Dinosaur Rafting Trip Pics

This is coming a bit late, but I thought I'd post a link to some pics from the Dinosaur rafting trip down the Green River that I'd organized through RMNP. These links have pics from 5 of the photographers on the trip.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29453586@N02/

There's a few more pics here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29523304@N03/

I haven't been on here too much the last few weeks, but had a chance to browse through some of the posts and I'll just say that there's lots of real nice photos being posted on here!

Grant, let me say how much my son and I appreciated your efforts at organizing this GREAT trip.

The rafting company was superb! The price was a steal. Incredible geology! You even scheduled 3 days of rain to keep things cool.

FYI my son actually liked this trip better than the big pontoon rafts down the Grand Canyon because we got to paddle, instead of just passively riding along. I'm looking forward to doing this section of the Green plus the Yampa next year. I think Dinosaur, seen from the rivers, is one of the best kept secrets in Colorado.

So, you ask where are my photos? Well, I'll spare you a list of what has kept me busy since the trip, just let me say that I seem to have less time for processing images in retirement than when I was working full time. Of course, in Houston, what else was there to do. Now I'm heading out to lead a geology trip through Bisti and hope to catch some fall colors in the San Juans. Boy I'm going to have a pile of images to keep me occupied this winter.

So, when are we running the Yampa ???

Anil, you were wondering if I got a shot of the Bighorn....

Note this was shot from an image stabilized raft - I told you the rafting crew was good.

Canon 24-105mm @ 105mm, f5.6, 1/800sec, ISO 800

Storm over Split Mountain, our takout point. Shot from Hwy 40 on the way home.
I liked how the clouds mimicked the Split Mtn anticline.
This storm turned the Green River red. Quite a surprise when we first saw it later that evening from the Harper's Corner overlook.

3 image stitch - TS-E 45mm w/polarizer

Yes, nice stuff all around Grant, particularly from you and Dave Cale. I especially like Dinosaur533. It's interesting to note how many of your shots use nice, sharp riverside rocks as a foreground. That's a compositional element that was almost entirely underwater during my trips in June. For instance, compare your shots from Jones 1 with mine.

Yeah, you guys have got to do the Yampa. I'd advise booking the earliest trip possible: end of May or very beginning of June. That's when your odds are best for interesting weather and good water.

I would like to reiterate what Bill said about the "best kept secret" from one who was on the trip. It really is an unexpectantly beautiful canyon. Thanks Grant for taking time and having the guts to take on organinzing the trip.

Cynthia
www.cspencephotography.com

Thank you guys for doing all the paddling (oh wait, I'm not supposed to confess to that ;). I may try and plan a trip down the Yampa next year. I don't think my back would hold up for the whole trip, so I may try and see if they could drop me off in Echo Park.

It can be tough to photograph on raft trips, but the different experience and the ability to see parts of Colorado I would never see otherwise certianly makes it worthwhile.

Bill, that mountain goat shot is great. That was the only time on the raft I wished I had my camera. And I figured you'd stop to photograph those clouds afterwards. I dropped everyone off in Dinosaur and rushed back to get those clouds.

Here's the group at work after entering Island Park.
Clockwise: Grant (stabilizing the prow), Dave, Anil, boatman, JoAnn, my son Eric, Cynthia.

Grant, I'd be more than happy to help you arrange a vehicle shuttle to Echo Park, if that's as far as you want to go.