Made my first visit to the Zebra slot (Escalante area) about a week ago. I'm sure many on this forum have been there/done that, but I loved the images I've seen from there and had to go for myself.
It wasn't easy, though. I was late coming from shooting sunrise at another location and misjudged the time it would take to get there, then had trouble finding the trailhead. I hustled to the slot entrance about an hour away, worrying as I watched the sun creep higher in the sky that I might have missed my window for the right light.
The water around the beginning of the slot was under knee-height, so not a problem (I've read of others going in the winter with chest or neck-high water levels). I struggled squeezing my gear through a couple tight spots, still trying to hustle as fast as I could while wondering if I'd recognize the best spot for photos. I found the spot and immediately saw that direct sunlight was starting to encroach onto the walls where I was going to shoot.
I struggled getting my tripod set up where I wanted in the tight space. Feeling rushed and flustered, I managed to shoot about 4 workable comps (some bracketed for exposure and focus) in the 6-8 minutes before the direct sunlight ended the session. In spite of the frustration of not giving myself enough time, I really loved the location - short slot though it is.
Something I didn't think about or notice at all until I brought up the images on my computer was… bird droppings! The comp I liked best prominently featured a lovely array of droppings on the near wall. Judging the damage to be beyond my cloning/healing skills, I went with this image where the comp avoided the worst areas.
So, I'm sure I'll need to go back at some point, but I'm happy that at least I came away with an image I'm not embarrassed to share for feedback.
And for next time, do any of you veterans have opinions on the best time of year for the best light at this location? Thanks!
I forgot to say the image is a focus-stack of 4 exposures at roughly f/8 ("roughly" because I was using the Nikon 14-24 with adapter on a Canon body and don't have full exif data), about 20mm (but then cropped in about 1/3), 1/13 sec, ISO 800 (because I was so rushed I forgot to change it from the last location I was shooting).
The light is later, as you noted, but it has a certain different backlight? glow to it that is different than other views of Zebra I have seen. I might shade down the last back wall a tad - but would have to see it to be sure.
Yeah, that's a tough space to find yourself rushed, but at least you didn't need to pass anyone.
I like the composition and choice of focus stacking. Setting up a tripod to get a specific composition in those cramped conditions is a challenge, even when you are not rushed!
The walls in shade appear to have a lot of magenta on my (calibrated) monitor.
I like warm-cool contrast, but this is a bit too purple for my taste.
Are you seeing the same, or does my monitor need recalibration?
For being rushed, I think you came away with a fine image, Jared. Even though it appears to have a magenta cast in the shaded areas, this is actually how it looks to the camera's sensor (or film). At least you had the place to yourself! All it takes is one person in there and your opportunities are limited or finished.
I was one of those who hit the water neck deep one year. Thanks to the recent drought, water levels have lessened greatly in the last several years.
"And for next time, do any of you veterans have opinions on the best time of year for the best light at this location?"
Glad you asked because I believe I do after multiple excursions here. As Karl alluded to earlier, different times of the year yield different color results depending upon the sun's angle in the sky. During the last week in October, get there around 10:30 AM if you want to get some wonderful blue tones from the sky (known as Rayleigh Scattering) as I was able to get here. You really want to get there a bit earlier in order to find a composition, wrestle your tripod around and try and be the first there. Hope that helps.
Thanks for the helpful comments so far. I tried working on the magenta; I hope this edit is an improvement, but maybe not. I also darkened the shadows a little and lowered the exposure 1/3 stop to better approximate the cool, dark mood in there.
John, your Zebra image is fantastic. The light, comp, and processing look perfect to me. Thanks for giving me an example to shoot for. I'd love to try again, maybe in October.
I actually like the magenta version because of the warmer tones in the background balancing them off. I've never been there, is this view looking towards the entrance or away from the entrance and how far in from the entrance are you?
Don, this view is toward the entrance. One thing that surprised me was how different the view is looking each way through this stretch. From the other direction you see concave shapes in the walls, from this direction they are convex (hope I got that right). The slot itself is fairly short, maybe 5-10 minutes from the entrance.
Jared, I really like both but prefer the second version. You picked up a great shot considering your obstacles; I would have never picked up on it, the comp and processing look great to me. Your shot and excellent story/description is timely, I'm close to committing on a trip out to Escalante this week. I sent you an email.
Really nice, Jared!! I completely relate to your situation because I always seem to find myself rushed. I think this is a fantastic capture! My vote is the second edit - it really leads my eye to the back of the frame.
Discussion
10 repliesIt wasn't easy, though. I was late coming from shooting sunrise at another location and misjudged the time it would take to get there, then had trouble finding the trailhead. I hustled to the slot entrance about an hour away, worrying as I watched the sun creep higher in the sky that I might have missed my window for the right light.
The water around the beginning of the slot was under knee-height, so not a problem (I've read of others going in the winter with chest or neck-high water levels). I struggled squeezing my gear through a couple tight spots, still trying to hustle as fast as I could while wondering if I'd recognize the best spot for photos. I found the spot and immediately saw that direct sunlight was starting to encroach onto the walls where I was going to shoot.
I struggled getting my tripod set up where I wanted in the tight space. Feeling rushed and flustered, I managed to shoot about 4 workable comps (some bracketed for exposure and focus) in the 6-8 minutes before the direct sunlight ended the session. In spite of the frustration of not giving myself enough time, I really loved the location - short slot though it is.
Something I didn't think about or notice at all until I brought up the images on my computer was… bird droppings!
So, I'm sure I'll need to go back at some point, but I'm happy that at least I came away with an image I'm not embarrassed to share for feedback.
And for next time, do any of you veterans have opinions on the best time of year for the best light at this location? Thanks!
The light is later, as you noted, but it has a certain different backlight? glow to it that is different than other views of Zebra I have seen. I might shade down the last back wall a tad - but would have to see it to be sure.
ps. the focus stack may also be doing it for me.
I like the composition and choice of focus stacking. Setting up a tripod to get a specific composition in those cramped conditions is a challenge, even when you are not rushed!
The walls in shade appear to have a lot of magenta on my (calibrated) monitor.
I like warm-cool contrast, but this is a bit too purple for my taste.
Are you seeing the same, or does my monitor need recalibration?
I was one of those who hit the water neck deep one year. Thanks to the recent drought, water levels have lessened greatly in the last several years.
Glad you asked because I believe I do after multiple excursions here. As Karl alluded to earlier, different times of the year yield different color results depending upon the sun's angle in the sky. During the last week in October, get there around 10:30 AM if you want to get some wonderful blue tones from the sky (known as Rayleigh Scattering) as I was able to get here. You really want to get there a bit earlier in order to find a composition, wrestle your tripod around and try and be the first there. Hope that helps.
John, your Zebra image is fantastic. The light, comp, and processing look perfect to me. Thanks for giving me an example to shoot for. I'd love to try again, maybe in October.