We are going to UT for Christmas. 4 days in Moab and 4 days in Zion.
Does anyone have any advice for areas to shoot, other than the obvious ones? Or obvious ones that really are a must do? We don't mind working for a shot - hike for hours, get up really early, that sort of thing. For example, we had to get up at 1:30 AM to get this one:
All great places you are mentioning. I will give you my "impression". Hope it helps.
Canyonlands is rough and wild, more a place for 4x4 since it is so huge.
Bryce, just get down to the bottem for some spectuculair views
Zion, great place, duifficult to shoot because of the huge contrast. i very much liked the Angelslanding (very obvious..). Maybe less obvious is the Subway at the Left Fork (not in the 'main park', but in the part more west). Great and very impressive, but you have to hike through a rives (sort of The Narrows). Don't know about the circumstances. You need to have a permitt since it is a back country hike). Visit the Zion website for more information.
Canyonlands...yup, very remote. Remember that guy who cut off his arm to save his life? Canyonlands. So don't go alone and be prepared for long hikes or driving a 4x4.
Bryce...The obvious ones are sunrise (sunrise point to get that famous little tree), Wall Street (short hike down the Navajo Trail...if its open, was closed when I was there last week Less obvious are to take a day and just hike the backcountry. YOu can get a much different view. Trees and wildlife in the foreground and the hoodoos in the background. Unfortunately Bryce is tough to get any sunset photos since it faces east.
Zion...ditto angels landing. Also the bridge after the visitors center makes for some nice evening and morning shots. For the most part Zion is tough to get good lighting. YOu have to almost chase it around the park. I would literally have seconds to get a shot becuase the sun was shining through a narrow opening. So expect to spend a day just seeing the sights and evaluating the light. Where is the sun, what time will the light be the way you want it...then spend the rest of the trip making it to those spots in time. The Narrows is fun too. Most people don't venture up becuase the water is so cold. But with some good boots, a tripod to balance on and an extra pair of sock back at the car its worth trekking upstream for some more interesting shots. Don't worry...the feeling in your feet will come back on the return hike to the car
If you want to get the arch, you can make the ~12 mile hike (round trip) on the nothern end of the park. This also allows for a lot of other interesting shots on the way. The silver maples (is that waht they are?) and some streams.
Zion is nice because most of the places are a short 1-3 mile hike. I'll be posting some soon.
When in Moab check out Arches. Those are a bit more remote, but doable.
In arches, at sunset, the orange color of the rocks really comes out in a major way. Be ready to get those low angled rays. I used to find a spot and watch as the sun slowly changed the colors of the rock.
Angels Landing is a nice hike and a great view from the top. The photo ops are actually on the way up/down....especially near Refrigerator Canyon....time of day at this time of the year would be important....early morning in Refrig would be a great time to catch the morning light against the huge rock wall to capture the texture of the rock....Zion also has some great side canyons on the road going out (east) that few people hike....
Gee, you guys are being rather hard and dismissive of Canyonlands! If you are visiting Moab for 4 days, for the first time, then a trip to Dead Horse Point is a must for a sunset or sunrise!!
Drive along the Colorado River to the Fisher Towers area. Good short hikes. Great sunset location. A short drive along the Onion Creek gravel road also provides nice afternoon views of the Fisher Towers. After a large parking area, it quickly becomes 4WD only. You'll know when to stop.
Be sure to visit Tom Till's gallery in Moab (can't miss it on the main street). He has lived in Moab many years, and has many images of the area that will inspire you.
Hope you have some great weather. I find the snowy desert images very appealing.
Thanks for asking the question and I'm taking notes also....In April I have a workshop with Marc & David Muench at Cayonlands and Arches and plan on spending some time on my own afterwards...
Anyone nteresting in that one can check at www.gapweb.com.
Have a GREAT trip!!!!
Less obvious are to take a day and just hike the backcountry. YOu can get a much different view. Trees and wildlife in the foreground and the hoodoos in the background. Unfortunately Bryce is tough to get any sunset photos since it faces east.