Posted by Jack Garrett on January 20, 2012 at 1:46 AM
This is off an unmarked trail in Canyonlands National Park. I will give more details when I post the next image although most of you guys know where this is anyway. Basically we hiked into this area yesterday afternoon and stayed there until almost midnight, hiking back out from a fairly dangerous place with nothing but headlamps. I have been here 3 times hoping for a great sunset and last night was one of the best I have ever seen. It lasted for over an hour giving absolutely incredible shades of pinks, reds and blues. I chose to silhouette the rock formations and let the light speak for itself. Hope you like it! There has been very little PP here...sharpening and hot spot removal.
I will have a kiva shot tomorrow if I get it processed.
Being an old Velvia guy, I've always been partial to inky black silouhettes, and the sky here has color good enough to carry the image. Beautiful shot, Jack.
Posted by Jack Garrett on January 20, 2012 at 3:09 PM
Thanks Morris. Over in the galleries, several people suggested re-submitting as a pano and I'm thinking they were right. Here's an update.
Posted by Bill Bean on January 20, 2012 at 4:15 PM
Works for me.
Posted by Karl Buiter on January 20, 2012 at 6:08 PM
Very graphic shot.. love it as well. I am oddly more intrigued by the first version - seems more desolate, isolated and unforced.
Really impressed you hiked out of there in the dark. I have rescued groups in that region in my 4x4 who got too late in the day and were attempting to hike out without light!!. At least you had a headlamp.
Interested to hear where this was. I'll be out in Moab again around February 17 on the long way to Durango.
Posted by D J Kuklinski on January 20, 2012 at 11:03 PM
Posted by Jack Garrett on January 21, 2012 at 12:25 AM
Karl, Thanks for your comments. This was actually taken inside the false Kiva in Canyonlands NP. We hiked down in the afternoon and shot sunset here then stayed and did time lapse shots until 11:00, then hiked out. False kiva is an unmarked trail and you have to ask at the visitor center for directions. Not a hike for the faint of heart.
Posted by Karl Buiter on January 21, 2012 at 1:41 AM
Thanks Jack, Ok, False Kiva, yep I have seen that shot. Found some guides and the location on GE. Looks like another place my lack of sure-footedness will keep me away from (looks like 300' to the flume below) Good topic tho - and yes, definitely not the typical False Kiva Shot.
Posted by Jeff Hackett on January 21, 2012 at 8:31 AM
Very nice color. My crop would be more off the bottom than the sky, since those colors are awesome.
Posted by Doug Koepsel on January 21, 2012 at 10:41 AM
I do prefer the pano crop. A sailor's delight.
Awaitng the next shots with the kiva.
Posted by Bob Falcone on January 21, 2012 at 6:00 PM
I think that pano is outstanding!
I've done False Kiva, and the worst part is the climb down from the Kiva itself...can't imagine doing that with nothing more than a headlight to guide you!
Posted by Karl Buiter on January 22, 2012 at 2:16 AM
Jack - I have to ask since I spent all Friday night watching videos of others hiking into that area. The scale of the area suggests that its mostly crawling over and around rocks and talus - or am I just not seeing the scary edge of oblivion at the sheer edge of a mesa. How much margin for error? As noted above, I dont have the best balance - but I have done a fair amount of exploring rocky areas in and around Sand Flats, Canyonlands, Arches, and the 4x4 areas in-between (Seven Mile Rim comes to mind).
Posted by Jack Garrett on January 22, 2012 at 2:42 AM
This is a hard question to answer. No, you arent exactly at the edge of oblivion. The first part of the hike is pretty easy with slight downhill and a pretty clear path. After about a half mile, you start going over a few rocks and about 1/4 mile later you start down a pretty steep incline. You go down quite a ways then you come across a ledge area and at that point you are under the kiva, You pass the ledge and the trail almost disappears. You then cross back and up a rocky incline and finally into the kiva.
I would not do this alone because if you do get hurt and there's nobody around you could be there a while. The guys I shoot with are good friends and we are all experienced hikers. If you have an experienced hiking pal and don't mind some steep rocky terrain you can make it. Watch the weather and don't do it if it is in wet conditions..that would be asking for trouble! And, if you haven't gone there before, don't come out after dark...we knew the terrain pretty well and it still was a challenge.
Discussion
15 repliesI will have a kiva shot tomorrow if I get it processed.
Really impressed you hiked out of there in the dark. I have rescued groups in that region in my 4x4 who got too late in the day and were attempting to hike out without light!!. At least you had a headlamp.
Interested to hear where this was. I'll be out in Moab again around February 17 on the long way to Durango.
Awaitng the next shots with the kiva.
I've done False Kiva, and the worst part is the climb down from the Kiva itself...can't imagine doing that with nothing more than a headlight to guide you!
I would not do this alone because if you do get hurt and there's nobody around you could be there a while. The guys I shoot with are good friends and we are all experienced hikers. If you have an experienced hiking pal and don't mind some steep rocky terrain you can make it. Watch the weather and don't do it if it is in wet conditions..that would be asking for trouble! And, if you haven't gone there before, don't come out after dark...we knew the terrain pretty well and it still was a challenge.