The Grand Canyon

[Dave (Isle of Skye)]

We were there for three days in total and every single day by about 10am, the temperature had already climbed well up into the mid 90's F, with not a single cloud anywhere in the sky and to make things worse, the rangers were burning a large area of the woodland, all along the North rim from dawn until till dusk each day. So day after day, it was nothing but heavy blue smoke haze in every direction I looked and with lots of sweat dripping off my nose, along with very harsh, contrasty light. So I never even got the camera out of the car for the first two days and just settled myself down to enjoying being there instead.

Then on the third day around noon, after my other half started to gently nag me once again, about having come all this way and then not even taking a single shot of the canyon, that I decided the only thing I could do, was to work with and emphasise the smokey, harsh lighting conditions I was being given, rather than to just give up completely and walk away empty handed and here is the result.

Now I am sure many other photographers must have taken lots of smokey views of the Grand Canyon over the years, but I am really quite happy with this shot and so glad that the boss nagged me into to taking it. 

This might even end up on our wall...

Dave

[Mark Nadler]

I've tried this image a couple of times.  Yours is exceptional.  Nice.

Mark

[degrub]

Is that from the Royal Gorge viewpoint (North Rim)

[Dave (Isle of Skye)]

I've tried this image a couple of times.  Yours is exceptional.  Nice.

Mark

Thanks Mark.

It's the only shot I took in all of the three days we were there - no that would be a lie, as I probably fired off at least half a dozen shots of the exact same view, just to make sure I had it framed correctly and the focus was sharp. But I am sure you know what I mean 

Is that from the Royal Gorge viewpoint (North Rim)

No not the North rim, but the South rim at Moran Point I believe. All I remember is, that it was one of the last viewpoints travelling East before you reach the Desert View Watchtower and then the park exit, and where the steel pipe handrails look a bit old and bent in places. There was an information board next to the bent handrail to the left front edge of the viewing point and I am stood directly to the left of it, pointing my camera to the left and straight back up the centre of the canyon, fully zoomed out at 200mm on my 70/200.

Hope this helps 

Dave

[armand]

Much attempted, less succeeded. Yours is the latter.

[francois]

Same here... Hats off!

[degrub]

Thanks Mark.

It's the only shot I took in all of the three days we were there - no that would be a lie, as I probably fired off at least half a dozen shots of the exact same view, just to make sure I had it framed correctly and the focus was sharp. But I am sure you know what I mean 

No not the North rim, but the South rim at Moran Point I believe. All I remember is, that it was one of the last viewpoints travelling East before you reach the Desert View Watchtower and then the park exit, and where the steel pipe handrails look a bit old and bent in places. There was an information board next to the bent handrail to the left front edge of the viewing point and I am stood directly to the left of it, pointing my camera to the left and straight back up the centre of the canyon, fully zoomed out at 200mm on my 70/200.

i know right where your feet were. Mine were never that good. Maybe i need to wait until burning season 

Hope this helps 

Dave

[MattBurt]

Great shot and as a landscape photographer that's what we need to do: embrace what we are given.
We have some very smoky periods around here and when it is clear, hot, smoky, and windy it's hard to motivate to shoot. But you have shown it can be worth it!

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

Nice one, Dave!

[RSL]

+1

[Leszek Piotrowski]

Lovely, even with the given blue "light & smoke" the distance gradients are wonderful.

[Bob_B]

So well done, Dave!

[Dave (Isle of Skye)]

i know right where your feet were. Mine were never that good. Maybe i need to wait until burning season

I think they were only supposed to be burning until the end of October, according to the signs we saw. So yes, you have probably missed it for this year.

Great shot and as a landscape photographer that's what we need to do: embrace what we are given.
We have some very smoky periods around here and when it is clear, hot, smoky, and windy it's hard to motivate to shoot. But you have shown it can be worth it!

I agree Matt. Go with what you are getting and fully embrace it 

+1

Nice one, Dave!

Getting a thumbs up from two of the Lula grandees no less - wow, then it really must be a quite a good shot 

But all joking aside guys, because I know if you two like it, then I know I must be doing something right 

Thanks everyone else who has commented, because as always, it is much appreciated 

Dave

[Paulo Bizarro]

A blue sea of receding mountains. Nice image for an album's cover too.

[langier]

Dave, you managed to make lemonade from your lemon of cloudless skies. Sometime the best thing to do is to roll the dice and JDI. Well done!