Adios (for now...)

[1] First, a monsoonal panoramic of my old stomping grounds, Capitol Reef. Also available in the >large< option.


Hey all. I know that I've not been the busiest on the forum in the last calendar year, as my wife and I were geographically separated due to work. Between visiting her, looking for a new job, and moving, I didn't photograph very much in the spring and summer (although it was excellent to meet and see people all the way back in the Spring Fling -- and thanks again for that, Bret.)

My wife's work has taken us to Seattle, where I'm struggling to learn the area's geography and weather patterns. I've been skunked on about five trips in a row where I either had total overcast conditions, or bluebird skies -- nothing like the clouds and drama of Utah that I was used to. Like I say, I'll have to learn.

So I'll be scaling back for a while, trying to sort out some technical choices and figuring out the new neighborhood.

I thought I'd post some of the last of my Utah work and one success from the North Cascades before I go radio-silent for a while. I'm missing the maples and aspen of the Rockies and looking forwards to everyone's Fall work.

I'd go haunt the PNW forum, but they seem a little too quiet...

Thanks for the comments and community these past few years. Good luck and good light to everyone.

[2] Cascade through a slot canyon, Capitol Reef backcountry.

It took me two years of looking to find this place, then three trips to get the best light I could find. Very neat. I honestly can't describe how to get there, but if you're willing to fly me out there, I'll show you...

[3] Zion Narrows, Summer Solstice light.

I went back a number of times to get the light shown here. As far as I can figure out, it happens for about a week on either side of the solstice when the sun shines most directly down into the narrows and Wall Street. Stitched composition to help with depth-of-field.

[4] Sunset on the edge of Zion's Rim, June.

Two shots that aren't great compositionally, but show an interesting view of Zion. I backpacked up and out to the rim to spend the night up there, hoping to experience some of the magic that Kane has shown us in the past. I didn't get anything close to his work, but it's a start. I hope to get back there in the years to come to explore more of the high country, after having spent so much time down in the canyon.

[5] Dawn's twilight, Zion, June.

Taken about a half-hour before sunrise in the blue hour, when the rock appears to glow with its own light.

[6] Leprechaun Canyon narrows.

Some fantastic technical slots, and a photogenic narrows section as well. Blazingly hot on the approach but worth it in the shade.

[7] Hanksville dunes and clouds, July.

A tiny dunefield near Goblin Valley State Park; I pulled over when it became obvious that I wouldn't make it to the Park in time. I think I got something better, all told... The sand was amazingly orange in color.

[8] Cascade Pass, North Cascades National Park.

Okay; changing to an Off-Topic location: a couple from the great PNW. Like I said, I've mostly struck out up here since moving. I did get two incredible evenings up in the North Cascades, though. This one is in late twilight.

[9] Sahale Arm, North Cascades National Park.

The next night, also with great light. I'm going to have to re-learn normal compositions and get away from panoramics at some point.


Thanks for any comments and critique. Good luck out there with the aspens.

Cheers,
Mark.
(now in Seattle; no longer rural central Utah -- how do I change that tagline?)

Mark -- I totally feel your pain. I moved up to WA back in July and I have had very little time to shoot much of anything. Trying to figure out where to shoot has been a challenge as well -- the N. Cascades are definitely on my list of places for next summer. I'm closer to the Olympics, so I have also scouted out a few places there. I am also going to hit the beaches up on the peninsula as well. Feel free to give me a shout -- its nice to have another RMNP'er up here!

Mark,
Good luck up North!! I'm sure you'll get some stellar photos up there.
The Zion Narrows really grabbed my soul and the others are great!
Stay in touch!!

Mark, I'm right there in the same boat, just did a hopefully temporary move out to Wash, DC leaving my native Colorado. Best wishes in your new home home. I must say I kept scrolling down the photos, they started out great and they just kept getting better and better. That last one is my favorite, awesome comp with the pool in the foreground to go with the great light.

Nice collection of photos! Hope you stick around this site though. There are a pretty good number of us on here who don't live in the RMNP (but wish we did!).

Well, you left the area with a bang and not a whimper, that's for sure!
This is a superb collection of images, Mark. Like Scott said, they keep getting better and better. All are wonderful and I have no clear favorites. Leprechuan Canyon gets very little notice from photographers. Was this spot a 'walk-in', or did you need to canyoneer?
If you had to go anywhere, then I reckon that Washington was one of the better places to go.
You might be interested in a brand new book titled 'Photographing Washington' for guidance and motivation.
To change your tagline, click on 'Preferences' in the thin green bar at the top of the page.
And though your preferences may have changed, I hope you'll still stop by here occasionally. Best of luck and light to you!

Good stuff Mark. Please come in every now and then to chat, or let us know something over in PNW.

Thoroughly enjoyed the Narrows with you last fall. Be careful about fly-you-there comments - I might just you as hire a guide for CR :)

@Paul,
I'll send an email in the next few days. I've been out in the Olympics before and they're great, but they seem too far for weekend trips for me at this point. I'll head out there in the winter, though.

@Richard,
Thank you. I always appreciate hearing from other photographers that I'm doing something right and communicating something of the feeling or spirit of a place rather than the straight representation.

@Scott,
Thanks for the compliments. The last shot was one of the few where I knew that I had a background and I ran around trying to find a suitable foreground to throw in to complement it. It was a thankful change from my pattern from the last few years of shooting giant panoramics, and I like the way it turned out.

@Ed,
I'll see what I can do. Mostly I'm thinking that I won't be posting much of my own work for a while.

@John,
Thank you. You've put out any number of great images yourself (particularly from the slots), so it's nice to hear the praise. Some friends of mine wanted to do the technical parts of Leprechaun and I tagged along. It's a walk-up to get up to the start, then a few rappels to get down into the tightest sections (one of which was ~20 yards longs and only ~12" wide!), but I came back the next day on my own; that photo was from the bottom walk-in section coming up the wash from the base.

I'll miss Utah, but Seattle and the PNW are a far better option than some other places Thanks for the heads-up on the book. I knew about the SW series and Oregon, but hadn't seen the WA book yet. At this point, I feel like I need to learn how to predict the weather more than anything else, but I'll never turn down suggestions on locations.

Cheers,
Mark.

@Karl,
Hey, SLC is only 2 hours in the air from SEA...
It was good to meet you in Zion last fall. I'll be back there at some point, because there are many more shots on my list that I haven't gotten yet.

Awesome stuff Mark, as mentioned they kept getting better as I kept scrolling. On the Capitol Reef image, I have only seen two other images of this spot (I'm sure there's more), but I have a pretty good idea of where to look. There is one other 'secret' spot that I have only seen one image of that I have looked for on several different occasions with no luck yet. I think I am on the scent now though. Capitol Reef does not give up her secrets easily! You will get the hang of it up there I'm sure of it, best of luck on a new chapter in your life.

Mark, a huge fan here. Not only for your excellent knowledge of landscape photography, knowledge of far and away places, but most of all you are a good person. I really enjoyed our exploration of Canyonlands back in July of 12. I won't forget that night we jumped in our cars to avoid getting zapped by lighting!

At any rate, I have no doubts you will begin to discover the secrets of the Pacific Northwest. And I have no doubts we will shoot together again in time.

Just love your Zion shots, and one day I'll pin you down for that Capitol Reef cascade location.

Keep in touch.

Thanks, Kane. I wish I could get some shots of Zion's high country like you've posted in the past. I'll be back there at some point, but it's looking like next summer is going to be dedicated to the Sierra Nevada in CA. If I can ever find a cheap flight to Denver when I'm in shape, let's do Long's.

Another fan here Mark. I've enjoyed the images and insight you share here on the forum over the years as well as hanging out for a while at the Moab Flings. We hate to see you go but at the same time I'm all atwitter with anticipation at seeing the images you create in the PNW. Granted, the weather patterns, or lack thereof, can be sketchy and the terrain is definitely different than Utah and Colorado but it's fascinating in it's own way and the variety of subject matter is mind boggling. I can see it in my mind now: Mark does the Gorge!
Best wishes for your relocation and please don't be a stranger on the forum.

Great shots. Keep posting. Check out the area east of the Cascades it will be more like the interior west. Yakima River canyon is pretty beat and reasonably close as an example. Of course Olympic NP beaches are awesome too, just too far for a day trip.

I know you will find some good stuff.

Good luck out there.

Hey Mark, id head back to Seattle in a hearbeat if i could. My bro lives downtown--if you need any brew recomendations Some lovely stuff here--good luck to you!
Oh--and if you do Longs, please include me!