Waves of Imagination

We visited Canyon X after an awkwardly trip to Upper Antelope Canyon. I have to emphasize that Upper Antelope Canyon is a charming location but with hundreds of people jammed into this confined space is not a pleasant photographic experience. We had a wonderful trip to Canyon X. With only 5 of us in the tour lead by Overland Canyon Tours, and plenty of time, creativity is limited only by our imagination. 

What makes the slot canyons so incredibly beautiful to photograph is the breathtaking interplay between the reflected light and colored sandstone. With the infinite selection of form, texture, color, contrast and light, composing all these elements harmoniously in a single image is a challenging yet rewarding task. Perhaps this explains why slot canyons are so alluring for photographers.

Finalist at The 2nd Zebra Awards

Three of my pictures were awarded finalist at The 2nd Zebra Awards in Black and White Photography - "Sagrada Familia" and "Hong Kong International Airport" in "Abstract and Contemporary" category and "St Johannes Church" in "Fine Art and Open" category. You may view the winner gallery at the website of TZIPAC. 

Congratulation to all the winners!

Rim of Paradise

This was our second day in Grand Canyon National Park. We were exploring the Desert View Drive for location for dusk shot. It doesn't take too long to decide, our first stop - the Pipe Creek Vista captured my heart immediately. I was standing there to wait for the right moment while enjoying the view. All the sudden, the splendid clouds invade the majestic view of Pipe Creek Vista, creating the mixed sense of peace and excitement. This moment doesn't stay long but it was imprinted in my mind forever. Of course, I still remember to press the shutter button:)

There is no where in the world can beat the beauty of this heavenly creation. Definitely, no words can adequately describe the beauty of Grand Canyon, as the quote from John Wesley Powell, "The wonders of the Grand Canyon cannot be adequately represented in symbols of speech, nor by speech itself. The resources of the graphic art are taxed beyond their powers in attempting to portray its features. Language and illustration combined must fail."

Exhibition in North Valley Art League

One of my work "Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park" was chosen as a Gold Selection for exhibition in "The Full Spectrum", International Juried Photography Show at North Valley Art League, California, April 29 - May 31, 2014. The opening reception will be held on May 3, 2014, 6-8pm. If you have a chance to stop by, welcome to see my work in print:)

  

The print looks fantastic on Epson Premium Luster Paper at 12"x18"! It was shipped to North Valley Art League last week. Will be there on time for exhibition!

Good Morning Bryce Canyon

A wonderful winter morning at Inspiration Point, Bryce Canyon National Park - this is by far the most beautiful sunrise I have ever seen in my life! Nowhere in the earth has as many hoodoos as in this part of Bryce Canyon National Park. Winter is a great time to visit and photograph Bryce Canyon, it is much less crowded than the summer time and the snow adds interest to the scene, although there is limited access to the hiking trail (and most of the restaurant and store nearby the Bryce Canyon City are closed for the season). 

It was freezing in the morning but I had totally forgot about the cold when I saw this amazing landscape gradually light up by the morning glow! What's a great way to start a day!

Trajectory

I have been talking about the composition of this image in an earlier post, and today I want to tell the story behind the scene...

It was the 2nd October 2013, we will not be visiting Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park if the US government wasn't shutdown. Instead, we were planning to be in the Zion National Park, although we still had the chance to pass by Mt. Carmel Highway of the Zion National Park. This is how we end our day in Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.

After a day long of walking, we wanted to try something new, something exciting but without involve extra walk. We wanted to rent an ATV, and we thought that ATV can bring us to the site where we are not able to reach by foot, and get some nice sunset shots. However, we can only do this if we are the only people on the ATV tour at the particular time slot, I don't think we will be free to stop at any place we want and scouting around for photography sweat spot, if there are other people in the tour. Ok, we decided that if there is no one else on the ATV tour at 5pm, we will be in. Eventually, there were a group of people joined the ATV tour, so we gave up. Let's go back to the sand dunes, keep walking to find a sweat spot for golden hour shot.

The golden hour is approaching, I was standing on a higher elevation dune with my camera and tripod ready. To the east, it is the nice abstract patterns form by different elevation of sand dunes. I was hoping that, when the sun is getting low, I was able to get a nice and simple abstract shot with vibrant color. Suddenly, an ATV was just hurtling across the piece of land within my frame, creating the trajectories all over the place. With no time to think further, I intuitively pressed the shutter. This is an unexpected moment, but in a good way! When I view the image on the computer screen, I really love how the final image looks! Moreover, if you zoom in the image or view in a larger print, you will see a man riding the ATV with a dog at the back!

If the government wasn't shutdown, if the ATV tour wasn't fill up, if the ATV (with the driver and his dog) didn't invade into my frame, this image will never exist! What's an amazing coincident! Is this what the meaning of Alexander Graham Bell's quote "When one door closes, another door opens"? In this case, three door close and one open!

Happy Friday and have a great weekend ahead!