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Archive 2013 · Nevada's Spectacular Valley of Fire

trailhiker
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Nevada's Spectacular Valley of Fire

Bottom line, folks -- you've GOT to go to Valley of Fire State Park and now's the time of year to do it. It's a simply stunning area that is a landscape photographer's dream -- and as you can see, even the birds can be set in unique backgrounds. I was there for the first week in February, on my shakedown cruise for the upcoming 3-year Journey with Discovery road trip (I officially retire April 26, and will head out on the road in the middle of May), and I got a good mix of clear skies and clouds. And the sun at sunrise and sunset really does make the sandstone rocks look like they are literally "on fire". The full VOF gallery is at my Facebook "Lone Wolfe Photography" page --

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.581031708591666.139698.527251610636343&type=1&l=8766d37ab6

Wow. If these next 3 years are going to be anything like this, then I might make it 4 years...or 5...

The landscapes were taken with the Canon 40D and EF-S 17-55 f/25 IS USM lens, and the wildlife with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 IS USM. Shot in RAW and run through Canon's DPP software, then further tweaked in PSPX3.

Best Wishes,
Steve

Tundra and "Discovery" at Valley of Fire Visitor Center

Along White Domes Scenic Byway

Near Rainbow Vista

Desert Bighorn Sheep

Loggerhead Shrike in Redrock Background

Mar 14, 2013 at 07:34 AM

Justin Grimm
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Nevada's Spectacular Valley of Fire

I just watched some recent episodes of Top Gear (UK) and they visited this area. Looks amazing.

Mar 14, 2013 at 08:25 AM

markcapilitan
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Nevada's Spectacular Valley of Fire

@Justin, I didn't see the top gear you mentioned, but must watch out for re-runs. I can understand why they went there though, not only is it a great place for photography, but the roads going through are some of the most fun I've ever driven on!
My take on one of the roads in the park - https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1061624/0?keyword=valley,of,fire#10092546

Mar 14, 2013 at 08:35 AM

trailhiker
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Nevada's Spectacular Valley of Fire

Thanks Justin -- it IS an amazing place. And so is the Northshore Drive just outside of VOF along Lake Mead. Mark, that's a beautiful shot. You're right about the road -- it's White Domes Scenic Byway, just north of the Visitor Center. The serpentine, sinuous route of the road really adds to the already fantastic landscape there. Here's my "take" on it, seen at sunset.

Best Wishes,
Steve

Sunset Along White Domes Scenic Byway

Mar 14, 2013 at 08:40 AM

nikon65
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Nevada's Spectacular Valley of Fire

Awesome stuff !!!! Good luck and enjoy your retirement.

Todd

Mar 14, 2013 at 12:31 PM

Camperjim
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Nevada's Spectacular Valley of Fire

Nice images. It is great to hear and see that you enjoyed the trip. I especially like the different images you provided. There is certainly nothing wrong with the wave and gibralter area but again I enjoyed seeing something different.

I especially like your second image as it provides a great feel of the area and does indeed makes me want to visit VOF again.

Mar 14, 2013 at 03:53 PM

trailhiker
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Nevada's Spectacular Valley of Fire

nikon65 wrote:
Awesome stuff !!!! Good luck and enjoy your retirement.

Todd

Thanks Todd! I'm ready for the road -- I have my iPad MIni with digital subscriptions to both Outdoor Photographer and Backpacker magazines.

Best Wishes,
Steve

Mar 15, 2013 at 07:42 AM

trailhiker
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Nevada's Spectacular Valley of Fire

Camperjim wrote:
Nice images. It is great to hear and see that you enjoyed the trip. I especially like the different images you provided. There is certainly nothing wrong with the wave and gibralter area but again I enjoyed seeing something different.

I especially like your second image as it provides a great feel of the area and does indeed makes me want to visit VOF again.

Thanks Jim! You're right, Fire Wave and Gibraltar are fine places, but there is SO much more to see in the Valley of Fire area -- and it's the small, mostly overlooked details that are the scenes that I remember most. It's definitely a place I'll return to repeatedly during my 3-year road trip.

Best Wishes,
Steve

Mar 15, 2013 at 07:50 AM

Camperjim
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Nevada's Spectacular Valley of Fire

Steve, I am glad to hear you have a 3 year adventure planned. I made 2 years excluding a few months with medical issues. I am hoping to be on the road again soon. I don't know if you have a plan or just want to wander with the seasons, but you can shoot me a PM if you are looking for any suggestions.
Jim

Mar 15, 2013 at 09:30 AM

gordon l
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Nevada's Spectacular Valley of Fire

I could not agree more with you on the great finds available in VoF. These are good shots. I like the bird shot best.

Gordon

Mar 15, 2013 at 10:05 AM

trailhiker
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Nevada's Spectacular Valley of Fire

Camperjim wrote:
Steve, I am glad to hear you have a 3 year adventure planned. I made 2 years excluding a few months with medical issues. I am hoping to be on the road again soon. I don't know if you have a plan or just want to wander with the seasons, but you can shoot me a PM if you are looking for any suggestions.
Jim

Jim, boy do I have plans...

But then a lot of it depends on the price of gas, money supply, weather -- and heck, I'll be retired, so if I like a spot -- I'll stay a bit longer! I'm sure you've been there, experienced that...Hope you will get back on the road soon; I will shoot you a PM...

Steve

Mar 15, 2013 at 10:09 AM

CW100
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Nevada's Spectacular Valley of Fire

great place !

Mar 15, 2013 at 01:56 PM

alatoo60
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Nevada's Spectacular Valley of Fire

Cannot agree more, VofF is a great place. Really like your bighorn and the bird.

Mar 17, 2013 at 12:49 AM

JimFox
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Nevada's Spectacular Valley of Fire

Hey Steve,

Congrats on the upcoming retirement! How did your trailer handle? It gives you a place to sleep for sure, but does it get in the way as you are traveling? Like, what happens as you are traveling from one place to the next and you see a cool rough dirt road that would be great to explore, and you are still many hours from where you had planned to stop for the night? Will you just stop and unhook the trailer on the side of the road? Or will you just have to pass up that road?

And yes, VoF is a super cool place, one that in my mind could definitely qualify as a National Monument because of all the cool stuff in it.

#2 is my favorite shot here, #3 is nice also, but if you compare it to #2, it looks like #3 needs to get the saturation pulled down as the reds and blues are too vibrant. You got a great capture of the Desert Bighorn sheep, very nicely done.

Jim

Mar 17, 2013 at 12:59 AM

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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Nevada's Spectacular Valley of Fire

CW100 wrote:
great place !

Aye, 'tis a grand place...Guess I must be in St. Patrick's Day mode!

Thanks!

Best Wishes,
Steve

Mar 17, 2013 at 06:00 AM

trailhiker
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Nevada's Spectacular Valley of Fire

gordon l wrote:
I could not agree more with you on the great finds available in VoF. These are good shots. I like the bird shot best.

Gordon

Thanks Gordon. I got the Shrike in a canyon wash, hence the redrock bg. Phainopepla were in abundance there, too. It's just an amazing place for photography, whether it be grand landscapes or quiet, intimate scenes. And oh, that light...

Best Wishes,
Steve

Mar 17, 2013 at 06:04 AM

SteveF
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Nevada's Spectacular Valley of Fire

Excellent. Fun to run into those bighorns. Happy travels.

Mar 17, 2013 at 07:20 AM

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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Nevada's Spectacular Valley of Fire

alatoo60 wrote:
Cannot agree more, VofF is a great place. Really like your bighorn and the bird.

Your comment is much appreciated, Aleksandra! I too like how the bighorn and bird are set in VOF's unique landscape.

Best Wishes,
Steve

Mar 17, 2013 at 07:26 AM

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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Nevada's Spectacular Valley of Fire

JimFox wrote:
Hey Steve,

Congrats on the upcoming retirement! How did your trailer handle? It gives you a place to sleep for sure, but does it get in the way as you are traveling? Like, what happens as you are traveling from one place to the next and you see a cool rough dirt road that would be great to explore, and you are still many hours from where you had planned to stop for the night? Will you just stop and unhook the trailer on the side of the road? Or will you just have to pass up that road?

And yes,...Show more →

Hey Jim! First off, thanks for commenting on #3. I actually DID tone down on the original RAW photo as yes, the setting sun made them too saturated. The landscape really DID look like it was "on fire"! Just a totally amazing place. And the Bighorn plus another were crossing the main road south of Mouse's Tank. I couldn't believe it as folks kept telling me I'd be lucky to merely see them on a ridgeline -- and I nearly ran into them with my Tundra!

As far as Discovery (my name for the travel trailer) -- she handled like a charm. With the V8 of the Tundra, I sometimes forget I'm pulling her behind me, and have to keep a watch on my speed. If I see a cool dirt road to explore yes, I'd have a problem exploring it right then, but I've been travelling using just the camper shell for years, and well, the body just ain't what it used to be. So this offers me flexibility in that I can take off for days at a time, still camping out of the back of my truck, and use Discovery as a home base to recoup, relax -- then go out again. Outside of going to motels, I really wasn't able to do that with just the truck. The first stop on the road journey is Yellowstone in late May; I'll be meeting other RVing wildlife/landscape photographer friends for the wolves, grizzles, and everything YNP has to offer. And the best thing about retirement -- I can stay there for as long as I want. I'm leasing out my condo here, so I really WILL be living in my travel trailer. As far as I'm concerned, that's Nirvana for me!

Best Wishes,
Steve

Mar 17, 2013 at 07:41 AM

ckcarr
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Nevada's Spectacular Valley of Fire

A little oversaturated on my calibrated monitor.
Good subject matter though.

The uneven, telltale sky of heavy handed polarizer use is visible in the landscapes, with the exception of number 2.

Reds are really hard to control, whether out there, or Utah photography. I've made enough mistakes. However, the top of the Desert Bighorn's head is also reddish, so it makes me think your settings are too saturated in general. Are these originally shot in raw? Or are you using in-camera settings and shooting jpegs? Raw is correctable, but a jpeg will be permanent, which may be important on a three year trip. If you are shooting jpegs, to accumulate a lot of memories without needless processing, I'd check my in-camera settings. Just a suggestion however.

Mar 17, 2013 at 09:31 AM

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