Grand Canyon

OK, so my wife signed on for a trip dedicated to artists for a 300 mile river trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. I figured I should go along for the ride. Without a water-proof housing, I found I couldn't keep a camera out while on the river for risk of soaking it. But we had mornings and evenings free on land (artists painted during this time; I broke out a camera and played). Overall, I wasn't too pleased with my photos, but there were a few I liked.

 

I do like this particular image. Many of the shots I took in the canyon had too much dynamic range for the sensor; there isn't enough detail in shadow areas for my liking.

It was a fun trip! I really enjoyed getting hit by water in all the rapids! If there is a next time, I'll take an underwater housing.

 

Gretchen, I metered for the brightest area, and bracketed the shot. In post processing, I had to bring out the shadow detail somewhat to make it appear as I saw it. I tried shooting this scene with the sky showing in the top, but it was too bright for my liking. I was first attracted to the mud ripples, and the reflections in the water there. I have a series of shots of just the mud, then the mud and reflection in the river. I finally worked the shot to include the brighter cliffs in the background while still shooting mostly the areas in shadow and the reflection in the river. I don't generally work on landscapes; I prefer to work mostly on critters. My approach to landscapes often comes from looking at the details first, then finding a composition to include those details.

 

Well, in fact it is now hanging on the wall of our summer cabin, which is where I am now. My printer is down in Homer, or else I'd make a print for you, too. I won't be back there until at least mid-summer.

Did I say summer? It's been snowing since I got here, with strong winds as well. The open water on the edges of the lake and pond are now frozen again, and snow covered. Ah well, that's life in the Alaska range!