Spring trip to Moab, UT

[macgart]

Over the last year I have gotten into photography and am merging my two hobbies to maximize fun.

I had an opportunity to take a long weekend trip from my Colorado home to Moab, UT for a long weekend photo trip.  Prior to leaving for the trip I did a local shakedown ride since I had not been out since last winter.  I hit a couple of local backroads for a shakedown.

<a><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8019/7104671991_97d02fa5b3_c.jpg" width="800" height="533" alt="In the country"></a>
A stop along the dirt track.

<a><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7069/6958602496_b36f6e9b32_c.jpg" width="800" height="343" alt="Tiger with old barn"></a>
An interesting old barn that I found.

So after a shakedown run I loaded the ole girl up and headed sort of south.  I prefer to not take the direct route anywhere if possible.  I got a really late start so I hauled butt to a friend's house about 2/3's of the way to Moab.  Sorry I don't have any pics of the run.  I went west from my hometown of Steamboat Springs to Craig, turned south to Meeker, then west again to Rangely, then south over Douglas Pass to Fruita, CO to my buddies house.  I had plans to pitch camp down by the Colorado River but my friend called at the last minute and offered up a room at his really nice house.  Call me a puss but I went for the house.

The next day I took a frontage road that parallels I-70 then turns to dirt until I could get to the overpass to a little ghost town called Cisco.  This gets me onto Hwy 128 that follows the Colorado River all the way to Moab.

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/56691412@N03/6876768742/)
Near Onion Creek (http://www.flickr.com/photos/56691412@N03/6876768742/) by johnnymac moto_photo (http://www.flickr.com/people/56691412@N03/), on Flickr
I stopped along the way and took a couple of shots of the valley along the river.

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/56691412@N03/7022870905/)
Valley near Moab (http://www.flickr.com/photos/56691412@N03/7022870905/) by johnnymac moto_photo (http://www.flickr.com/people/56691412@N03/), on Flickr

I arrived into Moab just before dark after doing quite a bit of exploring on the way down the river.  So I decided to get a camp spot in town rather than chance there would be one available out in Canyonlands NP.  So I settled in at Canyonlands CG in downtown Moab.  No use taking photos here, just a regular busy campground.  

I made a run out to Mineral Bottom road (leads to the White Rim Trail) to attempt to get some sunset shots but got denied by the heavy clouds.  It's about a 40+ mile ride one way from town so I was pretty bummed out that I didn't get any shots.  Canyonlands NP is just a bit further out than Mineral Bottom but it is all a few thousand feet higher than Moab so it is also quite a bit colder.  On the ride back to town I noticed that the sky behind me was turning a really great shade of deep blue.  We refer to this as the "blue hour" in photography.  I found a nice spot to get off the road where I could use the bluffs as silhouette for some night sky shots.



(http://www.flickr.com/photos/56691412@N03/6876768754/)
Canyonlands Blue Hour (http://www.flickr.com/photos/56691412@N03/6876768754/) by johnnymac moto_photo (http://www.flickr.com/people/56691412@N03/), on Flickr

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/56691412@N03/6958675008/)
_MG_8459 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/56691412@N03/6958675008/) by johnnymac moto_photo (http://www.flickr.com/people/56691412@N03/), on Flickr

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/56691412@N03/7104744087/)
_MG_8453 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/56691412@N03/7104744087/) by johnnymac moto_photo (http://www.flickr.com/people/56691412@N03/), on Flickr

I got back to camp around 10pm and got ready for the morning.  I knew I'd have to get up before sunrise to make it up to Canyonlands NP for sunrise.  I really wanted to get some photos of Mesa Arch.

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/56691412@N03/6932267726/)
Mesa Arch Sunstar (http://www.flickr.com/photos/56691412@N03/6932267726/) by johnnymac moto_photo (http://www.flickr.com/people/56691412@N03/), on Flickr

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/56691412@N03/6876768782/)
Mesa Arch Sunrise (http://www.flickr.com/photos/56691412@N03/6876768782/) by johnnymac moto_photo (http://www.flickr.com/people/56691412@N03/), on Flickr

It was a long cold ride but the shots were worth it.  Mesa Arch is photographed by tons of people every year so not earthshaking photos.

I got shut out for sunset again at Green River Overlook but I did manage to get one that's not too terrible during the morning hours.

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/56691412@N03/6958696110/)
White Rim (http://www.flickr.com/photos/56691412@N03/6958696110/) by johnnymac moto_photo (http://www.flickr.com/people/56691412@N03/), on Flickr

So it was back to the tent at 10pm and out again before 6am the next day to try my luck at Arches NP.  I didn't have a chance to scope locals out in advance so I was rushing from place to place and riding like a maniac the whole trip.  Good thing the park police aren't out that early!

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/56691412@N03/6876768808/)
Arches NP Sunrise (http://www.flickr.com/photos/56691412@N03/6876768808/) by johnnymac moto_photo (http://www.flickr.com/people/56691412@N03/), on Flickr
Sunrise over the Petrified Sandunes

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/56691412@N03/6876768854/)
Balancec Rock Silhouette (http://www.flickr.com/photos/56691412@N03/6876768854/) by johnnymac moto_photo (http://www.flickr.com/people/56691412@N03/), on Flickr
Balanced Rock in Silhouette

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/56691412@N03/6876768866/)
Balanced Rock1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/56691412@N03/6876768866/) by johnnymac moto_photo (http://www.flickr.com/people/56691412@N03/), on Flickr
Balance Rock

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/56691412@N03/7022870767/)
Windows (http://www.flickr.com/photos/56691412@N03/7022870767/) by johnnymac moto_photo (http://www.flickr.com/people/56691412@N03/), on Flickr
Turret Arch with the LaSal Mountains in the background

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/56691412@N03/6876768888/)
Fins View (http://www.flickr.com/photos/56691412@N03/6876768888/) by johnnymac moto_photo (http://www.flickr.com/people/56691412@N03/), on Flickr
A desert view towards some fins

I was running around in the desert in full riding gear to try to get these shots, so that probably explains the odd stares that I was getting from other people.  I had to check out of my campsite by 11am so I hauled ass back to camp and then headed for home.  

The clouds were pretty cool when I got to Craig, CO and I love old farm stuff so I couldn't resist at least one black and white.

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/56691412@N03/6876768968/)
Grainery (http://www.flickr.com/photos/56691412@N03/6876768968/) by johnnymac moto_photo (http://www.flickr.com/people/56691412@N03/), on Flickr
Grain Silo in Craig, CO

I'm trying to get better at taking roadside photos and documentary shots along the way.  But I'm still a bit focused on getting the landscape photography down.  

Hope you enjoyed the photos and sorry for so many words.

[HockleyBoy]

Wow, very nice photos, wish I could take some that are even half as good!

[Chad]

that is a stunning collection of shots i particularly love the mesa arch pics :D

[metalguru]

Wow you certainly do have a rare talent, keep it up and please post some more, they are a pleasure to veiw.

[Bixxer Bob]

Excellent photos! What camera are you using?

[gatorwesty]

wow, those pics are unreal, great job!!

[Sin_Tiger]

Do you sell those as prints? Apart from being brilliant shots, I'd love to have a couple on my wall, knowing they were taken by one from this forum would be an added bonus. ON me if you do.

[mat-tiger1]

Wow :!: Excellent pictures Macgart 8)
Keep up the good work & keep posting em    :D

[treewright]

Great photos makes almost want to go and have alook :0)

[Nick Calne]

Excellent. Post some more!

[Beernard]

Great work, Macgart. Amazing subjects, beautifully photographed. Thanks for sharing. :D

[Big Mick]

With all of the above !

[Madruss]

Thanks for the pictorial report