Posted by Doug Koepsel on February 28, 2011 at 10:28 AM
Saturday night's quick storm dumped a nice blanket of snow upon Sedona. I made my way down the hill from Flagstaff Sunday mid-morning as the storm was clearing. A trip to the backside of Cathedral Rock was for nought, as the unbroken grey clouds gave poor light upon the rock and ugly sky. So I headed to Schnebly Hill Road where the sun was breaking through. Still, it was a struggle under the broken clouds to get light on the rock and not the blinding sun on the snow.
Posted by Doug Koepsel on February 28, 2011 at 10:29 AM
After giving in to the poor and oft bright lighting, I left to have lunch. Afterwards, I found the set of reflection pools above Cathedral Rock that I seen images from but had not been to before. Stayed the rest of the afternoon with a few other photographers, and hoped the clouds would linger until sunset.
I will post another in Landscape/ESS. As always, any critique is welcome.
Posted by Bill Bean on February 28, 2011 at 11:13 AM
Great stuff Doug. You're making me salivate over my trip to Sedona in the fall and that's still 6 months away! Quick question: Are the reflecting pools accessed by hiking up from Red Rock Crossing?
Posted by Doug Koepsel on February 28, 2011 at 11:29 AM
Bill, just before you get to Crescent Moon Park, there is a road to the left/north marked primitive that turns to dirt. There are a couple of trails off that road that go to the flat. You will need some good rains to put water in them before your trip as they are often dry, I am told.
Posted by Bill Brennan on February 28, 2011 at 12:06 PM
Doug, very nice. I like the colors, the contrast and the balanced composition of both images. We had similar snow conditions in Tucson.
Bill Brennan
Posted by Dan Walters on February 28, 2011 at 12:57 PM
#2 is beautiful with the reflection and the warm light. Like the contrast between the red cliffs and the snow in the first image.
Posted by Paul DeCesare on February 28, 2011 at 2:57 PM
Beautiful work Doug! Glad you were able to get out. Yesterday morning the McDowell Mtns down here were white also, and I have a spot where where Saguaros are plentiful leading right up to the mountains where the sun will pop up at daybreak. I had it all planned for this morning's sunrise. BUT... by 5pm yesterday the snow was gone...
Oh that first one is nice, nice. I like the reflection pool also but that first one really does it for me.
Posted by John Mumaw on February 28, 2011 at 6:47 PM
Looks like you had an extraordinarily good day out there, Doug.
My favorite (as usual) is the one you posted at the 'Landscape' gallery, esp. the repost. Just nicer light than this one, and the distracting cactus paddle present here is gone from that one.
Well done!
Posted by Anne K. Rusk on February 28, 2011 at 9:32 PM
Very well done and it looks like it was a great day to be out! Beautiful!
Bill and Doug, you can also get to those pools by hiking up from below. Exit the park proper, and look for a small trail by the fenced NW corner of the park and start climbing up.
But Doug is right, it's easier to access them from the end of the dirt road that he mentions. He's also right that they're usually dry.
Posted by Guy Schmickle on March 1, 2011 at 10:51 PM
It certainly was difficult shooting conditions, I'll agree. It went from dull, flat light to retina burning pretty quicky! You did well with that first shot. Very nice. Cool to catch that reflection of CR with some snow on it too! It was a wonderful morning to be out, despite the fickle light.
Posted by Doug Koepsel on March 2, 2011 at 10:29 AM
Thank you for the comments. It was a scenic day down in Sedona with the snow on the rock and clinging to the bare tree branches. I have lived in Flagstaff for 20 years, but never spent any time in Sedona until getting the camera a few years ago.
Guy-
Were you able to get up West Fork any in the last two snows? I would imagine that those subway-type walls and snow would make a great combo.
No I haven't...been concentrating on other areas these last two times. That area would definitely have some potential though. Maybe if we get one more...
Posted by Jack Garrett on March 2, 2011 at 11:38 PM
Nice stuff, Doug!
I was in Sedona this past Wednesday (snow was already gone). After hiking from Schnelby Hill Road down to the Midgely Bridge (and back again...but that's a story for another day), I headed to Cathedral Rock. I got there in enough time to shoot a few frames, but then some clouds moved in on west horizon and pretty much blotted out the nice golden sun. Looks like you had a better day than I did!
Discussion
15 repliesI will post another in Landscape/ESS. As always, any critique is welcome.
Bill Brennan
I repeat, glad you got out, lol!
My favorite (as usual) is the one you posted at the 'Landscape' gallery, esp. the repost. Just nicer light than this one, and the distracting cactus paddle present here is gone from that one.
Well done!
But Doug is right, it's easier to access them from the end of the dirt road that he mentions. He's also right that they're usually dry.
Guy-
Were you able to get up West Fork any in the last two snows? I would imagine that those subway-type walls and snow would make a great combo.
I was in Sedona this past Wednesday (snow was already gone). After hiking from Schnelby Hill Road down to the Midgely Bridge (and back again...but that's a story for another day), I headed to Cathedral Rock. I got there in enough time to shoot a few frames, but then some clouds moved in on west horizon and pretty much blotted out the nice golden sun. Looks like you had a better day than I did!