Reflection Canyon
2018 brought me backpacking and hiking back from one of the most incredible places, Reflection Canyon. Located in a remote area of Lake Powell, and accessed thr...
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2018 brought me backpacking and hiking back from one of the most incredible places, Reflection Canyon. Located in a remote area of Lake Powell, and accessed through the wild Escalante of Southern Utah. My GPS track read 18 miles, but my feet felt like it was 40. In part because it was the first long hike coming out of winter and my pack weighed 45 pounds with camera gear and the extra water required due to no known water sources.
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The group I led to this place were inexperienced, (some 1st and 2nd time backpackers) but their enthusiasm and attitudes were highly positive. I feel very humbled by their trust in me to navigate through the backcounrty desert over untrodden terrain and guide them on this adventure. In the end, friendships were made, and memories were forever burned into our minds. Can’t wait until next time!
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The group I led to this place were inexperienced, (some 1st and 2nd time backpackers) but their enthusiasm and attitudes were highly positive. I feel very humbled by their trust in me to navigate through the backcounrty desert over untrodden terrain and guide them on this adventure. In the end, friendships were made, and memories were forever burned into our minds. Can’t wait until next time!
Read less
Mar, 2019Views
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Awards
Top Shot Award 22
Spring 21 Award
Judge Favorite
Contest Finalist in Around The World Photo Contest Digital Camera World
9Teen Award
Celebrity Award
Runner Up in Covers Photo Contest Volume2
Contest Finalist in Covers Photo Contest Volume2
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Superb Composition
Outstanding Creativity
Magnificent Capture
Superior Skill
All Star
Genius
Virtuoso
Top Ranks
Top 20 rankTop 20 rank week 1
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 10 rank
Categories
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken in Lake Powell, Utah.Time
We backpacked in 9 miles the night before to get to this spot. This photo was taken at first sunlight during the sunrise the following morning.Lighting
Before sunrise came up and we were waiting in the dark, we thought that there wouldn't a nice sunrise. Then as the sun came up, it lit the clouds so fantastically we could hardly believe our eyes. I worked frantically to capture the sunrise and move around to different composition spots.Equipment
This was shot with a Canon 5D Mark III, with Canon's 16-24mm f2.8 lens. Mounted on a Sirui carbon fiber tripod.Inspiration
My love for Lake Powell has grown over the years as I've visited many times. For this particular location, I wanted to capture the different rock features and emphasize their extreme angles. This perspective gave an almost zig-zag pattern that led through the scene. The added sunrise really added to the essence of the grandeur of this place.Editing
Since this scene is so grand, and the distances between to foreground, mid, and background are so great, I used a photography technique called Focus Stacking. That's where you take multiple shots of the exact same composition without moving your camera, and focus on various areas in the scene, making everything sharp. Then in post-processing, I compiled those several images and blended all the sharp pixel areas into one image. This technique keeps the scene in focus all the way through.In my camera bag
Depending on the scenario that I'll be shooting and what I've predetermined that I want to shoot, I'll load my pack with various lenses. Primarily I have either a Canon 5D Mark IV or Canon EOS R camera body, then Canon's 16-35mm f2.8, 24-70mm f2.8 and depending on the landscape, Canon's 100-400mm telephoto lens. All mounted on a Sirui W-1204 Carbonfiber tripod with Sirui K-20 ball-head. Plus all the usual gear, extra batteries, cleaning cloths, headlamps, snacks, 2-liter water reservoir, and smartphone clamp.Feedback
I cannot express enough how important it is to research and plan before you go into these remote areas. For this location, we backpacked in and there wasn't any water sources for two days. We needed to carry extra and plan accordingly. There also isn't a trail in the area, so wee needed to create GPS waypoints and practice navigating and route-finding skills. Know what the local rules and laws are and respect the landscape surrounding you. Research where the sun will be rising and setting and if it aligns with a specific feature you're wanting to capture. Study weather patterns. Doing all of these things will increase the success of not only the photograph but the whole experience.
