The light of Zion

[mseawell]

Recently we made our second trip to Zion National Park, our first nearly six years ago when we arrived in Utah. This time we would hike the narrows for the first time and my deep appreciation to the people who responded with advice, it was all good and useful. Our best friends decided to join us, adding to the moment. A beautiful autumn day welcomed us along with half of the Utah population (well, felt like it anyway) still, we enjoyed our journey. At one point I started lagging behind trying to capture good light or a moment where throngs of humanity didn't fill my viewfinder and this was one of those moments in the narrows..Zion light.

Fuji X-T4
Fujifilm 10-24
Adobe Lightroom
SEP

[armand]

This is nice! I know the feeling when hiking with family/friends and I keep lagging behind trying to get a better shot. You did very well considering.
Was this a focus stack?

[mseawell]

Cheers! Nope, single shot with the 10-24 if I'm not mistaken.

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

It's a beauty.
I never dared try the narrows my one time in Zion.

[francois]

Stunning shot… Subject, composition, light and processing are superbly handled.

[Jeremy Roussak]

Beautiful shot, excellently processed. I might like to see a little more room at the top, above the tree, but it's a quibble.

Jeremy

[David Eckels]

Stunning shot… Subject, composition, light and processing are superbly handled.

OMG! Congrats and well done!

[Kevin Gallagher]

 Mark, I can't add much to what the others have said, but it is indeed very well seen and processed. there's just enough blur in the water for me. Again, very well done sir!

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

+1

[Bob_B]

Add me to the list of admirers of this photo. It's a keeper for sure.

[mseawell]

Thanks for all the kind comments. We enjoyed the narrows but it was truly bittersweet. First, we honestly underestimated the amount of people at Zion. If we had known we wouldn't have went because of Covid. Utah, especially southern Utah is really lax when it comes to using mask Secondly, I was SO DISAPPOINTED with the amount of people deciding it was fine to write on the walls! It was BAD. If you've never been prepare yourself. I stopped one young girl who was doing it and our friends did the same to other people. Wow. I asked a young park ranger the next day what is going on and she explained to me volunteers normally monitor the narrows for stuff like that but most of them are older. And because of COVID they can't be there and people are taking advantage. That is a federal offense! Secondly, on our last day we visited a slot canyon not far from the Scenic Overlook. I could post pictures of the writing on these stunning slot canyons that would make any photographer in this forum weep. THEY RUINED THEM. I ran into an older couple taking pictures and they were local. He said this started about a year ago with people writing on the walls...he didn't say anything else but the sadness in his eyes will haunt me. These priceless treasures ruined...why? What is wrong with people? It hurts to witness a breakdown of decency, appreciating the beauty and leaving it for the next person.

[guido]

We live in an age of idiocy. With increasingly tragic results.

The first image is lovely!