Shooting tips in CO, NM, UT and AZ

[thx1138]

I'm planning a 3 week trip to the south-west (Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona) last 3 weeks of May.

Anyone who's got some nice places to recommend, especially for photo-shoots is welcome to do so.

Zion National Park is already on the list. And so is a visit to the Davis Monthan AFB area. Although I'm not sure what the story with security and rules is over there.

I hear the desert flowers are best in May/June. What are good options for this ?

Many thank in advance.

[DoubleDAZ]

Here are some AZ links you might want to check out to see if anything appeals to you:

http://www.americansouthwest.net/arizona/coyote_buttes/index.html

http://www.americansouthwest.net/arizona/lees_ferry/index.html

http://www.birdingamerica.com/Arizona/maderacanyon.htm

http://www.navajonationparks.org/htm/antelopecanyon.htm

http://www.nps.gov/archive/grca/grandcanyon/north-rim/index.htm

http://arizonascenicroads.com/main.aspx

[Swandy]

We took a tour a few years ago and hit Zion, Bryce and Grand Canyons. All three are unique - I think I enjoyed Bryce with the red stones the best. (Of course that could be because we had snow and the white really set off the red color of the rocks. :action-smiley-020: But I don't think you will have that problem.)
Steve

[OFN]

Just follow my foot steps.
http://adaossi.smugmug.com/gallery/2801370_hmWae#149520370

[thx1138]

Guess I need an extra week....and a second E-510 just to be sure :)

I already visited Grand Canyon twice (north and south rim). Guess I'll skip that for now. I hear rafting through it is a different experience though. But that's about 4/5 days and rather expensive. And I won't be taking a dSLR on a rubber boat, ever.
There's lots more to see anyway.

Thanx so far.

[refiningman]

Just follow my foot steps.
http://adaossi.smugmug.com/gallery/2801370_hmWae#149520370

Oskar:

That's a wonderful gallery, great job. I'm looking forward to trips like that after we get our 5th wheel RV (and F-350 to pull it).

I see most all your shots are at f5.6 with the E-1, seems like DOF was enough for you at all focal lengths.

Best,

Peter

[davidh202]

Definately don't miss Bryce Canyon,it's practically a stones throw away from Zion! If you have never done any off road stuff make reservations to do half day ATV ride,a blast, just for some fun (leave the camera behind)
Great Sand Dunes NP near Alamosa,Co is an often underrated place to visit. It offers some very unusuall scenery and vistas, and photo ops!
http://www.nps.gov/grsa/ (http://www.nps.gov/grsa/)

David

[OFN]

Thanks Peter.
With the travel rig you are planning I would not recommend to do the Apache Trail.
The last third, coming from Phoenix before you get to Roosevelt Lake, is a narrow, steep dirt road, with tight switch-backs.
Most of the pictures where taken with the E1, but I had to switch to my point and shoot Panasonic to finish the trip, because I dropped the E1 for the third time and this time she refused to go on. First time into a river at the bottom of a waterfall – no problem, shake of the water and keep on shooting. Second time droop the 14-54 on some rocks – no problems, keep on shooting. Why don’t they build cameras which can take a beating?

[Derek Wright]

If you are interested in the works of Ansel Adams and other great American photographers and you are going to be in Tucson try and get a print viewing at the Center for Creative Photography in the U of A http://www.creativephotography.org/collections/

Ring them a few weeks ahead of when you are planning to visit especially during term time to book a viewing. You wll get a chance to see perhaps 3 or 4 portfolios so do a bit of reading before you go in. I have had three viewng sessions - all have been great - part from Adams also seen work by Andreas Feininger, Winston O Link.

If you get to Santa Fe then visit the Monroe Gallery and Andrew Smiths photo galleries - they both have some amazing and historic work to see and buy (if you have the cash)


For taking pictures - Tent Rocks midway between Albuquerque and Santa Fe is very interesting, also the road from Albuquerque to Jemez Springs and thence to Los Alomos has some unusual sights. North of Santa Fe on the way to Taos the Rio Grande separates from the road and enters the gorge - there are some very minor roads that get you into some fascinating scenery.

When you in the major rock parks - eg Arches, Grand Canyon, Bryce, Sedona area allow time to travel each route twice - morning and afternoon to get the best light - often an hour before sunset is optimum - we once had a jeep tour thru Monument Valley starting at about 6pm - fantastic colours.


Have a great time - we will be back there in the Autumn

[thx1138]

Once again many thanks.

Plans are to rent a 4x4/SUV to do a lot of off roading. Nothing too dangerous, but exciting enough to make it special. I did something similar near Moab, Utah 5 years ago. Best day trip I ever had and I didn't even have a dSLR back then.

I already spend some more searching and Sedona/Sonora also seems nice (love the shots Oskar). And Bryce is very nice too, which I visited 8 years ago.

Arrgggghh !!! So many things to see. So little time.
I guess I'll just pick what I can and enjoy it, without worrying too much about what I might miss.

[wigpro]

Traveled extensively and lived in Utah for a number of years. Do NOT miss Bryce Canyon and Zions.

If you want to get off the beaten path, make sure you hit Kodachrome Basin, Goblin Valley and Canyonlands and my absolute favorite, Capital Reef National Park.

Be prepared for dust and plenty of it, although you are going in May and it will still be cool and moist from the winter. Dress in layers, it will get very cold at night and even sometimes in the day time.

Red, red and more red...very beautiful rock formations, the early morning light and late afternoon offers some of the best and most dramatic effects.

By far, one of the most interesting and least populated areas of the country. Quite frankly, you could spend your entire trip in Utah alone and not cover it all.

Have a great time, I intend to head out that way next fall on my way back from Alaska.

[wrwcfa]

I thoroughly enjoyed the Moab area in southeastern Utah, especially Arches National Park. There is also Canyonlands nearby as well. See my gallery of Arches here:

http://wrw.smugmug.com/gallery/1877115_XZtXR/1/94982274_EZDjD


If you can get your hands on a book called "Photographing the Southwest" by Laurent Martres (I believe there are 3 volumes covering different areas of the southwest). Here's a listing of a number of books on the subject:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/103-5101629-4357415?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=photographing+the+southwest&x=0&y=0

I had Volume 1 for my trip through southern Utah and found it very helpful. It includes a lot of helpful hints about locations and best times of day.

Another thing I enjoyed was the Durango to Silverton railroad trip, originating in Durango, Colorado in southwestern Colorado. Here are photos of that
http://wrw.smugmug.com/gallery/2035635_ShDbf/1/104459092_XWmjf

Here's a link to to railroad's site: http://www.durangotrain.com/

The southwest is a very photogenic part of the US. Take plenty of storage.

Regards,
Bill