be seen from St. George, though from the south they are just banded cliffs. From on top it is a weird landscape of swirls and a few colors. This was taken thanksgiving day some years ago. Dixie National Forest, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/dark-tower/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Dark-Tower.jpg Dark Tower This kind of reminds me of something out of Mordor. Though not in a land full of lava, this location is just as baren as it is apart of one of Southern Utah's largest badlands near Hanksville Utah. I know this image has been repeated by other photographers now, but when I took it I had not seen anyone photograph it yet. Hanksville, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/water-pocket-canyon-fire/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Water-Pocket-Canyon-swirls.jpg Ancestral Fire I like this photo because it kind of reminds me of an individual with fire hair. Water Pocket Canyon, Arizona https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/water-pocket-canyon-wave/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Water-Pocket-Canyon-Wave.jpg Water Pocket Canyon Wave This once obscure canyon is now one of the many permitted and guided tour hikes that you can go on in Page Arizona. I was lucky enough to visit this location years before it was ever discovered by the masses. Water Pocket Canyon https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/coyote-buttes-south-gum-drop/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Coyote-buttes-south-gum-drop.jpg The Gum Drop The gum drop is a weird little rock found within the deserts of Vermillion Cliffs National Monument. It's two toned nature resides right were the rock was left behind as the landscape around it eroded away. Vermillion Cliffs, Arizona https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/white-poket-eruption/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Galactic-Eruption.jpg Galactic Eruption The large domes of white pocket are a stunning sight to see but are very challenging to photograph. Then do that at night. Thus the image above. Vermillion Cliffs, Arizona https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/paria-river-alcoves/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Alcoves-of-the-Paria.jpg Alcoves of the Paria The Paria River is muddy, silty and very difficult to hike in March, so naturally that is the time we went and photographed it. Paria River, Arizona https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/buckskin-gulch/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Buckskin-Furnace.jpg Buckskin Furnace Buckskin Gulch is considered to be the longest and possibly one of the most dangerous hikes within the Desert Southwest due to high probability of flash flooding. Stuck through out the drainage are large log jams 40ft above you head, with the only way they could have gotten there were very big floods. We were not there for a flood like that, but were there for some great photography. Buckskin Gulch, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/paria-river-curve/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Paria-Curve.jpg Paria Curve The Paria River was one of the coolest river to hike, and I have a few spots I plan on going back to once weather warms and the chance of hypothermia is not there and heat stroke hasn't set in yet. The river runs through a deep canyon isolated by wilderness and grit. Permits were required to go and I am not sure I will ever get a chance to go back again. Paria River, Arizona https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/stud-horse-point/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Queens-Gambit.jpg Queens Gambit This is one of the largest singular hoodoos within the Lake Powell Region. There are possibly 3 or 4 bigger, but this one sits on a large cliff that drains into a slot canyon. This image was taken a few years back as I was chasing a rainbow across the region, which of course fell apart just as I got to a spot to photograph it. So I went here for sunset and was rewarded by this sunset. Vermillion Cliffs, Arizona https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/radio-tower-vermillion-cliffs/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Radio-tower.jpg The Radio Tower- Horizontal The Radio Tower is a strange hoodoo with large fins that cross cross its shape. It is the weirdest hoodoo I haver ever seen and one of the most fun to photograph. It is located deep within the Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness amongst a region called Coyote Buttes, its access is limited by deep sand, crap roads, and limited cellular communication. Vermillion Cliffs, Arizona https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/the-wave-swirl/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Rip-Curl.jpg Rip Curl The small slot canyon in the Wave is quite colorful and quite weird in shape and color. The Wave, Arizona https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/the-sand-king-hoodoo/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Sea-King-of-the-Sand.jpg The Sand King This is a structure unlike any I have ever seen. The strange sandstone has eroded to make a structure that looks like a sea horse, but it stands about my height and stands as a silent watcher of the desert. Vermillion Cliffs, Arizona https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/the-radio-tower-vertical/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/The-tower-and-the-horse.jpg The Radio Tower There are odd structures in the Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness. This one is generally known as the Radio Tower. Distant wildfires tinted the sky a bit red at sunset while dramatic clouds rolled overhead. Vermillion Cliffs, Arizona https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/the-wave/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Two-Tides.jpg Two Tides The wave in Northern Arizona was a cool trip, but the most mind blowing thing I have seen, but a very very cool place to see and experience. The location is shaped kind of like a 'Y'. The above shot is a small slot that makes up one of the arms of the 'Y'. The Wave, Arizona https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/west-temple-lightning/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Lightning-Striking-the-West-Temple.jpg West Temple Lightning The west temple in Zion National Park is one of the most recognizable structures in south west Utah. It can be seen in nearly every direction for 50 miles. This image was taken outside of Zion while a major thunder storm rolled across the park Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/red-cave-zigzag/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Zig-Zag.jpg Zig Zag This slot canyon has a very enjoyable opening with this strong zig zag shape. Southern Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/red-cave-light/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Red-Cave-light-beam.jpg Red Cave Slot canyons are some of my favorite things to photograph, when you get of light beams in the process the better it gets. This was taken many years ago now, but still one of my favorite slot canyon shots I have done. Southern Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/smithsonian-butte/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/smithsonian-butte.jpg Smithsonian Butte This was a shot that took an inordinate amount of effort. The hike to this spot was across open wilderness and the best view came half way down a very very steep hill. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/kolob-kanyons-sunrise/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Kolob-Sunrise-Panorama-.jpg Kolob Canyons at Sunrise The Kolob Canyons at sunrise Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/grafton-ghost-town/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Ghosts-of-Grafton.jpg Ghosts of Grafton This has been one of my best selling images particularly because it has a lot of history here in Southern Utah. I have met multiple ancestors of those who lived in this town and this house. It's always fun to meet these people because my image captures a bit of their how grown experience. Grafton, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/kinesava-cactus-bloom/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Kinesava-cactus-bloom-1-of-1.jpg Kinesava Cactus Bloom Storms that pass over Zion National Park when they catch light on Kinesava just as the sun set are some of the best light within the park. I really strive to capture these moments when they come along. I have been lucky enough to capture some of the best light I have ever witnessed right at the base of this impressive mountain. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/kinesava-lightning/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Kinesava-Lightning-Bolt.jpg Mt. Kinesava Lightning I was just reading that Kinesava was an angry god of the Paiute people who was prone to starting fires and throwing lightning bolts. Possibly, I captured a bit of that angry god with this image. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/red-arch-mountain/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Red-Arch-Mountain-1-of-1.jpg Red Arch Mountain Red Arch Mountain is one of my favorite peaks to photograph in Zion, its just best done in the late fall and winter. The further the sun is to the south the better the conditions. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/two-brothers-zion-national-park/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Twin-Brothers-Zion-Re-edit.jpg Sons of Thunder A view few photographers bother with, but one I love to photograph. Located near the mouth of Zion is a series of peaks, from left to right, Temple of the Sun, Two Brothers, and the East Temple. These peaks are some of the first peaks you encounter as you travel into the park, but are not located on a stop, so most photographer simply bypass them. I found this view some years ago. I have seen a few other people wandering through the spot, but I have never seen it replicated anywhere else so far. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/spring-creek-arch/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Spring-Creek-Arch.jpg Spring Creek Arch This is a little arch in which spring creek and pine creek flow through when they flood. It is rarely visited and usually only has one set of foot tracks by it. I discovered it on a wandering day through the park some years back and got a fun shot. The next time I visited it was filled with icy cold water, and the images didn't look good at all. So it's is a very hit and miss side stop on your Zion adventure. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/163/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Cover-image.jpg https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/162/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/PXL_20210123_200521937.jpg https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/wahweap-hoodoo-king/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Wahweap-Hoodoo-2-of-2.jpg The King Hoodoo This towering hoodoo stands off the cliff wall in a sea of melting white sandstone Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/wahweap-hoodoos/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Wahweap-Hoodoo-1-of-2.jpg Wahweap Hoodoo's I have only visited these hoodoos once as of this writing. Its a mistake I hope to rectify soon. Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/horseshoe-bend/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/horse-shoe-bend-area-2-of-2.jpg Horseshoe Bend I didn't want to photograph Horseshoe bend the same way everyone else did. So I wandered and wandered and wandered for a while until I found this scene I liked. Page, Arizona https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/arch-navajo-lands/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Eggshell-Arch-1-of-1.jpg Navajo Lands Arch I hope you enjoy Navajo Lands https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/alstrom-point/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/alstrom-point-2x3-1-of-1.jpg Alstrom Point Photographed in January of 2019, this was one of the last times the water ever was this high in Lake Powell Lake Powell, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/alstrom-point-pano/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/alstrom-point-1-of-1.jpg Alstrom Point Panorama One of the best sunrises I have ever had the opportunity to photograph out in Lake Powell Lake Powell, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/trio-of-sequoias/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Tri-of-Giants.jpg Trio of Giants It's so hard to put into scale the size of Sequoia trees. This image does it ok with large boulders and the little trees trying to pop their way through the canopy around the base of these monsters. Sequoia National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/bridal-veil-yosemite/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Bridal-Veil-Falls.jpg Bridal Veil Falls Bridal Veil Falls in Yosemite in the summer on a calm cool morning. Yosemite National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/cedar-breaks-bristle-cone/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/The-Grand-Ancient.jpg The Grand Ancient This bristle cone is about 1700 years old from what I hear. It is a grand ancient that makes for a great image. Cedar Breaks National Monument https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/silver-lake/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Silver-Lake.jpg Silver Lake Lets just say this place was covered in mosquitos Silver Lake, Wasatch Mountains, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/aspens-in-red/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Pablos-Love.jpg Pablo's Love Some years ago some man named Pablo drove up the mountain and scratched his confession of his love into the bark of this aspen. Years later the tree still holds onto this reminder whether Pablo has or not, I do not know. Cedar Mountain, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/mirror-lake/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Mirror-Lake.jpg Mirror Lake An image of mirror lake at sunset with the mountain reflected into the water. Mirror Lake, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/navajo-reservoir-trees/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Log-Transformation.jpg Log Transformation This image name has a double meaning. When I was working on the edit for this image, I noticed a pattern of how the trees spread from left to right in the image is the same pattern seen in data distributions that can be an issue. To deal with this you perform a log transformation of the data to get it into the proper format. The second meaning is the transformation from summer to fall and how the trees are moving through their yearly transformation. Cedar Mountain, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/christmas-meadows/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Christmas-meadows-Light.jpg Christmas Meadows Light I could not take another aspen hill side image, so I shifted my focus to a grand landscape shot with aspens acting as an accent piece to the dramatic light show going on in the distance. Christmas Meadows, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/choke-cherry-lane/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Choke-Cherry-Lane.jpg Choke Cherry Lane I liked this image because the touch of humanity within it. The small sign barely visible hints to viewers that humans are everywhere within the world and we inhabit the most wild of places. Cedar Mountain, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/aspen-pano/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Aspen-Pano-Navajo-res.jpg The Golden Wall of Aspens I wanted something different when it came to my aspen images from 2022. This was something I don't normally get to see, a symmetrical wall of golden leaves with hints of white trunks sticking through. Cedar Mountain, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/zebra-slot-waves/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/zebra-slot-canyon--2.jpg Zebra Waves The waves of Zebra slot canyon Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/zebra-slot-horizontal/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/zebra-slot-canyon-.jpg Zebra Slot Zebra Slot canyon at mid day Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/zebra-slot-canyon-vertical/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/zebra-slot-canyon-vertical.jpg Zebra Ribs The stripes of zebra slot Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/devils-garden-hoodoo/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Whiches-Hat.jpg The Witches Hat This was a night to remember. I got to spend three hours in the dark waiting for the milky way to line up properly. I freaked my self out listening to stories of mountain lions (they are in this region as I have found their tracks before) and spoke with a few random explorers. All good times. Devils Garden, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/upturned-earth/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Upturned-Earth-.jpg Upturned Earth A large rock formation on the edge of Escalante Canyon with the rising sun. Escalante National Monument, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/the-toadstool/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Toad-Stool.jpg The Great Toadstool The king hoodoo of the Toadstool short hike in southern Utah. This popular hike is visited by many each year but photographed by few. Though I do bump into other photographers here, I find most people don't seem to want to hang out here when the conditions are really good. Toadstools, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/juniper-and-hoodoo/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/the-juniper-and-the-hoodoo.jpg The Juniper and the Hoodoo I was shooting for some creative expression when photographing these spot. I have been here so many times and wanted to see if I could work with the landscape in a totally new way. This resulted in the Juniper becoming the striking foreground element rather than a side character like they usually do here as the hoodoos around it are generally large, impressive and very obvious. Devils Garden, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/coyote-gulch/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/The-Great-Undercut-coyote-gulch.jpg The Great Undercut There are no other canyons I am aware up like this one. I hope I get to explore this canyon with my family and children in the future. I was blown away the first time I visited this location in college. Three more trips later and many new cameras later, I am still excited to go back and photograph this canyon. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/singing-canyon/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/The-Crack-.jpg Natures Glow A box elder tree back lit in a beautiful slot canyon located along the Burr trail near the town of boulder utah within the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. Burr Trail, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/the-golden-cathedral/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/The-Cathedral.jpg The Golden Cathedral I different an unique look at escalantes, Neon Canyon. I wanted to highlight the cathedral along with the glowing light of the canyon when I came across this composition. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/swiss-cheese-falls/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Swiss-Cheese-Falls.jpg Swiss Cheese Falls The iconic swiss cheese falls of escalante are fun to photograph, but in reality are very small. Don't plan a trip to see these unless you like photography. But the canyon is beautiful and the adventure is worth your time, this is a fun passing spot that is more like sprinkles. Very pretty but is not the main dish. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/sunset-arch/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Sunset-Arch.jpg Sunset Arch I so far am the only person to photograph this arch like this. I like it when that happens. Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/sunflower-escalante-river/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Summer-Bloom-in-Escalante.jpg Summer Bloom in Escalante A bloom of wildflowers in Escalante Canyon Escalante Canyon, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/spooky-glow/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Spooky-Glow.jpg Spooky Glow Spooky slot canyon with dramatic glowing light. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/hoodoo-shipwreck/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Shipwreck.jpg Shipwrecked This rock structure is near the very popular Toadstool hoodoos in southern Utah. Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/red-wash/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/red-wash.jpg Red Wash Red wash in Escalante Utah Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/hoodoo-sand-creek/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Protectors-of-Sand-Creek.jpg Protectors of Sand Creek These hoodoos are not in Sand Creek. They overlook the canyon. They are unmarked and quite a pain to get to. It take some wandering and more wandering and a bit of luck but in the end the photo turned into quite a cool experience to photograph. https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/phipps-arch/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Phipps-Arch-1-of-2.jpg Phipps Arch Phipps arch hold a place in my heart as the last hike I took my friend on before he died in the fall of 2019. See you on the other side. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/neon-canyon/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Neon-Canyon.jpg Neon Canyon This ancient grows deep in the wilderness of Escalante Utah. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/neon-canyon-golden-cathedral/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Neon-Canyon-Pano.jpg Golden Cathedral Panorama Neon Canyon is a fun canyon though it is short (unless you count the slot canyon section, then it's much longer). At the end is this beautiful structure of a double chimney where the name comes from. The canyon walls are beautiful and this day I had it to myself. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/moqui-balls-zebra-slot/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/moki-balls-in-zebra-.jpg Moqui Balls of Zebra Slot Zebra slot is one of the most photographed slots that is only fifty feet long. The rest is fun but usually filled with water. I had fun though. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/escalante-river-mile-24/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Mile-24-Esclante.jpg Mile 24 of the Escalante I was so tired when I took this image. My legs hurt, my back hurt, my shoulders hurt, my feet hurt. Pain was present but the light was sublime and I didn't walk 24 miles for nothing. So I wandered up a slop probably not walked on by a human in a hundreds of years. This is one of my favorite images I have ever taken. Escalante Canyon, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/maime-creek/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/maime-creek.jpg Maime Creek This is another image taken while working with the Utah Division of Wildlife. On my way back to camp after spending the day hiking and catching fish, I decided to take the slow way back and photograph. It made for a very sublime evening in the canyon alone thinking how to put together works of art. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/lion-face-rock/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Lions-nose.jpg The Lions Face Escalante is covered with weird rock formations. These ones happen to be close to the road, but I have seen them just about everywhere across the monument. I happen to get lucky and got a killer sunrise while trying to work with this one. Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/jacob-hamblin-arch/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Jacob-Hamblin-Arch.jpg Jacob Hamblin Arch I took six hundred or more images this morning waiting for the right conditions for this image. I was hoping for more clouds, but I loved the glow that came from the light hitting the far side of the arch. The resulting image gives the appearance of a glowing golden eye of the desert. Coyote Gulch, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/jacob-hamblin-arch-pano/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Jacob-Hamblin-Arch-Pano.jpg Jacob Hamblin Arch Panorama Jacob Hamblin Arch is one of the most impressive structures to see and to photograph. The alcoves that wrap around it are beyond huge. The arch itself is massive. All of it tucked deep into the wilderness of Escalante. Coyote Gulch, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/golden-cottonwood-trees/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Hurricane-Cottonwoods.jpg Golden Cottonwoods This was my last image of my 2019 fall photo trip in the Escalante canyons of southern Utah. I was a hard three days and I was looking forward to leaving, but the light was perfect and the trees were stellar so I stopped one last time and snagged this final shot. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/sand-stone-rock-storm/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Gust-Front.jpg Gust Front This image was taken near the famous Toadstools of Escalante. I had photographed them a few times, but this time I wanted something different. So I explored for a while and came across this structure. I was hoping the storm was going to produce a rainbow at sunset, but I was off by a bit. But the storm did provide amazing conditions after the sun set and the clouds picked up a dramatic ominous tone as they moved towards me. I left before the storm raged through the area. Escalante National Monument, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/golden-cathedral/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Golden-Cathedral.jpg Golden Cathedral The canyons in escalante hide many little secrets. In this case this well known secret was the target of my morning. The view was stunning and the light was spectacular. It is moments like this you understand why this canyon was called Neon Canyon and why this structure is called the Golden Cathedral. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/canyon-varnish/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Fire-and-Ice-Cliffs.jpg Fire and Ice Cliffs The canyon varnish on the cliff walls in Escalante are some of the best in the southwest. In this moment they showed their dynamic nature with harsh cool black at the base and fire striations above. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/fall-leaves-oil/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Fall-Leaves.jpg Fall Leaves in Oil Fall leaves lying in naturally produced oils coming off of riparian plants. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/escalante-river/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Escalante-river.jpg Escalante River My work space in 2016 Escalante Canyon, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/glow-of-coyote-gulch/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Deep-glow-in-coyote.jpg Deep Glow in Coyote Gulch I was waiting for conditions to come together for a different shot so as I wandered around the canyon seeing what I could see. I found this beauty. This image was taken on my last evening in the canyon. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/death-hollow-swirl/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Death-Hollow-swirl.jpg Death Hollow I certifiably love this canyon. I photographed this canyon while on a work trip looking for fish in these backwaters of the state. We found some if you want to know and lots of big ones, just not the ones you particularly care to catch. Sorry anglers. But photographically, this canyon is full of treats, wonders and calming conditions. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/swiss-cheese-falls-trax/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Coytoe-dino-trax.jpg Coyote Dino Trax Swiss Cheese Falls is a very famous waterfall, though it is only about 5 feet in total change in elevation from the top to bottom of it. In fact it can be quite mundane during dryer times of the year. But it does make for a really nice foreground piece. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/coyote-natural-bridge/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Coyote-Natural-Bridge-Pano.jpg Coyote Natural Bridge What more can I say, a river flows through an arch far in the deserts of Utah. It is hard to get to, the temperatues were cold as it was fall, but I was in the company of good friends and family and the day was a success. It just ended in a semi disaster as we tried to hike out that night and got blasted with 40mph gusts of wind and sand in our faces in the dark for three hours. Photographed in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/cottonwood-canyon-escalante-coyote/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Cottonwood-Overwatch.jpg Cottonwood Overwatch In a field of trees this one monster stood out above the others. Though its leaves had fallen, this monster still out. Standing there it felt like an over-watcher. Someone to keep all the other trees protected. Located in canyons of Escalante National Monument. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/church-rock/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/church-rock.jpg Church Rock I actually don't think this rock has a name, but I have called it church rock. This rock became a surprise composition while on a separate adventure to a different spot with the family. Luckily there was this fun little necklace of rocks for some foreground element. Located on the southern edge of Escalante National Monument Escalante National Monument, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/fluted-river/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Cascade-in-Coyote.jpg Cascade in Coyote This was an image I sat on for years before I made public in 2022. I liked it but something was not quite there yet. So after some thinking and a bit of incentives, I revisited this image and worked on it again. I think I hit the mark this go around. Image taken in fall of 2019 in the canyons of Escalante as the small creek cut through the bedrock sandstone. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/cottonwood-canyon-glow/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Canyon-Glow-of-Coyote.jpg Canyon Glow of Coyote Reflected light in the canyons of Escalante are some of my favorite to photograph. This image taken in 2019 while on a fall photography photo adventure down the canyons. Escalante Canyons, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/calf-creek-falls-side/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Calf-Creek-Falls.jpg Calf Creek Falls Calf creek falls is the trail that first won over my heart when it came to southern Utah. I grew up far away from red rock canyon country, but when I visited when I was about 13, I never forgot. So when I came back to the region in 2009 and again in 2012 I never forgot this trail. This waterfall planted the seed for the what would be the next 10 years of my life and what eventually lead me to being a photographer. Calf Creek Falls, Escalante https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/mud-cracks/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/All-That-Remains.jpg All That Remains I have been hiking the canyons in Escalante for many years now, and a month or two before I took this image, a flood had come through the canyon and tore up the entire flood plane. Entire sections of trail that I was familiar with had been washed out. New debris fields were scattered far away from the river. It was evidence of a massive flood that altered the entire area. In the remains of it all were patches of interesting mud cracks scattered across great flooded areas, hundred of feet away from the river. Escalante Canyon, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/little-sahara-sand-wings/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Wings-of-Sand.jpg Wings of Sand Winter seems to be the time I wander out to the little Sahara desert of western Utah. Little Sahara, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/wahweap-creek-lone-rock/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Wahweap-Creek-Restoration.jpg Wahweap Creek Restoration Wahweap Creek is cutting its way through forty years of sediment that was deposited across Wahweap bay. This act is slowly restoring Glen Canyon to its formal glory. Lake Powell, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/virgin-river-color/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Virgin-Colors.jpg Virgin Color A rainbow of color was not what I was expected when I popped over the hill. So I scrambled up to a vantage point that was terrifying to photograph from and got this image. Virgin River, Arizona https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/lone-rock/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Unknown-Lone-Rock.jpg Unknown Lone Rock The experience of walking to lone rock was a bizarre one. I collected fish from the base of this rock for my masters thesis. I putted around this rock multiple times on boats, but now I can walk to it. Lake Powell, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/barrel-cactus-brigade/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/The-Barrel-Brigade.jpg The Barrel Brigade Barrel Cactus are extremely fun to photograph. They have character through and through and when you get a bunch together it becomes an enjoyable experience to be apart of. Arizona https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/weird-joshua-trees/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Stand-of-weirdos.jpg Stand of Weirdos Joshua trees are just weird. Their biology is weird, their look is weird and when you get a bunch of weird trees together they turn into a stand of weirdo's. Beaver Dam National Conservation Area, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/spiney-desert-joshua-trees-sunrise/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Spiney-Marshmallows.jpg Spiney Marshmallow Though the sunrise was cool this morning in early spring when I took this image. It was a wonderful sunrise to experience while in Beaver Dam Wash. Beaver Dam National Conservation Area, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/spiney-desert-joshua-tree/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Spiney-Desert.jpg Spiny Desert The sunsets at beaver dam wash can be exciting when all the conditions combine. This was such a morning. Beaver Dam National Conservation Area, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/sea-horse-abstract/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Sea-Horse-of-Lake-Powell.jpg Sea Horse of Lake Powell Over the winter of 2022 Lake Powell's waters receded so much I could walk out to Lone Rock. So I did. I was able to explore the wide open mud flats and the wild mud patterns that could be found in them. Lake Powell, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/salt-flats-at-dawn/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Salt-Flats-at-Dawn.jpg Salt Flats at Dawn The salt flats are amazing. What more can I say? Salt Flats, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/ribbon-of-color/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Ribbon-of-Color.jpg Ribbon of Color I went here to photograph an iconic rock structure, but upon arriving, the clouds sucked and I was a bit underwhelmed by the structure so I set out to find something different to photograph. Along the way I found this fun ribbon of color that cut its way through the sandstone in Valley of Fire in Nevada. Valley of Fire, Nevada https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/snow-canyon-rainbow/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Rainbow-in-Snow-Canyon.jpg Snow Canyon Rainbow It's rare to have a rainbow so bring and vivid. They come and go, but this one just stuck around and kept producing amazing colors. It gave me the time I needed in order to photograph this image. Snow Canyon, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/paiute-wilderness/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Piaute-Wilderness.jpg Paiute Wilderness The Paiute wilderness in Northern Arizona is a very difficult to reach piece of earth. The only way I got access was simply finding a place to pull off the side of the road and hopping a fence and wandering around in it. I was lucky enough in my wanderings to end up with an interesting image. There is no guarantee of such a thing, especially when visiting a new place. Paiute Wilderness https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/mojave-colors-joshua-tree/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Open-Expanse.jpg Mojave Colors Taken the same evening as my In the Spines of Glory, this image was a cold and beautiful reminder of how a desert can be everything in a single image. The sun set and dramatic colors stretched out across the sky. The cold air chilled me and my buddy while photographing, but like a desert and her secrets, up until a few moments before this image was taken there was no promise of a glorious ending. Beaver Dam National Conservation Area, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/majave-monsoons/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Moajave-Monsoon.jpg Mojave Monsoons An image that has it all, flash floods, rainbows, and all the iconic plants of the Mojave desert. I took this while out running around chasing thunderstorms in the Mojave desert in 2022. This image was featured in my 2023 Calendar. Beaver Dam National Conservation Area, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/salt-flats-red-mirror/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Mirror-of-the-Desert.jpg Mirror in the Salt Desert The Salt Flats are kind of an other worldly location. When water is thrown into the mix, the exerpience gets even more wild. Due to the salt adding density to the water, the water becomes stable and very smooth resulting in almost perfect reflections upon the waters surface. Salt Flats, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/joshua-thunder/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Joshuas-thunder.jpg Joshua's Thunder The monsoons season in 2022 brought epic conditions across the Arizona strip and the slopes of Beaver Dam Wash. The thunderstorms raged across the landscape and I was able to catch some of my best thunderstorm and lightning images to date while I was out in the desert. Check out the video of me chasing the thunderstorm across the region. Beaver Dam National Conservation Area, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/joshua-tree-storm-beaverdam-wash/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Joshuas-Storm.jpg Joshua's Storm As the sun set I knew the conditions were going to be prime for some wild weather. So I stuck around and found myself a nice tree to photograph out on the slopes of Beaver Dam Wash. Beaver Dam National Conservation Area, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/joshua-tree-rainbow/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Joshuas-Pot-Luck.jpg Joshua's Pot Luck I was sure this evening was over while I was out photographing near Beaver Dam Wash in southern Utah. I was about to pack up when I noticed a beam of light coming through the clouds and boom a rainbow appeared. I rushed over and set up up the image and was graced with a rainbow for a few minutes before the sun rays were blocked again. This image can be seen also in my 2023 Calendar Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/joshua-trees-storms/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Joshua-tree-and-the-storm.jpg Joshua and the Storm Here is a video of this evenings photographic adventure Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/beaver-dam-wash-joshua-trees-sunset/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/In-the-spines-of-glory.jpg In the Spines of Glory These moments I strive for quite a bit in my photography. I love when the sun peaks out at the last moment and illuminates the landscape in light and color. I captured this image in January of 2022 with a buddy. I had a hunch things would turn out when I saw conditions brewing but in the end it turned out better than I expected. Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/cottonwood-drywash/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Harsh-Growing-Conditions.jpg Harsh Growing Conditions Fall colors in 2021 were some of the best I had seen across southern Utah. On my way home from a hunting trip I took advantage of this and photographed these beauties as I drove along Highway 95. Southern Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/fish-springs/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Fish-Springs-NWR.jpg Fish Springs I did not come here to do landscape photography, but when the occasion arises you do landscape photography. Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/joshua-tree-monster/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Estranged-monster-at-sunset.jpg Estranged Monster at Sunset This monster of a Joshua tree with its many tentacle like arms was a good subject to photograph this past year. The monsoons provided dramatic skies and this tree was dramatic subject to accent the skies. Here is a video of this day of photographing. Beaver Dam National Conservation Area, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/eagle-arch-rainbow/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Eagle-Arch-Rainbow.jpg Eagle Arch Radiance I have learned through the years that this little arch on the outskirts of St. George lines up quite nicely with rainbows when they drop near the Pine Valley Mountains. On this evening when conditions were combining I knew I was probably going to get some magic. Low and behold the rainbow dropped across the skyline and the clouds lit up. St. George, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/leaning-aspen/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Disfunction.jpg Disfunction I have been having issues photographing aspens lately. After a while, a mountain side or a close up shot of aspens begin to look all the same. So when I came across this composition, I like how there was one tree not like the others, just leaning over and not working right. It made for an overall more interesting scene. Cedar Mountain, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/great-basin-ridges/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Crimson-Ridges.jpg Crimson Ridges In 2021 there were fires all across the western united states. I was on my way home from a job interview and decided to stop by Cedar Breaks National Monument. I ended up catching a few nice sunsets, but the end of the evening brought about some dramatic skies. The clouds settled in the distance but the heavy smoke stained the sky red creating a surreal crimson layer of peaks extending into the distance. Great Basin, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/beaver-dam-wilderness/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Beaver-Dam-Wilderness.jpg Beaver Dam Wilderness There are times in my life where I wonder why I have not been here before. That was the feeling when I was exploring the Beaver Dam Wilderness in Arizona. For a location so close to my home, I realized I was not taking advantage of its amazing landscape. Probably the real reason is that it is really difficult to access. Beaver Dam Wilderness, Arizona https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/wailua-falls/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Wailua-Falls.jpg Wailua Falls Wailua Falls in Kauai were fun to drive up to and see. I wish we could gone down lower, but the trail was off limit. I enjoyed the view while we were there. Kauai, Hawaii https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/rainbow-lagoon/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Rainbow-Lagoon.jpg Rainbow Lagoon This was my birthday in Hawaii. My wife and I went to a secluded beach and got rained on, but then was treated to an outstanding rainbow as the storm passed. Kauai, Hawaii https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/queens-bath-shower/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Queens-shower.jpg Queens Shower The sunset at Kauai's Queens Bath was a very nice treat to end a day while enjoying a tropical island. Queens Bath, Kauai https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/queens-bath-falls/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Queens-Bath-Falls.jpg Queens Bath One of the most iconic shore lines in Kauai, Queens bath is also one of the deadliest. I got to enjoy the sunset here for one day while in Kauai. I wish I had more time. Queens Bath, Kauai https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/opaekaa-falls/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Opaekaa-Falls-v2.jpg Opaekaa Falls On our final day in Kauai I took a few moments to photograph the last major waterfall that we could get to easy enough. We had driven by it a few days earlier, but didn't get a chance to stop and say hi. So when we got there we were greeted by Tropical birds soaring on air vents and a beautiful waterfall cascading over lava rocks. Kauai, Hawaii https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/kilauea-lighthouse/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Kilauea-lighthouse.jpg Kilauea Lighthouse The sunset at Kilauea Lighthouse was quite pleasant and the cherry on top was the Red Footed Boobies that soared around the cliffs in their summertime nesting colony. Kilauea Lighthouse Kauai, Hawaii https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/puu-o-kilo-lookout/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Kauai-Overlook.jpg Pu'u O Kilo Lookout Probably some of the most beautiful cliffs in the world, the cliffs of Koke'e State Park do not disappoint. I unfortunately only had one sunset to enjoy these cliffs, but it was exciting non-the-less. I was tired, cold, sleep deprived and wind swept when I got about taking this image. Koke'e State Park, Kauai https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/hanalei-national-wildlife-refuge/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Hanalei-National-Wildlife-Refuge.jpg Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge There are times when you just have to find a new path in your photography. I had seen lots of images from around Hanalei Bay, but in the end I just wanted to do something different. So I ended driving down this road and ended sitting on the edge of the wildlife refuge enjoying the sounds of birds and watching a few workers wrap up their evening. Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge, Kauai https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/hanalei-bay-panorama/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Hanalei-Bay-Pano.jpg Hanalei Bay Pano Having a spectacular sunrise in Kauai came too easily, but being in the right spot was more difficult. This was taken close to the end of our trip in Kauai. It was one of the best sunrises we got to experience while we were there. Hanalei Bay, Kauai https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/hanalei-bay-overlook/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Hanalei-Bay-Overlook.jpg Hanalei Bay Overlook Hawaii is unfair when it comes to interesting weather conditions. I had rainbows, epic clouds and a giant waterfall all within one frame. Hanalei Bay, Kauai https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/cloud-pillars-2/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Anini-Refletion.jpg Cloud Pillars The tranquility of the pacific ocean in summer on a tropical coral reef. Kauai https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/cloud-pillars/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Anini-Cloud-Pillars.jpg Anini Cloud Pillars After a very long day of travel and a rough night of sleep listening to roosters, this was my first sunrise in Kauai. I have never really photographed beaches or ocean scenes, so it was a new creative challenge for sure. I really liked the way this image turned out particularly I had these nice two cloud pillars who centered themselves in the middle of my scene. Anini Beach, Kauai https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/radiant-forest/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Radiance-Above.jpg Radiance Above I wanted a version of this image when I went to the redwoods. I looked for a few days before I found it. One lone leafy tree standing in a grove of giant redwoods. Even after taking the image, I sat on the image for a few months trying to figure out how to bring this photo together. Hope you enjoy! Redwood National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/redwoods-mist/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Mist-in-the-Giants.jpg Mist in the Giants The light shone through the trees and I had to pull over and photograph it as the mist moved through. So there I am trying to photograph epic light while cars are zipping by. Taken in Redwood National Park Redwood National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/beams-redwoods/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/four-beams.jpg Four Beams The redwoods are something else compared to all my experience in the deserts of Utah. I was not use to the water, the green and the dense trees. One one day we got epic mist. Redwood National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/moonrise-over-joshua-tree/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Moonrise-over-the-super-bloom.jpg Moonrise over a Superbloom Having a super bloom of flowers to photograph is a magical moment. Having it happen in Joshua Tree National Park is a great magical moment. I was lucky enough to catch such an event as the full moon rose over a desert covered in small yellow flowers. Joshua Tree National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/superbloom-in-joshua-tree/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Moon-over-Blooms.jpg Moon over the Blooms I experienced a super bloom of little yellow flowers on my last trip to Joshua Tree National Park. The event was unplanned, I just happened to need to be in the region for a wedding. So when mother nature provides a great moment take advantage of it. Joshua Tree National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/lone-joshua-tree/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Lone-Jashua-Tree.jpg Lone Joshua Tree Joshua Tree National Park is one of my favorite National Parks now. I enjoy the silence in the morning and the gentle temperatures in the fall and spring. The clouds can be challenging but the calming sunrises are hard to beat. Joshua Tree National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/schwabacher-landing/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Swashbucker-flats.jpg Grand Tetons at Schwabacher Utilizing the grass, trees, and water to create a soothing sunrise in Grand Teton National park at Schwabacher Landing. Grand Teton National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/oxbow/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Misty-Oxbow.jpg Misty Oxbow Oxbow Bend in the Grand Tetons is famous for wildlife, reflections and too many photographers. I decided I was going to do something different as the clouds were not happening, but the mist was epic. So I put on the telephoto and began working with the mist and the trees. It turned out to be one of my favorite images from the trip. Grand Teton National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/grand-teton-range/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Grand-Teton-Range.jpg The Grand Teton Range I have not spent much time in the Grand Tetons, but it was nice to spend a day or so up here. The clouds showed up for just a bit at sunset on our second to last day and with a few wildflowers to grace the foreground it made for a nice sunset image. Grand Teton National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/toroweap-grandcanyon/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/toroweap.jpg Toroweap The wind was howling when I took this image, but the conditions were amazing at Toroweap in the Grand Canyon in Northern Arizona. I snuck in a large crack in the ground to keep out of the wind, and was rewarded with an epic sun star that graced the skyline for just a moment before dipping behind the hills. North Rim, Grand Canyon https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/cape-royal/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Cape-Royal.jpg Cape Royal After three years of trying I was rewarded with an amazing sunset of one of Grand Canyon National Parks best overlooks, Cape Royal. The large geological structure called wotons throne juts into the canyon. On this evening we were blessed with spectacular light right at sunset. Grand Canyon National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/shafer-road-rainbow/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Road-to-the-rainbow.jpg Road to the Rainbow The Shafer road is famous for being a bit perilous. I didn't go down it, but I did photograph a rainbow over it. Canyonlands National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/mesa-arch-underglow/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Mesa-Arch-Underglow.jpg Mesa Arch Underglow A dramatic underglow image of Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park. Mesa Arch, Canyonlands National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/mesa-arch/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Mesa-Arch-Center.jpg Mesa Arch An iconic image of Mesa Arch in Canyonalands National Park, Island in the Sky District. Taken in the winter. Canyonlands National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/malboro-point/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Malboro-Point.jpg Malboro Point I got on three wheels in a car that was not designed to get on three wheels for this image. Moab https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/horse-canyon/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Horse-Canyon.jpg Horse Canyon An image I may never replicate ever again, with blazing light striking the cliffs in Canyonlands National Park and raging snow storms over the La Sal Mountains. Horse canyon below leads viewers back into this dramatic view. Canyonlands National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/horse-canyon-maze-pano/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Horse-Canyon-Maze.jpg Horse Canyon Panorama An image I may never replicate ever again, with blazing light striking the cliffs in Canyonlands National Park and raging snow storms over the La Sal Mountains. Horse canyon below leads viewers back into this dramatic view. Canyonlands National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/frozen-bones/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/hore-frost.jpg Frozen Bones Hoar frost on trees in canyonlands national park. Canyonlands National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/green-river-overlook/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Green-River-Overlook.jpg Green River Overlook I nearly died for this image at Green River Overlook in Canyonlands National Park. I was standing on the rim watching the storm on the right side of this image move across. I look over at my child and her hair is beginning to stand straight up. I know this is a sign that lightning is about to strike. So I tell my children to get down on the ground and after a minute decide to make a run for it. The other photographers near by said their tripods were buzzing with electricity. I eventually used this as my calendar cover for the following year. Canyonlands National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/frozen/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Frozen-to-the-bones.jpg Frozen to the Bones I was in canyonlands a few years back when a layer of fog set across the landscape leaving everything in a frosty mist and the plants covered in hoar frost. It was such an odd experience and a challenging one as ever image was simplified but very similar to the next one. Canyonlands National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/chocolate-drops/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/chocolate-Drops-of-Canyonlands.jpg Chocolate Drops The Chocolate Drops of the Maze are an odd structure to behold in the desert. They stand amongst a maze of canyons and chaos. They can be reached by food, but the trip is an adventure. I was lucky enough to see them from a distance on a early spring trip with a few photographers. Canyonlands National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/thors-hammer/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Thors-Hammer-new.jpg Thor's Hammer Sunrise at Thor's Hammer in Bryce Canyon National Park is a must do photo for any photographer visiting the park. Luckily I had the hoodoo to my self and I was rewarded with a great sunrise. Bryce Canyon National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/inspiration-point-sunrise/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Pillars-at-Dawn.jpg Pillars at Dawn One more shot at inspiration point in Bryce Canyon National Park. This one caught all the colors as the sun rose, but was not yet visible above the horizon. These pre-dawn light shows are some of the best photographic conditions in the southwest, particularly with a well lit landscape. I was lucky to catch this image as I was passing through the region on my way home and decided to stay one more night for the possibility to catch this sunrise before I finished my drive home. Bryce Canyon National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/inspiration-point-sun-star/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Inspiration-Point.jpg Inspiration Point Inspiration point is my favorite overlook in Bryce Canyon National Park. This was one of the best sunrises I ever captured while here. The sun snuck through the passing clouds and illuminated the landscape resulting in one of my favorite images ever taken of Bryce and one of my most popular sellers. Bryce Canyon National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/bryce-point/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Bryce-Point.jpg Bryce Point Gently morning light illuminated the bowl of Bryce Canyon this past summer. The colors were soft but the clouds matched with their own soft tones. I was not alone, but most came and went at Bryce point and only stuck around for a few minutes. Bryce Canyon National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/bryce-natural-bridge/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Bryce-Natural-Bridge-Sunrise-verticle-.jpg Bryce Natural Bridge One year of planning and two attempts was the recipe for this image. I knew towards the end of the year, the sun would line up with the arch, so I had to wait. Once the time arrived I struck out at the crack of dawn and was skunked as the clouds did not show up. The following week, I set out again and was rewarded with the following image of Bryce Natural Bridge in Bryce Canyon National Park Bryce Canyon National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/delicate-arch/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Delicate-Arch-Sunrise.jpg Delicate Arch at Sunrise I got lost this morning trying to get this shot. Though the trail is fairly easy to navigate in the day time, when trying to do it two hours before dawn is a bit more difficult. I knew a few general principles, keep going north and hug to the right while I do so and I will either hit the bottom of a cliff or the trail. I eventually found the trail, so all was well. I did end up having the arch all to my self which was a nice experience. Arches National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/zion-cactus-bloom/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Zions-Bloom-Remastered.jpg Zion's Bloom I planned this image weeks in advanced. I found the cactus, but they were not ready to bloom. I then went back every few days and tracked the weather to see if the magic would happen. After two weeks of waiting, a passing thunderstorm brought all the conditions together and I was rewarded with one of my most beloved images. Kolob Terrace, Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/kinesava-mountain-white-stones/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/White-stones-to-Kinsava.jpg White Stones to Kinesava When conditions come together and you capture the glory of zion at sunset with glowing light, storm clouds, and an epic mountian. What more could I ask for. Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/cactus-and-cliffs/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Walls-of-Zion.jpg Walls of Zion An image I have under appreciated for a long time. Taken a bit on a whim, I captured this 2021 and it has mostly sat on my computer, but I bring it forward at this time to show some different sides of zion. Kolob Terrace, Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/wall-street-narrows/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Wall-Street.jpg Wall Street Wall Street in the Narrows of Zion is famous for its sheer cliff walls and no banks to walk on. I captured this in early fall. The Narrows, Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/kanarraville-fall-upper/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Upper-Kanarraville-in-Blue.jpg Upper Kanarraville Falls in Blue This was the last time I ever hiked this trail. I rushed up before the crowds arrived and created the following image. Kanarraville, Utah https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/fall-two-brothers-zion/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Trio-in-Fall.jpg Trio is Fall I like this spot as it sits near iconic locations, but people seem to forget to turn around. It just means I have some of the few photos of this spot. Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/tranquility--in-narrows-zion/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Tranquility-of-the-Narrows.jpg Tranquility of the Narrows The narrows with beautiful reflected light highlighting the cliffs and fall colors on the trees. It is always a good day to be in a place like this. The Narrows, Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/court-of-the-patriarchs-snow/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Towers-in-the-Mist.jpg Towers in the Mist Epic snowy conditions only come to zion a few days a year. I set out this day to see if I could find a few cool compositions and was rewarded with these two monoliths sticking up in the mist. Court of the Patriarchs, Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/two-patriarchs-zion/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/The-two-patriarchs.jpg The Two Patriarchs Sunset at Court of the Patriarchs is always a nice time to visit these iconic peaks. When you throw in a bit of clouds and a river the scene becomes magical. Court of the Patriarchs, Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/imlay-meetup-narrows/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/The-Imlay-Meetup.jpg The Imlay Meetup The deep colored walls of the Narrows is a magical experience to behold. This image is taken near the inflow of Imlay Slot Canyon. Usually the only indication that there is a canyon coming in is a dangling rope hanging from the cliff above or a little trickle of water that shows up on occasion. The Narrows, Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/curve-narrows/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/The-Curve-of-the-Narrows.jpg Curve of the Narrows The Virgin River curves its way through the towering sandstone walls. The Narrows, Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/observation-point-hoodoo/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/The-Citadel.jpg The Citadel On the final weekend before I returned to work, I took this image. It was the culminating shot of my spring in Southern Utah and it was filled with fun memories. First was the turkey vultures cruising through the air right in front of as they were riding the warm air currents coming off the cliff faces. Second was the epic light that lit up the landscape. Finally, it was the walk back in the dark. I ended up spending two hours in the dark wandering through Zion wilderness with the calls of poorwills guiding my way home. Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/brothers-of-zion/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/The-Brothers-of-Zion.jpg The Brothers of Zion This was the first image I took with my new Canon Camera. I was impressed and thus the photo stays today. FYI It was fall and I stood in this very cold river because I am that type of person. Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/temple-of-the-sun-fall/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Temple-of-the-Sun.jpg Temple of the Sun I waited a year so I could get a sunset with fall colors and a view of the Virgin River leading the eye through the main canyon of Zion National Park. Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/south-taylor-fork-oaks/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/South-Taylor-Fork-Oaks.jpg Fire Oaks I have never photographed Oak Leaves in fall colors before. They seemed to have avoided me for years until 2022. I finally landed in a canyon with epic amounts of fire red and yellow oak leaves with a beautifully reflected light lit canyon. Kolob Canyons, Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/west-temple-sunset/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Sentinal-Fire.jpg Sentinel Fire I rushed for this sunset and ran across the cheat grass fields hoping my ankle didn't give out as I tried to find any composition. The light luckily only got better and I was able to snag this one. West Desert, Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/sand-bench-trail/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Sand-Bench-Trail-Overlook.jpg Sand Bench Trail Overlook As I sat there I knew I had a decision to make. Hike back before sunset and get a ride on the bus, or wait till sunset and walk back five miles in the dark. I chose the latter. The sun lit up the landscape and I was graced with a beautiful view. I just got to walk back to my car and enjoy the sights and sounds of the desert night. Three grey foxes, a few toads, and a night filled with the sound of the virgin river. Sand Bench Trail, Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/the-watchman/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Revisiting-the-Watchman.jpg The Watchman in Spring There are sunsets in this world that stand apart from the rest. This was one of them. We stood on the bridge in anticipation as the rain drizzled upon our gear and the light crept across the landscape. The sun as it crept up the valley illuminated the landscape until it lit up the Watchman Mountain and backed the clouds in a beautiful red glow. A sunset to remember. Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/angels-landing-trail/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/On-the-way-to-Angels-Landing.jpg On the Way to Angels Landing This is the storm front of a Hurricane beginning to pass over Zion National Park. The day went as followed. Morning set up car relay. Begin hiking from the west rim trail. End hike and scramble as quickly as possible back to the cars before the rain storm hit up at full force. We got back to the cars as the rain began to drop and I got on the main road as the storm unleashed its fury. If we had waited any longer we would have possibly not have made it out of the mountains as the road becomes very muddy and is very steep. Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/house-rock/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Just-Around-House-Rock.jpg House Rock Meetup There are a few major structures within the Narrows lower section that make for solid identifiable points for people to recognize. The first is where mystery canyon comes into the Narrows, the second is House Rock, a large rock that sits right in the middle of the canyon. It is a solid meetup location and a good spot to have lunch. On my fall photo trip down the Narrows I passed by this point but the light was not right yet, so on my return trip the light was in place and I was able to line this image up. The Narrows, Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/south-taylor-fork-creek-pine/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Halloween-Trees.jpg Halloween Trees I came across this view on my way into the canyon and stopped and stared at it for a bit and decided no. On my way back, the light shifted and created a better canyon glow and I decided to take my last image of the trip. I like the collision of evergreens and fall foliage mixed with the deep canyon glow. It reminded me of Halloween. Kolob Canyons, Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/golden-light-narrows/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Golden-Light-of-the-Narrows.jpg Follow the Golden Light The Narrows in Zion National Park is one of the best places to photograph. I enjoyed fall colors this day as I wandered through the slippery boulders of the Virgin River. This wall is surprisingly iconic. The Narrows, Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/kinesava-mountain-glory/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Five-Minutes-of-Glory.jpg Five Minutes of Glory I knew the sunset would be a nice sunset when I set out to photograph this view. I got out the door a bit later than I would like, but in the end, there was only five minutes of light. Just enough to light up the tip of the mountain and the clouds. The mountains are Mt. Kinesava and the West Temple Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/emerald-pools-in-fall/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Emerald-Pools-In-Fall.jpg Emeralds and Rubies of Zion Emerald Pools is home to a pair of spectacular waterfalls when they are running. In the mean time they are a trickling series of cascades that have some of the best fall colors in Southern Utah. Emerald Pools, Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/virgin-river-winter/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Dry.jpg Dry This image is called dry and that is not a mistake. I went out and photographed this section of Zion as a creative exercise and a bit of a physical exercise as well. I walked back and forth four times equaling 8 miles of wandering looking for new and different ways I could photograph a one mile section of river. Virgin River, Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/west-desert-zion/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/West-Temple-Sky-Fire.jpg Sky Fiver Over The West Temple After living near Zion National Park for close to 10 years there area couple conditions I really look for. The first is clouds sitting over Zion. Second is clear skies to the west at sunset. If I see this, I get myself into gear and photograph. This photo came about as I was looking for new areas to explore and the end result was one of the best sunsets I have ever seen. West Desert, Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/virgin-river-tranquility/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Virgin-River-Tranqulity.jpg Virgin River Tranquility This photo was taken on a photographic exercise. I wanted to see if I could create a photo different from anything I had done here even though I had been photographing on this trail for over four years now. In order to up the challenge, I did it in winter. I liked the outcome. I hope you enjoy it too. Virgin River, Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/veiled-falls/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Vailed-falls.jpg Veiled Falls The trail to the lower section of the Subway is a trip that is a must do for Zion National Park lovers. It is hard, adventurous and has a few nice waterfalls. I have so far dragged friends, significant others, parents and a bunch of people I don't know down this trail over the year. Each time I enjoy the outcome. This trip was particularly enjoyable because the fall colors were really good. Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/ziontunnel/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Tunnel-of-Color.jpg Tunnel of Color A few years back I went on a fall photo binge in Zion National Park. I wandered up and down every canyon I could getting fall colors. As I worked my way towards the Upper East Side of Zion, I found this composition beautifully lit by some canyon glow. The fall colors were popping in my opinion and I really enjoyed the fact that the iconic tunnel adds a level of mystery to this image. Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/towersofzion/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/The-Towers-of-Zion.jpg Towers of Zion Summer time is a great time to wander around the front half of Zion National Park. There are various flowers in bloom, the light can be quite nice and depending on where you are at, there are surprisingly few people. Though this is a popular trail in Zion, often in the evening few people are on it. So this evening I had this most of this trail to myself. As I wandered around looking for novel shots to photograph in the future, my hoped for sunset began to kick into high gear. So I ran until I could see the towers of the Virgin and the West Temple and lined up a shot that included one of the grand views of Zion National Park. Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/templeofsinawava/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Temple-of-Sinawava.jpg The Temple of Sinawava I have attempted this shot multiple times over my photographic career. Finally I was able to catch conditions that separated the cliff wall from the temple. The snow that created a wonderful atmosphere also chilled me to my desert rat bones. It was a long wet day wandering around in Zion photographing fall colors, but it was an extremely productive day. Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/pine-valley-peak/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Pine-Valley-Peak.jpg Pine Valley Peak This photo was much colder than it looks. But this was mostly an exploratory adventure to see if I could find new places to photograph. In the end, I discovered I couldn't go closer to the peak due to private property. Kolob Terrace, Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/defendersofzion/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Defenders-of-Zion.jpg Defenders of Zion The front of Zion National Park is home to some very iconic peaks. When you combine those iconic peaks with spectacular light, the results are breathtaking. In order to get the photo I wanted I had to wander the floor of Zion and eventually climb up the cliff side to a vantage point that would provide the view I wanted before sunset. It was a challenge, but I found a view that provided me a front row seat to one of the best sunsets I have seen in Zion. Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/cottonwoodsmaples/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Cottonwoods-and-Maples.jpg Cottonwoods and Maples The upper east side of Zion National Park is home to some of the best fall colors in Southern Utah, but when and how they combine together varies from season to season. This year I was blessed with fall colors of striking contrast. Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/colorzion/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Color-Calydoscope-in-Zion.jpg Color Kaleidoscope in Zion Everyone once in a while when you explore a small little stream you are rewarded with a spectacle. This small cascade found on the floor of Zion Canyon happened to have a large swirling mass of leaves spinning in an eddy at the base of the cascade. Zion National Park https://www.standrephotography.com/photo/bigbendtree/ https://www.standrephotography.com/images/xl/Big-walls-and-trees.jpg Golden Walls at Sunset One of my regular haunts of Zion National Park is Big Bend. The location is provides a series of views both big and small that make for epic perspectives on how big the walls of Zion are. This evening as I was wondering around I noticed the golden light hitting the wall below Cable Mountain with this lone tree being back lit sitting on the cathedral at the base of Angels Landing. The light was changing quickly so of three or so images I captured this evening, this was #2. 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