Zion Day Four - We Bid Adieu

Alas we come to our fourth and last day at Zion post. We needed to head back to Las Vegas to catch a show (David Copperfield!, very entertaining) then to the airport for our red eye flight home.

Before we left Zion, while we had some thoughts of climbing yet more trails with crazy drop offs and views, in the end we decided to take it easy. We strolled along the Pa'rus Trail which meanders along the Virgin River in the valley of Zion Canyon. This gave us a different perspective on the awesome Zion scenery.

Driftwood

I thought I'd try a panorama shot, which in this case was a combination of six separate photos covering at least 180 degrees.

Zion Valley Panorama

Virgin River with Mountains Backdrop

Since it was mid-April, we were a touch too early in the season to see all the Zion flowers, but there were a few. The Watchman Trail and this Pa'rus Trail afforded the best opportunity for colorful flowers to grace our way. Here's a sample:

Utah Purple

Since the Virgin River was the star of this Pa'rus Trail, I thought it only appropriate to take a few more "silky river" shots. These next three pictures are all 1/15 second exposures, which is not particularly slow, but slow enough to cause the water to look this way.

Water Dance

It was mid-day and we were under bright sun. I wanted to slow the shutter speed down as much as possible, so I really needed a neutral density filter on the lens. Lacking that, I thought I'd try my clip-on sunglasses. Deb helped hold them in front of the lens while I held the camera steady atop a rock. Check this out:

High Class Lens Filter

The above photo didn't turn out quite the way I wanted. You weren't supposed to see my "lens filter". After cropping the photo a bit in post-processing, I obtained the next photo. Perhaps it isn't the most spectacular photo, but it's more or less what I originally had in mind.

Virgin River Show

Just twenty feet away from the last shot, this cactus flower was adorning the trail:

Cactus Flowers

This turned out to be the last picture of note. We left Zion to head home via Las Vegas.

We left feeling incredibly moved by the beauty and majesty of Zion National Park. We have had the pleasure of visiting many of our nation's National Parks, and, while they all have something to offer, our Zion visit was truly special. It will remain a fond memory for us always.


All photos © 2016, all rights reserved.  Contact me for licensing or to order prints.

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Arizona Encore

I still have some photos from my December Arizona trip that I'd like to share, and that is the purpose of this blog entry.

This first picture was taken at Sabino Canyon, and reflects classic Arizona scenery.

Sabino View

These next two shots are of a hummingbird at Tucson's Desert Museum. They are cropped considerably and thus have lost a bit of detail relative to what I'd prefer. This is what happens when one goes to the zoo with the wrong lens:) I shot these with my 12-40mm; next time I go zoo visiting I'll bring my longest lens!

Hummingbird Side View

Hummingbird Front View

This next picture is blurry and taken through the glass side window of the car while moving. Despite that, I still wanted to share the look of those nice Arizona sun rays.

Sun Rays

This next photo is kind of an experiment dealing with a relatively tight crop on some grasses, and adjusting the colors a bit.

Grasses Alit

Bird Down Under

American Coots are unusual looking birds that appeal to me for some reason that I can not explain. In these photos I enjoy the colors and patterns in their surrounding water as well.

American Coot in Water Circles

Horizontal Coot Flow

American Coot Pushing Water

All photos © 2016, all rights reserved.  Contact me for licensing or to order prints.

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Winter in Tucson

Here are some photos of Tucson, Arizona, taken near the end of December.

Flowers Gone By in a Colorful Planter

Prickly Pear tea is made from Purple Prickly Pear cactus, shown below.

Purple Prickly Pear Cactus

Towering Saguaro

Many of the following photos are taken in Agua Caliente Park.

Oasis in the Desert 1

Oasis in the Desert 2

Palm Shade

Oasis in the Desert 3

At a Small Horse Farm Near the Park

This Roadrunner was literally running in the road at Sabino Canyon.

Roadrunner Doing the Proper Thing 

The Three Amigos

Classic AZ

Saguaro Missile Ready for Takeoff

Through the Trees

Spiky Color

Duck Face

Fast Wings

Female American Wigeon

You've heard the expression: "If it looks like a duck, acts like a duck, ..."? Well an American Coot looks and acts like a duck, but this bird is not a duck.

American Coot 1

American Coot 2

All photos © 2015, all rights reserved.  Contact me for licensing or to order prints.

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