I just got done with a few days in Capital Reef and specifically at the Temple of the Sun and Moon. I got some great conditions, one of the best being that I didn't see anyone out there for over 2 days. Now this shot is actually from about a month ago, I figured I had better post it before I got to processing some shots from this more recent trip.
It was cold there, you can see the look of frost on the brush and grass. There were no clouds that trip, so I tried to focus on the ground more to add interest since there was nothing in the sky.
Looks good Jim. I like the composition and focusing on the foreground was a good move. I think the overall scene is interesting and beautiful that the cloudless sky doesn't really detract from it at all.
Really a great capture and composition of that monument with splendid light and color. I was in that area several years ago, coming through from Cathedral Valley. Memorable trip in all respects.
Travis Rhoads wrote:
another stunner Jim. Your images have such a clean, perfect look to them, they are always so well presented. Thanks for sharing this one.
Thanks so much Travis, I am really glad you liked this and I appreciate your description, I think you made my head swell up a few notches...
dswiger wrote:
Very nice shot Jim
Any more frost & I would think you were in Alaska
Thanks Dan, I am glad you liked it. Yeah, one would have almost thought I was in Alaska, though this last trip, I was really thinking that I was in Alaska! Several hours of driving in a heavy snow storm in the evening with minimal visibility. Often driving only about 30 miles an hour on I-70 as I was forced to follow right behind snow plows... I thought for sure I would have a winter wonderland wating for me in Capital Reef, but for some reason, the snow engulfed Bryce Canyon, etc, but did not really fall in Capital Reef, at least not out in Cathedral Valley.
roguecoolman wrote:
Looks good Jim. I like the composition and focusing on the foreground was a good move. I think the overall scene is interesting and beautiful that the cloudless sky doesn't really detract from it at all.
Jason
Thanks Jason, I appreciate your thoughts. For as beautiful as the foreground is, it's very delicate too, every footstep is seen. So while trying to find comps in the dim light before sunrise, one has to be super careful not to step in an area that would have made for a good foundation. Unfortunately that happened to me a couple of times.... it's like one doesn't see the good comp until you are standing right on it... then it's too late... So I also got in the habit of walking only where I had already walked, much like in snow, so that my foot prints were left to a minimum for future compositions.
ben egbert wrote:
Fantastic. I am heading that way next month, is there places to camp near the Temples?
Hey Ben, I am glad you liked the shot.
As for camping, there are no close campgrounds, the closest one with a pit toilet is about 13 miles away up on the mesa overlooking Cathedral Valley. Now, the border for the NP starts right as you turn off the main loop road through Cathedral Valley, so not sure if that's BLM or what, but I did see people camping out there on my last trip. For me, since I typically am only sleeping about 3 or 4 hours with shooting late and then early, I usually just crawl into my jeep and snooze there for a few hours in one of the parking areas. It's more like taking a nap then camping that way...
