Hidden Arch, aka Goulding Arch, the arch in Monument Valley near the campground

We traveled through southern Utah and northern Arizona in April 2017. We lucked into a campsite in Monument Valley and the lady doing the check in for us mentioned a hidden arch. After we asked for more information about it, she told us that it's actually called Hidden Arch and is a short hike from the campground, but can't be seen from the campground. So the next morning we went to see and photograph it.

We hiked through the arch from the campground side and are looking back in the direction of the campground for this image. This image was made from three separate images and combined in the computer to create a more detailed final image. These images were taken with a Sony camcorder that can also be used to take 20 megapixel still images. The final result is about 46 megapixels. Taken at 1/60 sec, f/4, 6.2 mm, ISO unknown.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story!

The Windows, Arches National Park features

These two arches in Arches National Park, are combined as one feature called The Windows. They can be seen from a long way off, but you can also park and walk under them. You can see a small group under the left arch. Both arches are rounded and look like eyes. From this perspective, though, the left "eye" has a rock feature beyond it that fills in its left side. From further back and to the left, there is a spot where you can see both eyes clear and filled with sky. In some places, you can see signs of boulders having fallen from the underside of the arch. Makes you wonder about your safety sometimes!

Another thing this feature looks like is a sea turtle.  The arcs of rock enclosing the Windows can be thought of as flippers while the rock mound between them looks like the head.

ISO 100, f6.7, 1/180 sec were the settings.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story!

Utah's Geological Mexican Hat

In southern Utah is a little town called Mexican Hat. We always thought the name just referred to the sombrero, but then we discovered that there's a geological feature that reminds you of the hat. So here's a picture of the actual Mexican Hat that inspired the town's name.

We had driven through southern Utah and seen the Bears Ears and Natural Bridges National Monument before heading south into Arizona by going over the wildly crazy road called the Moki Dugway. The town of Mexican Hat is not far south of this winding section of dirt road that can tap into your fear of heights while you're driving it. The Mexican Hat geologic feature can be seen from the main road and only requires a short drive on dirt road to get close enough to it to get pictures. The photo looks especially red because we were passing by this feature as the sun was setting.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story!

Valley of Fire, Nevada, has its own "wave"

This feature in the Valley of Fire State Park, in Nevada, is along a short hike from the road. The rangers referred to it as their version of "the wave". Instead of being in a slot canyon, though, this feature is right out in the open, down a slope. The hike was only about a mile and there were lots of people there, we had to wait our turn to get pictures of the "wave" without any other people in the picture. We also got pictures of a chuckwalla lizard near here. The road is off to the right out of view. Other people continued beyond the "wave" and looked at other features. It appears to be sedimentary rock that has been eroded by the wind as it swirls around.

The Valley of Fire State Park is significant for all the Star Trek fans out there. This was the location where "Star Trek Generations" was filmed. This is the movie where Captain Kirk and Captain Picard meet and have to work together to defeat an evil scientist. At the end, Kirk dies and Picard ends up burying him.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story!

Cascade Creek Falls, lesser known waterfall in Yosemite Valley

This is Cascade Creek Falls in Yosemite Valley. It's a lesser known waterfall that has a stop for it not far into the park from the Arch Rock Entrance, which is the western entrance to the park coming in along Highway 140 from Mariposa. This view was not from that highway, however. This view involves driving toward Highway 41 and going through the famous tunnel. And the lower end of the tunnel, many people stop to look at the view of Yosemite Valley and take pictures. There's no denying the view is wonderful from that perspective. But this is one Rick discovered by going above the tunnel to a large pullout area along the road and climbing over the stone fence found there. After traveling down the slope for some distance, one can look down on Cascade Creek Falls from above and see the creek above and below the falls. The creek leading to the falls can't be seen from the turnoff along Highway 140. So, the view from above is more inclusive.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story!

Early Evening Sun with Smoke-filled sky near Canyon Village, Yellowstone National Park

This is the sun a short time before sunset near Canyon Village in Yellowstone National Park.  A forest fire was raging north of the Madison River to the northwest from this spot and the smoke bloodied the sky.

We photographed this scene on August 16, 2016.  During the day, we had driven along the Madison River and saw where the smoke was coming from, the Maple Fire which was caused by lightning.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story.

Owachomo Natural Bridge from near Zeke's Bathtub

This is Owachomo Bridge in Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah.  This monument was set aside in 1908 to protect three magnificent natural bridges and they can be viewed along a one-way scenic loop road.  Owachomo is the third bridge along the road and is the most photogenic and thinnest of the three.  It's also the easiest one to hike to, both because it's the shortest distance from the road and because it has the least amount of elevation change to get to and from.

The pool in the foreground is called Zeke's Bathtub after Ezekiel "Zeke" Johnson, the national monument's first superintendent.

Owachomo spans 180 feet, is 106 feet high, 27 feet wide, and is only 9 feet thick.  Because of its thinness, it's considered to be a very old natural bridge.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story.

Yosemite's Indian Rock Arch from the south, looking northward

Indian Rock Arch is a granite arch. The only one in Yosemite National Park. Granite arches are rare. Arches are much more likely to form in sandstone and other easily eroded material. But arches can form in granite and Yosemite does have one. Surprisingly, few people seem to know about it. The map for the area only lists the feature as Indian Rock and doesn't include the word "arch" to let hikers know what a unique feature they can visit. The arch is just off the North Dome trail which starts at the Porcupine Flat parking area along Highway 120 that crosses over the Sierra in Yosemite National Park. It involves about three miles of hiking to visit. You can hike right up to the arch itself and we've even passed under the arch from one side to the other. Such a formation is believed to result from granite eroding through a process called exfoliation, where plates of granite break away from the main rock.

This particular view is from south of the arch looking northward to see the feature set off against the blue sky. We've hiked to the arch a number of times, including once when we carried an extension ladder, hoping to get a better view of it up a tree on the north side. Several people gave us funny looks along the trail that day, so we simply assured them that we were working on a photography project, and they seemed satisfied with that answer.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story!

Ribbon Falls, Yosemite's tallest seasonal waterfall, 2004 & 2017

The above picture shows Ribbon Falls, in Yosemite Valley, in March 2004. This is Yosemite National Park's tallest seasonal waterfall. The water in it actually freefalls a greater distance than the water in Yosemite Falls, which has a Middle Cascade before the water freefalls off of the lower falls. By summer, it is usually dried up, but this year, 2017, had a lot of precipitation, so the picture below shows Ribbon Falls in June, still with plenty of flow. The water falls 1,612 feet (491 meters). In contrast, Yosemite Falls' longest drop is 1,430 feet (436 meters), before cascading over 5 smaller plunges in the Middle Cascade. So, it turns out that the longest single plunge for a waterfall in America is Ribbon Falls.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story!

First Hike to the Top of Yosemite Falls, June 2, 2007

We've just posted a video about my (Rick's) first hike to the top of Yosemite Falls. I went with my wife, Mally, and her brother, Art, on June 2, 2007. Before starting out from Camp 4, we saw a car damaged by a marauding bear. The hike involves covering 3.2 miles and gaining 2425 feet in elevation. That's 5.15 km distance and 739 meters elevation.

Here's the link to our video: https://youtu.be/0jmZVzwASW8

Remember, it's not just a picture (video), it's a story!

San Joaquin River Parkway wildlife video

As part of our video on the San Joaquin River Parkway, we edited together a series of videos and stills of the wildlife that can be found along the San Joaquin River and put it to music. We decided to take that part out of the Parkway video and present it on YouTube by itself with some minor edits to improve it. Enjoy the wildlife! 

Here's the link: https://youtu.be/mxwp32Lop8s

Remember, it's not just a picture (video), it's a story!

San Joaquin River Parkway recreational video

We produced a video on the San Joaquin River Parkway, near Fresno, California. It was originally available in 2001. We canoed, biked, hiked, and flew over this parkway to make the video. We've now posted it online for all to enjoy. Here's the link: https://youtu.be/qJrMUAUFA_M

Remember, it's not just a picture (video), it's a story!

National Trails Day, June 3, 2017

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story!