Archives For arizona

Havasu Falls, Arizona

Varina Patel —  May 17, 2013

Coloring Book

Map: Havasu Falls, Arizona

Havasu Falls is incredible. The waterfall and its turquoise pool are highlighted against a backdrop of rich orange sandstone. On this particular evening, the sunset painted the sky in shades of pink, purple, and blue. The colors feel as thought they could have been chosen from a box of crayons by a child who didn’t care about the “real” color of things… so I titled this one “Coloring Book”. But it isn’t imaginary. It’s quite real. And truly beautiful.

Getting here is tough. You won’t be driving to the campgrounds. The nearest road ends 11 miles from the village of Supai, so you have three options. You can hike, go on horseback, or take a helicopter. We carried our packs down into the canyon via a series of rough switchbacks. It’s a difficult path, but once you reach the bottom, you can follow the canyon towards the village. You’ll need a permit to camp here, and you can get all the information you need at: http://www.havasupaifalls.net/

We stayed for three nights before packing up and heading back home. Keep in mind that you’ll be making that final climb after a long hike, so be sure to bring enough water and conserve your energy for the final push. The website offers this advice…

“The hike is a moderate difficulty hike, 11 miles from Hilltop to Campground. Temperatures in the summer can exceed 110 degrees, and there is no water available on the trail until you reach Supai at about 8.5 miles. Know what your body can handle, and pack accordingly.”

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The Portal

Jay Patel —  March 20, 2013

Paige, Glen Canyon Recreational Area, Arizona (AZ), USA

Here is an image from the Glen Canyon Recreational Area just outside Paige, Arizona. I took this shot during one of our workshops. In every workshop, we try to take our students to one location where composition is a real challenge. It’s a great learning opportunity - especially when students share their photographs with one another. Students learn to be creative and look beyond the usual for great compositions.

In this shot, why does ”the portal” stand out from the rest of the image? The location, shape and colors are so different from the surrounding sandstone… helping to isolate it within the frame. Notice that the reflected sky in the water helps to create a sense of continuity in the picture as well.

This image also demonstrates the use of a strong foreground element. Imagine the image without that foreground reflection. Would the photograph have the same impact?

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Geology Unleashed

Jay Patel —  March 13, 2013

The Second Wave, Vermillion Cliffs, Arizona (AZ), USA

Spectacular geology makes images like these seem effortless – but when the light goes a little nuts, the result can be even more unique and breathtaking. Here is an image from Vermilion Cliffs in Southern Utah, were spectacular geology is the rule, rather than the exception.

I used leading lines to draw the viewer’s attention into the image. I made sure that the leading lines pointed into the photograph – leading the eye towards an interesting element. This works better than lines that might lead the eye out of a photograph. This photo also relies on complementary colors to create contrast and impact. I used a circular polarizer to help bring out the colors in the rocks and the sky.

What other composition rules do you see in this image?

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The Wave, Vermillion Cliffs, Arizona (AZ), USA

Imperfections in Nature

Jay Patel —  January 29, 2013

I love to photograph Coyotte Buttes in Arizona, and I have been lucky enough to get a permit to visit the famous Wave formation more than once. It is a wonderful experience, and almost always different. On my last visit to this location, I tried to concentrate on highlighting some of the beautiful details in the sandstone – like this “imperfection” in an area that is know for its symmetry.

This photograph is all about composition. What makes this imperfection stand out? The rest of the photo is full of repetitive patterns that seem to echo one another. The imperfection breaks that pattern. I also placed it according to the rule of thirds and brought it nice and close to my camera to enhance its relative size in the photo.

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The Wave, Coyote Buttes - Arizona, USA

Featured Download: Storm at “Sea”

Varina Patel —  January 18, 2013

This is a photo of The Second Wave in Arizona. I took the shot as the storm clouds cleared behind me – allowing the rich, golden-hour light to paint the already-colorful sandstone a richer shade of orange. The heavy, blue thunderclouds in the distance were a perfect complimentary backdrop for the scene.

Click to Download

As always, these images are provided for personal use as computer wallpaper or backgrounds ONLY. Copyright belongs to the photographer, and photographs cannot be used, redistributed, or recreated in print, on the web, or in any other medium without written permission from the photographer.

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Around the Bend - Varina Patel

Sandstone is Awesome

Varina Patel —  December 14, 2012

There’s nothing quite like sandstone for making your jaw drop. The variety of colors, patterns, and formations is beyond amazing. I have thousands of images of sandstone from the Southwestern US. Here are just a few!

Vermillion Cliffs – Arizona

The Toadstools – Utah

Valley of Fire State Park – Nevada

Valley of Fire State Park – Nevada

The Wave, Coyote Buttes – Arizona

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The Second Wave, Vermillion Cliffs, Arizona (AZ), USA

Storm Surge

Jay Patel —  November 14, 2012

I took this shot in Arizona’s Coyote Buttes just after a storm has passed over the Second Wave. Varina and I decided to stay and shoot the sunset, we got some gorgeous light over The Wave. After shooting the sunset, we hiked back by the light of the full moon.

This shot shows an example of a complementary color scheme. Blue and yellow lie on the opposite sides of the color wheel, and are considered complementary. I also used leading lines – a natural choice at this location. The challenge in this photograph was to balance out the exposure. I chose to underexpose the sky in order to make sure the brilliantly lit sandstone was properly exposed.

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Havasu Falls, Havasu Canyon, Arizona (AZ), USA

At the Bottom

Jay Patel —  November 2, 2012

When we backpacked to Havasu Canyon the site that greeted us was stunning to say the least. All the turquoise pools at the bottom of the canyon were just waiting for us to go swimming… but it was way to cold for that.

I waited for the entire area to be covered in shade before taking this photograph. A circular polarizer helped cut through haze and bring out the brilliant colors of the pool. I chose this composition to showcase the vibrant color in the water. I was careful to control the highlights in the water to prevent any over exposure.

After I took this photograph… I walked across the sedimentary formation to get to the other side of the creek… there was so much spray from the falls that I was thoroughly soaked.

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Curves

What Sells: Vertical or Horizontal

Varina Patel —  November 1, 2012

Take a look at these shots from The Wave in Arizona. When we are in the field, we sometimes find that a composition works best in either horizontal or vertical orientation. But in most cases, after capturing the most visually appealing image, we will work to find another shot that works with the camera turned 90 degrees. Why? Because sometimes the buyer needs an image that works in a particular orientation. Is he looking for a collection of calendar images? He’s probably going to need horizontal images. Is she looking for photos for a magazine? She’ll need a vertical shot to grace the cover.

Since you never know who might want to purchase your images in the future, you can’t know which orientation will work best for their needs. Shoot in both orientations, and you’ll be ready no matter what they ask for.

To learn more about photography check out our eBooks below:

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Glen Canyon Recreation Area, Arizona.

Spots

Varina Patel —  October 23, 2012

Arizona’s soil is a crazy mix of pink and orange and yellow and brown. The sandstone is made up of shifting forms – hoodoos and cliffs and gullies and buttes and canyons – and they are textured with stripes and swirls and spots like something out of a story book. It’s brilliant. It’s incredible. It’s nothing short of jaw-dropping. Drop me off in the desert out there, and I could spend hours shooting on any given slab of rock. And that’s just what I did the day I took this shot. These beautiful circles are a part of the landscape in Glen Canyon Recreation Area. Some are the size of golf balls. Others are the size of pin heads. And this one is as large as a volleyball!

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