SW Trip Images

Hi everyone! Despite my desire to be more active here I just can't find a way to make it happen. My little business has continued to grow and it is swallowing most of my time. I just am not finding time for much else these days. Perhaps this summer when I have more staff I'll be able to post more regularly.

Anyway, I took a short trip through the Southwest a couple of weeks ago and had the chance to meet some of you at the get together in Moab. After that, I was all over the place searching for solitude and good light. Here are a few of the images from the trip. I really haven't had much time at all for post-processing so some of these are a bit hurried. I'd love to here your comments and suggestions for improvements.

Thanks!

#2 As you can see, I spent an evening up at Balanced Rock in Arches

#3 I didn't shoot too many hoodoos on this trip, but did stop briefly to spend a little time in this area which I hadn't previously visited.

#4 This was taken in Valley of the God's in southern Utah. It was my first visit here, but probably not my last. I know I need to spend some more time processing this one. After seeing Bret's great presentation of Nik software, I realize that is what this image really needs.

#5 - I stopped very briefly in Zion during a rainstorm and got a number of fun images with all the waterfalls. Here's one of them.

#6 - On my first evening in Moab I got to spend a little bit of time with the famous, and incredibly friendly, John Mumaw out at Faux Falls.

#7 - On this morning I was in a spectacular area but with terrible light and storms all around. Then for just a minute the sun broke through and gave me a real show.

#8 - One of my favorite things about the desert is that there are lots of intimate details to be found.

#9 - It's also fun to find faces everywhere you look, like this Egyptian pharaoh in Buckskin Gulch.

#10 - I played with BW a bit out there but this is still something I need to learn.

#11 - Here's a classic shot from Torroweap. I also got a few more original compositions, but they didn't come out quite as well as I had hoped.

I have lots of other images from this trip, but I don't want to post too many here and I'm having some work done on my website and so can't post them there yet. Anyway, I'd love your feedback.

Really great set of images Erik. #3, 5 and 7 are at the top for me, with 7 being over the top! Some amazing colors throughout and the light and clouds are just icing on that one. Fantastic!

Great set Erik, looks like you had a very productive vacation. I have to say Number 8 is the one that does it for me. It is simple yet amazing so I will just call it simply amazing. The little rock in the ULC adds a great counter balance to the image.

These are all fantastic Erik! I've got to say my top 3 at 10, then 8, then 7. On the other hand, what ever happened to staying within your niche and not showing up us desert photographers?

A fine set of images, Erik!
You have a good eye for seeing the small details, making #8 my favorite. Also liking the Toroweap image, the first night shot of Balanced Rock, the hoodoo and Valley of the Gods (love the road lead-in there!). #7 may indeed be the best, but I would dial the satuartion back just a tad.
It was a great pleasure meeting you and hangin' out for a while at Faux Falls. If anyone is 'famous', it's the fellow with the gallery in Estes Park.

WOW! What else can I say? Think my favs are 4, 5, 7 and 10. The colors and comp on these are off the charts.

Great shots! I am, however, still puzzled how such a bad photographer like you can consistently come away with such good images. The odds of it all being blind luck are infinitesimal, but I'm still holding out hope that this can explain it. Otherwise, I'd have to begrudgingly admit that you're a decent photographer.

Nice work all around, Erik. I just love #8 though. I'd like to see that one large on a wall.

Eric- looks like your SW trip was a success. Didn't run into you in Zion. The clouds in Zion sure were interesting that week.

Thanks everyone for your comments!

John - I appreciate the suggestion to desaturate that image. I'll make that adjustment before it goes on my website.

Grant - I need to be honest with you. The reason why I take terrible photos when you guys are around and yet have some half decent ones when I'm away is that I now no longer take my camera on trips. I simply bring a CF card and ask photographers who look like they know what they are doing for copies of their best raw files. I've found this to be a much better and easier way to consistently get some good photos for my website. Hopefully I won't be banished after this honest confession.

Hey Erik! Looks like you did a little driving on this trip, that's quite some coverage! I love the night shots. Thats an area I'd like to spend more time on. Your intimate shots #8 and #9 stand out for me. #7 is interesting and has potential but the perspective is odd for me.
Nice to see you posting!

Wow, Erik, these are superb! I especially like #1 , but feel the best way to deal with it would be to send the ownership rights to me

Very impressive, I'm jealous.

Thanks, Erik. I can sleep better now! I figured you must be cheating somehow. Either that, or you must have a really good camera!

Gorgeous work as usual Erik. #s 4 and 7 blow me away. Toroweap is really cool, huh.

You made quite a haul- both image and distance wise. Very nice set.

#8 is simple and beautiful, definitely my favorite. I think #4 has good potential but it looks a little flat on my work monitor. I agree with John on #7 about desaturating a bit but that's also a great image. Good to see more of your work!

WOW!! Absolutely beautiful collection. You obviously shoot to kill!! Every now and then I come across an image that makes me gasp a little and #1 did that for me. Any details on how it was captured? Inquiring minds would like to know. I'm also partial to panos and love #10. I'd like to see the color version. Very nice all the way around.