Mountains and Clouds off US89, Part 2
I cropped this vertical panorama to a 1×1 aspect ratio- I included both color and B&W versions because I like both, and I think they emphasize different elements of the photograph.
Clouds and Mountains off US89 (Color Panorama #3), Utah (20″x20″)
Clouds and Mountains off US89 (B&W Panorama #3), Utah (20″x20″)
Dead Tree and Sandstone
This dead tree on the sandstone looked to me like an octopus creeping across the ocean floor.
Dead Tree on Sandstone, outside Kanab, Utah (15″x22″)
Sandstone and Cross-Bedding
I love the swooping lines in cross-bedding in sandstone.
Cross-Bedding on Sandstone Bluff near Diana’s Throne (B&W Panorama #1), outside Kanab, Utah (20″x54″)
Cross-Bedding on Sandstone Bluff near Diana’s Throne (Color Panorama #1), outside Kanab, Utah (20″x54″)
Sandstone Bluff near Diana’s Throne, UT
On a work-related trip to Salt Lake City in March, I spent a couple of days between Kanab and Zion National Park exploring a few of the sandstone bluffs north of Kanab while we waited for the flash flood watches/warnings to end so we could hike into a few slot canyons. After spending several years in North Carolina, where most of the rocks are covered in vegetation, I am always impressed by the sheer cliff faces and strata exposed to the casual hiker. I included color and B&W versions of some of the sandstone.
Sandstone Bluff near Diana Throne (B&W Vertical Panorama #1), outside Kanab, Utah (24″x34″)
Sandstone Bluff near Diana Throne (Color Vertical Panorama #1), outside Kanab, Utah (24″x34″)
Boston Skyline and Charles River, Part 3
Clouds move over the Boston skyline and a dock on the Charles River. Photograph made with a 15-stop ND filter (200-second exposure time).
Boston Skyline over Charles River and Dock (Color #2), Boston, MA (12″x22″)
Boston Skyline and Charles River, Part 2
Clouds move over the Boston skyline and a dock on the Charles River. Photograph made with a 15-stop ND filter (166-second exposure time).
Boston Skyline over Charles River and Dock (Color #1), Boston, MA (12″x22″)
Boston Skyline and Charles River, Part 1
Clouds move over the Boston skyline. Photograph made on the bank of the Charles River with a 15-stop ND filter (166-second exposure time).
Boston Skyline over Charles River (Color #1), Boston, MA (12″x21″)
Panoramic View of Blue Ridge Mtns from Pisgah Inn
Early spring view of the Blue Ridge Mountains from the Pisgah Inn. No fancy sunset or spectacular clouds, just ridges stacked on ridges rolling away into the distance.
Ridges Fading into Distance from Pisgah Inn, Pisgah Forest, NC (20″x78″)
Setting Sun from Big Arete on Pilot Mountain
One of my favorite climbs at Pilot Mountain, Smooth Sailing (a nice 5.10a) tops out on a cliff that juts out over the valley, providing 200-degree views of the rolling hills below the mountain. I had the pleasure of removing our anchors and sitting alone with a few circling birds as the sun set behind the clouds.
Setting Sun from Big Arete, Pilot Mountain State Park, NC (21″x56″)
Fog over Lowlands from Pilot Mountain Summit
A few weeks ago, we camped near the base of Pilot Mountain and got up early the next morning to start climbing. When we arrived at the summit, we were greeted with a spectacular view of fog filling the low-lying areas between hills, with the fog almost looking like a meandering river or lake.
Morning Fog in Valleys from Pilot Mountain Summit, Pilot Mountain State Park, NC (10″x22″)
Summersville/Gauley River Falls, Part 2
Two more cropped square photographs of the falls near Summersville Lake, taken on a recent climbing trip to the New River Gorge area in West Virginia.
Lake Summserville Falls (#1, Color, Square Crop), Summersville, WV (15″x15″)
Lake Summserville Falls (#2, B&W, Square Crop), Summersville, WV (15″x15″)
Summersville/Gauley River Falls, Part 1
On a recent climbing trip to the New River Gorge area in West Virginia, we hiked past a set of falls on our way to the cliffs along the shore of Lake Summersville. I stopped and set up my camera to make a few long-exposure photographs of the falls on our walk back to the car. Note the old wooden ladder that used to be used to access the area, and the new stairs next to it (much less scary to descend!).
Lake Summserville Falls (#1, Color, Full Frame), Summersville, WV (15″x22.5″)
Panorama of Rain Clouds over Sopris after Sunset, in Color
A full panorama of the clouds and fading light over Mt Sopris after sunset. Black and white version posted last week.
Mt Sopris and Rain Clouds after Sunset (Panorama Color #1), Carbondale, CO (19″x40″)
Mammatus Clouds over Mt Sopris
I try to take at least a brief trip back to western Colorado every year. While in the area, I usually make an effort to make a few photographs of Mt Sopris, the 12,965 ft mountain near Carbondale/Aspen/Redstone (see annual photographs of the mountain on this website). I was lucky this year to see what, in my experience, is a relatively rare scene of mammatus clouds over the mountain. I included both a black and white and color version of the scene.
Mammatus Clouds over Sopris (#2, B&W), Carbondale, CO (15″x22.5″)
Mammatus Clouds over Sopris (#2, Color), Carbondale, CO (15″x22.5″)
Panorama of Approaching Storm
A series of full panoramas of an approach storm over Albuquerque, New Mexico. I included both color and black and white versions – each seems to have its own focus and strengths.
Approaching Storm over Albuquerque (B&W Panorama #3, 2022), Albuquerque, NM (22″x86″)
Approaching Storm over Albuquerque (Color Panorama #3, 2022), Albuquerque, NM (22″x86″)
Late spring rain clouds over Sandia Wilderness
Panorama of spring rain clouds over the Sandia foothills and Wilderness area near Elena Gallegos outside Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Rain Clouds over Elena Gallegos (Panorama #1, Color), outside Albuquerque, NM (20″x50″)
Falls and Logs on the Wind River
Cascades on the Wind River flow under logs outside Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Wind River Falls and Logs (#2, Vertical), Rocky Mountain National Park, CO (15″x22.5″)
Falls on the Wind River outside Estes Park, CO
The Wind River cascades over rocks and under logs outside Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Wind River Falls, Logs, and Rocks (#1, Vertical), Rocky Mountain National Park, CO (15″x22.5″)
Moore Cove Falls from Left Side
Another long-exposure photograph of Moore Cove Falls, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Mt Pisgah, this time made from below and to the left of the falls. I decided to post both the color and black and white versions- which one do you like more?
Moore Cove Falls from Left (#1, Color), Blue Ridge Parkway, NC (15″22.5″)
Moore Cove Falls from Left (#2, B&W), Blue Ridge Parkway, NC (15″22.5″)
Moore Cove Falls from Right Side
Another long-exposure photograph of Moore Cove Falls, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Mt Pisgah, this time made from below and to the right of the falls.
Moore Cove Falls from Right (#1, Vertical), Blue Ridge Parkway, NC (15″22.5″)
Moore Cove Falls
Moore Cove Falls, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Mt Pisgah.
Moore Cove Falls (#1, Vertical), Blue Ridge Parkway, NC (15″22.5″)
Upper Falls at Graveyard Fields
Another photograph of the Upper Falls at Graveyard Fields, also made with a 10-stop ND filter. This time I decided to get closer to the bottom of the falls to try to capture the whole series of cascades in one (non-panoramic) image.
Upper Falls at Graveyard Fields, Blue Ridge Parkway, NC (15″22.5″)
Panorama of Upper Falls at Graveyard Fields
After taking a brief hike up to Devil’s Courthouse, we drove to Graveyard Fields and walked to the Upper Falls- lovely scenery, and a beautiful set of falls at the end of the hike. With a 10-stop ND filter, I made a series of 5-second exposures of the falls as they cascade over the rocks and around the corner.
Upper Falls at Graveyard Fields (Panorama #1), Blue Ridge Parkway, NC (18″x45″)
Spring Storm Clouds from Devil’s Courthouse
Rain clouds approaching us at Devil’s Courthouse. The dark cloud in the distance over the ridge on the right moved over us and delivered some nice spring rain and thunder as we were hiking near Graveyard Fields about an hour later.
Spring Clouds from Devil’s Courhouse (Single Frame #1), Blue Ridge Parkway, NC (12″x21″)
Luke Parsons Photography 