Pipe Creek Vista Revisit

This is definitely the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen in my life. Pipe Creek Vista at the Grand Canyon National Park offer a majestic view of the already amazing geological formation. The view is absolutely breathtaking, although the photographing and post-processing render a big challenge for me. The high contrast of the sky and canyon forced me to take two different exposures and then blended in Photoshop. Further, the hazy view of canyon and the high contrast color at dusk render another challenges for post-processing. 

This was the 5th time I processed the same photos. When I review my earlier processing, they look quite different but I felt that the current version is getting closer to what I envisioned and how I feel at that short but excited moment when I stood on the edge of canyon. Perhaps this is due to the vision change - your skill changes, your "mind eye" is evolving, your mood at the time of processing, and/or perhaps something arose your feeling on the moment when you press the shutter.

Different Faces of Dante's View

Dante's View at Death Valley National Park is a place with full of surprise. To the west, you can see the best panoramic view of Badwater Basin and the Panamint Range, as shown in the previous post. This is not all you can see! Move your feet! To the east is the beautiful mountain range - the view is magnificent at dawn, where back-lighting make the silhouette stand out. To the south is another lovely view - the soft light at dawn cast beautiful contrast on the hillside as well as golden rims on the grasses.

BTW, there is a cool article on USA Today - 20 reasons to visit dazzling Death Valley. Check this out, Death Valley maybe your next trip! I am sure you won't regret, this place is truly awesome!

Heavenly Light

Located just 260 miles from my home, Shenandoah National Park is a fantastic place to visit. In particular, the 105 miles long and narrow Skyline Drive that runs along the Blue Ridge mountains, offer you some of the most spectacular mountain landscape in the world. Many visitors travel exclusively by driving, as the highway itself is the park, and it is often associated with deer and black bear sighting along the way! We spotted 3 black bears and countless of dears in this trip.

We found this fantastic viewpoint after some driving and decided to stay for the sunset photography. While enjoying the majestic landscape and preparing the gear, a cloud was passing over the sun and the light rays piercing through it, creating the mix of warm and cool tints on the invading mist. All these combined created a magical moment - one of the most charming moment imprinted in my mind and my camera "mind".

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."

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!

Dancing Waves

This image was taken at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes at Death Valley National Park. I love photographing sand dunes, you never know what can surprise you in particular time, location, weather and season. Winter is such a great time to visit Death Valley, and therefore filled up by crowd. It took quite some time to escape to a spot with no one and no footprint - if you plan to do that, bring a lot of water and be sure that you are able to find the way back. While scouting the landscape with my camera plus telephoto lens, I spotted this wonderful scene with the layers of sand dunes make up the dancing waves. I wait until the moment before sunset for the best light and freeze the moment with the shutter.

"Jupitoid" Landscape

At first glance, you might wonder if this is the surface of Jupiter - the giant spot, which resemble the great red spot of Jupiter, surrounded by colorful wavy clouds. Instead, it is the view of Badwater Basin taken from Dante's View, Death Valley National Park. We woke up at 4.30am and drove for an hour to reach this fantastic place for chasing the sunrise, and all the effort worth it! In addition to the grand panorama view of Panamint Range and Badwater Basin, there are unlimited of photography opportunity, particularly the abstract landscape of Badwater Basin and Panamint Range, from the height of 5476fts.

Dusk at Bryce Point, Bryce Canyon National Park

There's no place like Bryce Canyon National Park. Despite it looks gorgeous at anytime of the year, but the dawn and dusk in Bryce Amphitheater is always breathtaking. This is my second trip to Bryce Canyon, the last trip was during the government shutdown and we were only able to see some hoodoos outside of the park - at Ruby's Inn and the Red Canyon. This time, when I stepped out from the car, it totally blew my mind! How can such a beautiful piece of land exist on earth? Am I standing on earth?

OK, let me explain what is hoodoo. Hoodoo is a tall and thin spire of rock protrudes from the bottom of an arid drainage basin or badland. It may range from 1.5 to 45 meters tall. Hoodoos were found in various places, such as Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, Cappadocia region of Turkey, Alpes-de-Haute-Procence in Paris, Devil's Town in Serbia, but nowhere in the earth has as many hoodoos as in the northern part of Bryce Canyon National Park.

This picture was taken at the Bryce Point, which is located just 3 miles from the visitor center. Despite it was freezing cold during the winter, I totally forgot about the cold when I saw this amazing landscape and start shooting. BTW, winter is a great time to photograph Bryce Canyon, it is much less crowded than summer time. Plus, you will get a bonus element in your shot - snow!

Love from Valley

This picture was taken at the Dante's View, Death Valley National Park. Dante's View offer a magnificent panoramic view of various geological formation. Particularly to the west, Dante’s View offers the best view of the Panamint Range, as shown in this picture.

When the sun gradually rising from the horizon, the Panamint Range is bathed with the warm light. While scouting around for abstract artwork, a heart-shaped shadow cast by the elevated ground was spotted. I carefully frame the burning heart in my viewfinder and freeze the beautiful moment by pressing the shutter. What's a great way to start a day!

Love is everywhere! I wish you all a Happy Valentine!

Dante's View, Death Valley National Park

Dante's View is a viewpoint terrace located about 25km (16 miles) south of Furnace Creek in Death Valley National Park. At the height of 1,669m (5,476 feet), Dante's View offer a magnificent panoramic view of various Death Valley geological formation. Particularly to the west, as shown in this picutre, Dante’s View offers the best panoramic view of Badwater Basin and the Panamint Range. From here, the highest and lowest points in the park - Telescope Peak 3,367m (11,047 feet) high and Badwater Basin −86m (−282 feet) can be seen. Badwater Basin is also the lowest point in North America. 

To capture the best light of Dante's View, we woke up at 4am and start driving from Amargosa Opera House & Hotel at Death Valley Junction. Despite the road toward Dante's View is paved, extra cautious is needed because it is narrow and winding. It took us about an hour to reach the peak of Dante's View. The view is breathtaking despite the bitter cold and windy due to the high elevation. This is a fantastic location for wide-angle landscape, as well as telephoto abstract photography. When the sun gradually rising from the horizon, the Panamint Range in the West is bathed with the warm alpenglow - it was when I press the shutter while enjoying the beauty of our mother nature.

Chasing the Light at Badwater Basin

These photos were taken in Badwater Basin, Death Valley National Park. We walked about a mile from the parking lot into the polygonal salt flats to find a place that hasn't been trampled by the visitors. Once we were there, we scouted the area, searched for the interesting patterns, setting up the camera and tripod and wait for the best light.

These 2 photos were taken just about 30 minutes interval. The first photos were taken about 10 minutes before sunset - the golden hour. We often refer the first and last hour of sunlight during the day as golden hour or magic hour. At this time, the contrast is significantly reduced so the shadow and highlight are less likely to be underexposed and overexposed, respectively. In addition, the warm color of low angle sun heavily enhance the color and vibrancy of the scene. In this particular shot, the low angle sun cast a rim of warm light at the edge of protruded salt formations and also on the background mountain. The quality of light at this time is amazing although it doesn't last long.

The second photo were taken about 20 minutes after sunset - the blue hour. We often refer the period of twilight in the morning and evening as blue hour, where there is neither full daylight nor complete darkness. We also call it sweet light because the quality of light is a gift for photographers. As a result, the bluish ambiance evokes a sense of peace and serenity.

Happy Friday and have a great weekend!

Artist's Palette, Death Valley National Park

Artist's Drive are located in the Black Mountains in Death Valley National Park. It is a one-way 9 miles scenic drive that can be accessed from 8.55 miles south of Badwater Road and Route 190 intersection. The Artist's Drive itself is like a roller coaster as you wind through the narrow cliffs. The geological formation of Artist's Drive is awesome. It's also an evidence that the area has gone through a very active volcanic period in the past.

Artist's Palette is among the most spectacular view along Artist Drive, which is famous with its colorful rock. The colors is a result of the oxidation of different elements - red, pink and yellow is from iron salts, green is from decomposing tuff-derived mica, and purple is from manganese.

These colorful rock formations are very photogenic at anytime of the day, although the soft light during the dusk and dawn would be the best. To add the sense of scale, it is good to include a figure in the picture. If you look carefully at my first picture, you may find a little kid squats on the rock at the right edge of the picture. Interestingly, I didn't notice that until my photography buddy told me!

Golden Canyon, Death Valley National Park

Golden Canyon Trail is a short and easy hiking trail located 2 miles south of Highway 190 on Badwater Road in the Death Valley National Park, California. A short walk in the Golden Canyon trail gives an awesome montage of various geologic events in Death Valley's natural history. Looking closely at the rock formation and you will notice the layers that are composed of sediment of various size. Once upon a time, Golden Canyon was covered by lake. Over 5 million years of geological evolution, these rock formation transformed from the loose material into solid conglomerate, the uplift and erosion, and flash flooding exposed these formations that we seen today.

Golden Canyon is best visited and photographed at dawn and dusk. Nevertheless, the mid-day provide unlimited photography opportunities, particularly close-up and black-and-white photography. The geological formation is so diverse that you will be amazed with the patterns, textures and lines of the rock formation. This is a great place to photograph beyond the magic hour.

Dusk at Lipan Point, Grand Canyon National Park

I have been scouting for the nice location for sunset shooting. Lipan point immediately caught my eye by its diverse and colorful landscape. It is located just a few miles west of Desert View. I think this is my favorite view point in the East Rim Drive.

On one side, it is the typical Grand Canyon view - big fissures of the Colorado Plateau. Despite the hazy condition, the light after sunset is amazing. In this case, I would treat the hazy atmosphere as a friend rather than a foe - its help to create the sense of depth.

On the other side, the Colorado River winding through the colorful landscape. The telephoto lens did a great job in capturing the scene. When I return from the trip, I was amazed that many of the good shots are the merit of telephoto lens, not the ultra wide-angle!

This is one of my favorite close-up shot, with definite placement of elements. Granite rocks and trees as foreground elements. The rusty red rocks as mid-ground elements. The layered Paleozoic rocks and Colorado River as background elements.

This is another view on the East site. The soft light after sunset create a peaceful atmosphere. I am so glad I was standing here, witnessing one of the natural wonders of the world.

Zion-Mount Carmel Highway

Our initial plan was to spend 2 days in Zion National Park. Unfortunately, the park was closed following government shutdown. Our plan B is to visit adjecent state parks and towns. On our way to Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, we passed by Zion-Mount Carmel Highway which is a good opportunity to see the park during the shutdown. Zion National Park is famous for its unique and diverse geological formation and luckily, many of the famous Zion landmarks can be seen on the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway.

The harsh lighting condition in the middle of the day is best suit for black-and-white conversion. This is one of my shots taken on the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway. Technically, I purposely place the primary element in the center - there is no rule-of-third here! The tree on the bottom left and the hillside on the bottom right serve as secondary elements which draw the visual attention away, thus creating a dynamic and harmonious composition.

This is the skill that I recently learnt from an ebook, Visual Flow by Ian Plant. This is a really great book about composition in landscape photography and I highly recommend to everyone who wish to improve their composition skill.

Shenandoah Mountain Landscape

What's the best to see in Shenandoah National Park? For me, perhaps everyone else who ever visited Shenandoah - mountain landscape, waterfall and black bear:)

The 105 miles long and narrow Skyline Drive that runs along the Blue Ridge mountains, offer you one of the most spectacular mountain landscape in the world. Many visitors travel with drive, as the highway itself is the park, and it is often associated with deer and black bear sighting along the way!

Unlike other US national parks, Shenandoah is a place where people lived for over one hundred year before the park was established. Big portion of Shenandoah consisted of farmland and second- or third-growth forests logged since 1700s. Today the forests slowly come back and all these activities are mostly disappeared.

Enjoy the best of Shenandoah National Park! I wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving!

Dusk at Yavapai Point, Grand Canyon National Park

After 6+ hours of flight and 3+ hours of driving, we finally arrived in Grand Canyon National Park. We were fortunate enough to catch up the golden hour at Yavapai Point, despite the exhausting journey. This is not a place for shooting sunburst but definitely a great place for sunset. As you can see from the picture, part of the canyon light up by the low-angled sun, casting an interesting pattern of highlight and shadow. What's a spectacular view!

Finally, we were here! Welcome to Arizona!

Rose River Falls

Shenandoah National Park is home to many beautiful waterfalls. Rose River Loop is one of the most beautiful hikes for cascading waterfalls. The length of Rose River Loop is around 4 miles, but we just hiked for ~1.5 miles to the upper part of the Rose River, and return on the same path. It is a downhill hike, although not very steep, the return trip was a bit of pain. The sunny day made photographing waterfalls a challenge, luckily there are a few clouds flew over when I was ready to take some shots. I also use polarizing filter, which is a great tool to eliminate the reflection on rocks. By the way, there is no bear spotted:) I am not a fan of having intimate contact with bear in the wild:P

Hello World!

Dusk at Yavapai Point, Grand Canyon National Park

Hello World! My blog is finally up! I wanted to do this for some times but.... busy, no time... too many excuse! 

Perhaps a few sentences about myself - for the first post:) I am Kah-Wai Lin. I am from Malaysia and I live in Ukraine and Sweden for the past 10+ years (and a few more other countries for shorter term). In May 2012, I moved to US for a new job. I am currently a research scientist at Princeton University (yes, I have M.D. and Ph.D. degrees - not in photography). I shot since I was in high school, with a fully manual film SLR, and the hobby comes and goes when I was in medical school. When I was in Sweden, I worked as a part-time photographer in virtual reality tour and architectural interior. Now I am just a serious amateur photographer, a.k.a. cameraman:) 

My subjects of interest are very diverse - architectural interior, panorama, bird, nature, landscape and travel photography. Despite my broad interest, the two subjects that make me obsess for many years are church interior and nature. In the past few years, I have been photographing over 50 churches around the world, and the project continues. The beauty of church which is the mirror of human history and culture, have always amazed me, and motivate me to keep exploring the beauty of heavenly creation. Nature - one of the most beautiful thing created by God, has constantly amaze me and my mission as a photographer is to “capture” them and share it to the world. After visit to the National Park, my heart was immediately get captured. I want to visit them all!

I used to share my photos on Facebook, Flickr and photography forum. I always want a professional look website and I have been working on it for some times. Until recently, I switched to Smugmug and I love it! I guess I will keep it for a while until something better pop up:) For the blog, I would like to share my journey in photography and the wonderful experience of exploring our world.

I'd like to hear what you think about my website and blog - anything you like and dislike - design, content, photos, etc. Feel free to comment or email me at linkahwai@hotmail.com. I hope everyone enjoy my websites and photos! Thank you!