Photo Gallery, Bryce and Zion, Utah

Photography © John Baker Photographer LLC/Travel Images.com/JayBeeStock.com

The following images represent the typical range of subjects for this particular Travel Images photo tour or workshop. They were selected with the knowledge that all our clients are able to obtain similar images, but should a particular technique be new to you I will share everything I know so that you reach every one of your photographic goals.

Please scroll down for images taken on Travel Images photo tours by the leader John Baker.
In most cases, links to client images from this destination are at the bottom of the page

ZION NATIONAL PARK, UTAH

Our autumn trips start in a section of Zion national park that a majority of folk don't get to see. This is Kolob Canyon, with Beatty Point at left, Nagunt Mesa at center, and Timber Top Mountain at far right.

If you have a well-lit mountain and want to add some interest, find say a tree in the shade, and it will silhouette nicely for you. The mountain pictured at dawn is the Sentinel.

These leaves were in a dried up stream bed that was full of water just three days previously. I had just renewed my artistic license which gave me the authority to move the leaves around a little. On the next photo tour in 2011 this was all sand, and consequently there was no image. The moral of the story is, when you see the opportunity, take it. All puns intended. ;-)	Checkerboard Mesa needs side-lighting to bring out the unique symmetrical texture. The tree was included for perspective.

Finding texture in Zion is relatively simple, but one needs some light and shade to hold the viewer's attention. Next one should choose a camera angle that makes the most of the patterns in the rock.

A red Maple leaf drops in on some Oak leaves for an end of season get together. ;-)	It's about the light, i.e. the dawn light was breaking across Zion when it lit up this pine tree. The tree 'pops' because the background rock is still in shade.

Then on to Bryce . .
BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK, UTAH

I like to be able to add comments to all of my images, especially the location. However, Bryce Canyon, Utah photographically has 'similar' looking locations throughout the park except in a few instances. So, please forgive me if I list my images as #1 and #2 etcetera, though I have added comments here and there. This image is #1 and is all about the light and shade. We should all live for this kind of light!

Bryce Canyon, Utah, #2. I was drawn to the way the snow looked like icing.

Bryce Canyon, Utah, #3. A reasonably lit view to the northeast.

Bryce Canyon, Utah, #4.	Bryce Canyon, Utah, #5.

Bryce Canyon, Utah, #6. One of my favorites making good use of the light and 'thirds'.

Bryce Canyon, Utah, #7. For this shot I framed the point of interest with some rock sitting in the shade. This in turn creates a contrast in lighting, and subsequently, impact.	Bryce Canyon, Utah, #8. More good light, plus an attempt to place something of interest in the foreground.

Bryce Canyon, Utah, #10. Nice light, and two points of interest framed by two 'windows'. It works for me!

Bryce Canyon, Utah, #11. To avoid each of your pictures looking similar, it helps to find an object of contrast such as this tree.

A view to the east of Bryce Canyon as a weather front passes by on the last trip.

Bryce Canyon, Utah, #12.	Bryce Canyon, Utah, #13.

Bryce Canyon, Utah, #14.

A Mule Deer close to the Bryce Canyon rim.	Bryce Canyon, Utah, #15. I found the contours and formation an appealing combination for this shot.

A section of Bryce away from the main canyon amphitheater known as Paria View.

Bryce Canyon, Utah, #16. Again it's about the light, which depicts the center formation as a Greek temple.

Bryce Canyon, Utah, #17. Bryce can be a breezy and cool spot at any time of year, as indicated by the snow stuck to the side of this tree.	A Mule Deer buck briefly raises his head while foraging on the Bryce Canyon plateau.


RED CANYON, UTAH

Red Canyon is great spot for photography as one approaches Bryce Canyon.


CORAL PINK SAND DUNES STATE PARK, UTAH

Coral Pink Sand Dunes state park is a nice detour between the two parks, especially if the light is favorable.	A macro shot of wind-sculptured sand formations.

Back to Zion . . .
ZION NATIONAL PARK, UTAH

When the weather is dry the waterfall is nowhere to be seen, so one shouldn't always wish for good weather, but good light. The peak at left is 6,496 foot high Cable Mountain.

One of several shots in this photo gallery that feature water reflecting the light on the Zion canyon walls.

The Virgin River reflecting the light from the Mountain of the Sun, which rises to 6,772 feet.	Above I have used the Weeping Rock and dripping water as foreground interest for this shot of Cable Mountain.

An image looking north up the Virgin River towards The Narrows.

A tree silhouetted against the colorful textures on the side of the Temple of Sinawava.

Above and below left, rocks in the Virgin River 'dance' with the light from the Zion canyon walls.


Zion is a place of high contrast when the sun is out, and we have to find ways to cope photographically. For the shot above right of Red Arch Mountain I exposed for the peak, then as the foreground was heavily shaded by comparison, I dabbled with Photoshop to bring up some detail in the slab of rock.

It's not New England by any stretch of the imagination, but Zion does in fact have Maples trees. The 'trick' is to find contrast, i.e. in this case red on green.

A bend in the Virgin River above which stand the Court of the Patriarchs. From the left are Abraham, Isaac and Mount Moroni. Abraham is the highest at 7.104 feet.

A pair of images that feature the sky as much as Zion itself. In the shot above, 6,863 foot Twin Brothers peak catches the dawn light while polarization enhances the sky. Below, West Temple at bottom left and other red rock compete with a pretty morning sky. Just so you know, I only include this much sky if I feel it has something special about it, and will enhance the image.

In the upper reaches of Zion one can occasionally get close to Big Horn Sheep for a shot or two.

Nearby Emerald Pool is a 'messy' shot for me, so I 'created' an alternative with this wispy waterfall and leaf shot. An exposure of 15th of a second to say 1 second, will render the water as a fine mist.	The Beehives and Sentinel peak as seen from Canyon Overlook at dawn.

Above and below, a tripod and a long exposure - at least a shutter speed of a 15th of a second or slower - will yield some very striking images. Don't forget to 'anchor' your shot with something of interest like the rocks in two of these three images. Better still, as with the two images below, choose your camera position carefully so that you can capture the light that may be reflecting off the water.

Is it a bird or a plane? Is it a fly or a Bee?! Actually it's proper name is Bee-like Tachinid Fly and is listed under the Bee section in the Audubon directory. This one is feeding off some Rabbit Brush.	A long exposure to induce the 'soft' water in the Virgin River. The peak is the Sentinel once more.

Light, shade, rock and crevice in Zion national park. Not the best composition in the world, but side-lighting brings out the best in the ordinary.

In an attempt to find a different perspective of the waterfall, I scrambled up a muddy slope and exposed at a 15th of a second at f.16.	Another that I exposed for the mountain, then 'induced' some foreground light in Photoshop. A graduated gray/split neutral density filter will provide a similar effect, and I always carry one.

OK, so I placed this red maple leaf on the green shrub, but the point is, was it a worthwhile exercise?	A small hardy flower survives healthily, despite growing on an overhanging rock face in Zion.

Oh right, here's that 'messy' Emerald Pool shot I mentioned above!

A dawn panoramic image for which I stitched several frames together. Left to right, Bridge Mountain, West Temple, The Beehives, The Sentinel, and Mount Spry.

Watchman Peak and the Virgin River at sunset as shot by the majority, above. Below, the same scene shot from river level by our groups.

Bryce and Zion by Cathy Grape \| Bryce and Zion by Ralph Pollock Bryce and Zion brochure \| Back to the Photo Galleries A to Z Images and graphics on TravelImages.com are strict copyright John Baker Photographer LLC. If you seek stock images, please go here.