Marble Canyon

Last weekend, Shane McDermott, Rica and I drove to the edge of Marble Canyon overlooking the Colorado River. The views were great, and the agave and prickly pear were blooming. During the middle of the day, we took a scouting hike along some points and came away with some decent images for mid-day. Besides the three images posted here, the rest can be seen here:
Marble Canyon Gallery

#2 a focal stack using Zerene.

#3 Another focal stack for just the front pad and bloom.

Really nice collection of shots Doug. Of the three here, I like how you handled the mid-day light. You made that look easy. I also like the stacked (I think agave) shot. Many other really nice pieces on the link.

Kurt, thanks. The first shown here was at sunset when a single large cloud over the Kaibab Plateau blocked the light though. We'd like to return and catch this vantage with the sun slipping under the clouds. I carried one of those pop-out diffusing discs to help with the sun on some of the agave and prickly pear shots we took.

Really like the close ups posted here. I think the big landscapes could look great when if/when you find some better light.

As a fan of stacked images, you did well Doug. The upper background of the prickly pear is a bit bright and busy naturally, but I'm sure the blur was the best you could do on that angle to isolate the pad and blossum. I like everything about the agave. In fact, the one in your gallery in which the leaves transition from yellow to green is quite appealing.

Grant, yes, we'll be waiting for better light for a return trip.
Ken, thanks for the comment about the background. I'll see what a selectively darkening and some added blur do to the background. It looks like awful bokeh, but wonder how much was induced by the stacking.

That composition of yours in the first image is really great, Doug. Way to 'think outside of the bend'!
And of course I really like all of your cactus flower and agave images quite a bit. Not sure if induced blur would be the answer or just a simple burning down of the highlights. What tools do you use to dodge/burn?

Love your gallery especially the flowering cacti ! Marble Canyon is impressive from above, but when viewed from river level it is jaw dropping! Someday you need to float the Grand if you haven't already. I highly recommend it. I kayak it with private groups but there a number of concessionaires ( I can easily recommend mokimac.com, I have a good friend that guides for them) that offer quality trips with plenty of time for photography, it doesn't have to be a photography workshop for example. There is usually plenty of time at each campsite to hike a little, to a lot, and photograph. Plus, using a good waterproof bag (Watershed), or ammo can, you can take some great on river shots from any size raft or dory.