In the shot above, the light is just too flat to be compelling. It's fine compositionally, but the sky is blown and there isn't enough contrast. I just don't know if those issues can be over come in this image without heavy digital manipulation...
Not everyday is epic. Even when we are in epic places, sometimes things just don't work out. Those are the times when creativity and experience are at a premium. I've seen the maroon bells shot about a bazillion times. Even when they are great they can make me, yawn, I've just seen it too many times. Yes, I've ticked off my share of classics, and will again I'm sure. But quite often when we get to these places we are so focused on the iconic shot, that we miss all the other opportunities around us. When I was in arches a few weeks ago there mush have been 5-10 photographers lined up to shoot turret arch thru the north window. (It's been done to death people!) There were plenty of other awesome things to shoot, but they all missed them....
Anyway, I was at Zion NP a few months ago. I got to the park late enough in the afternoon that on a normal day, there should have been beautiful golden light reflecting off the red canyon walls. Instead, I got nasty, gray skies and soft, flat light. Flat light equals low contrast, which generally conveys softness, gentleness and mildness in photographs. Not the look I was going for on that day. So, I started thinking. I could shoot wildflower macros, or moving water or I didn't know. I ended up shooting some waterfalls in a little know section of the park. Not the classic zion shots I was hoping for, but I really liked what I got. I found that spot simply by talking to the rangers/bus drivers. Thousands of people pass with 100 yards of it every day and almost none of them know it exists.
So be prepared (at a minimum, I ALWAYS carry a sent of ND grads and a polarizer). Have a plan, know what you want to shoot and know the best times of day to be there (and BE there then!), but be willing to shoot what you are given. Even with guide books, and research before hand, don't be afraid to ask for local knowledge. Sometimes, you might just be pleasantly surprised by the results.
