Posted by Jeff Hackett on March 24, 2013 at 5:44 PM
I spent yesterday out in Utah's west desert exploring the Confusion Range and towards the end of the day ended up by Notch Peak. I really love that these areas lack the presence of bi-pedal hominids.
This first one is of some random spot in the Confusion Range. Thanks for looking and C&C if you wish.
Posted by Jeff Hackett on March 24, 2013 at 5:45 PM
2. Notch Pk 1
Notch Peak is second highest sheer cliff in north america behind El Capitan in Yosemite.
Posted by Jeff Hackett on March 24, 2013 at 5:46 PM
3. Notch Pk 2
This boulder really caught my eye as I was hiking up the canyon.
Posted by Jeff Hackett on March 24, 2013 at 5:48 PM
Hi Jeff, I bet this comes down to #2 and #4. I especially like the composition and soft, sweet light of #4. I'm assuming the big peak in the image is Notch Peak, that mountain is big enough to shoot wider shots where it still anchors the image. To my eye, this image is much more complete and i bet it will appeal to more people over the long haul. Did you stick around for true sunset? You have such nice lighting in there and would just love to see a shot after sunset when the alpen glow has everything singing!
This area looks to have a ton of potential, Jeff. That third image is outstanding. All are nice, though. Looks like I need to get up that way myself some time.
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on March 25, 2013 at 12:26 AM
That's a fine set. I especially like #2 and #4.
What an incredible peak! Did you attempt the hike to the top?
I've never seen a photograph of Notch Pk. It's amazing what lurks in the Utah backcountry!
I did a quick Wikipedia check of the geology and was amazed to find the reddish rocks in the foreground are actually an igneous intrusion into the grey overlying limestone! There should be some interesting geology along the contact zone up the valley. Thanks for adding another location on my to-do list. It will fit right in with a trip to Great Basin NP.
Posted by Jeff Hackett on March 25, 2013 at 2:51 AM
Hey thanks for the comments! Kane-- True sunset was a total wash with no color, unfortunately, and believe me I know what you are saying! Bill-- No, I did not try to summit this time. Access to the summit is from the eastern side and I was to the west. Great Basin NP is pretty cool and the campground at the end of the road up around 10,000' is our favorite NP campground, as far as campgrounds go.
Nice stuff, Jeff! I love the straightforward dramatic comp in #2, but the light in #4 probably puts it ahead for most people. And I do really like that boulder in #3, unfortunately it just isn't quite enough to anchor the bottom half of that shot.
It's really amazing country out there! Notch is very high on my list of places to revisit, and I felt like there was a lot more in the area for someone with time to spend. Did you get anything else from the Confusions? I remember the view southwest from Skull Rock Pass, and thinking there was landscape gold in those hills in some decent light.
Posted by Paul Wegemann on March 25, 2013 at 8:12 PM
Thanks for opening my eyes to a new area. These are all well done both compositionally and processing-wise, but 2, 3, and 4 really stand out.
Exactly what Paul said. With the right light, this place looks like a magnificent place to shoot!
Posted by Jeff Hackett on March 26, 2013 at 5:13 PM
Thanks for the comments! Jackson-- I was around the Confusions mostly midday doing some exploration, so nothing really to show except some scouting reference shots for the future. Southwest of Skull Rock Pass IS pretty cool, there is some nice dry pan right next to some cliffs, there's Blind Valley with some interesting rock formations way up in there and some jagged cliffs to the north and a very interesting side valley off of Blind Valley. And by the way Jackson your image of Notch Peak is top notch (nice pun!) and your image of the Schell Mts you posted in the monthly theme is one of my favorites of yours.
A toast to the Great Basin Desert!
Posted by Scott Fricke on March 28, 2013 at 9:58 AM
Excellent set Jeff! Those are impressive cliffs in #2. I love all the detail and texture in #3, and love the beautiful light and composition leading you to the cliffs in #4. I'm going to have to try to get out there sometime to see these.
Posted by Doug Koepsel on March 30, 2013 at 3:24 PM
Put me in the camp for #2&4 also. Looks like a great location waiting for special light. Of these, 2 strikes me most. 4 feels a little tight on top and may need some more sky.
Discussion
13 repliesThis first one is of some random spot in the Confusion Range. Thanks for looking and C&C if you wish.
Notch Peak is second highest sheer cliff in north america behind El Capitan in Yosemite.
This boulder really caught my eye as I was hiking up the canyon.
Thanks for looking and C&C if you wish.
What an incredible peak! Did you attempt the hike to the top?
I've never seen a photograph of Notch Pk. It's amazing what lurks in the Utah backcountry!
I did a quick Wikipedia check of the geology and was amazed to find the reddish rocks in the foreground are actually an igneous intrusion into the grey overlying limestone! There should be some interesting geology along the contact zone up the valley. Thanks for adding another location on my to-do list. It will fit right in with a trip to Great Basin NP.
It's really amazing country out there! Notch is very high on my list of places to revisit, and I felt like there was a lot more in the area for someone with time to spend. Did you get anything else from the Confusions? I remember the view southwest from Skull Rock Pass, and thinking there was landscape gold in those hills in some decent light.
A toast to the Great Basin Desert!