Utah – Page 3 – Michael Stephen Wills Photography

Zion Merged

revelatory

July 4, 2021July 3, 2021 MichaelStephenWills5 Comments

The first photograph is the myriad fractures within the Zion Navajo sandstone, hidden water transits from rainfall miles away.

The second photograph, water emerging as a blessed sacrament, bestowal of life nourishing wildflowers, ferns, mosses, trees.

For this third photograph the first two were merged in photoshop for a revelation. I did not take time to smooth the transition, visible as a line. I graduated from this merge technique with the purchase of a wide angle (24 mm) lens. It is so difficult to organize all the angles and exposures, plus time to bring it together.

All photographs from the Kodak DSC Pro SLR/c, Canon Lens EF 200mm 1:2.8 L II stabilized via a Manfrotto 468MG with Hydrostatic Ball Head.

Can you spot the foot path?

Here is a gallery of the three photographs, to flip back and forth.

Copyright 2021 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved

Three Zion Images

full of ferns, wildflowers, and mosses.

July 2, 2021June 24, 2021 MichaelStephenWills7 Comments

“Water seeping out of the Navajo sandstone creates tranquil springs and the unique “hanging gardens” for which Zion is famous, full of ferns, wildflowers, and mosses.”

Here are three exposures of the same scene.

Click on an image for a closer view.

Can you spot the foot path?

Here is a gallery of the three photographs, to flip back and forth. the primary difference is the exposure within the shadow under the projecting cliff face.

Copyright 2021 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved

In Zion Canyon

Edge of the Abyss

July 1, 2021June 24, 2021 MichaelStephenWills7 Comments

Wandering Zion canyon I spied three visitors seemingly trying their luck on the cliff edge, where the water drops.

Look closely and the rope barrier can be picked out. Can you see the three figures? Click on the image for a larger view.

Captured with a Kodak DCS Pro SLE/c dslr and a Canon lens EF 200 mm 1:2.8 L II stabilized with the Manfrotto Studio Tripod model 475 and the 468 Hydrostatic ball head. This series explores the possibility of the iconic “Lone Pine.”

Copyright 2021 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved

Lone Pine 4

Slickrock!!

June 25, 2021June 18, 2021 MichaelStephenWills9 Comments

From this angle the Pinyon Pine is backed by Checkerboard Mesa slickrock.

For humans travelling on foot this weather worn sandstone is anything but slippery, If we wore iron horseshoes the sense of slippery, or slick, rock becomes apparent. It was ranchers mounted on horses who coined the name slickrock.

For this shot we approached Zion National Park from the east, via route 9, past Checkerboard Mesa.

Here is a gallery of the four Lone Pine images.

Copyright 2021 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved

Lone Pine 3

silhouetted wonder

June 23, 2021June 23, 2021 MichaelStephenWills5 Comments

What is a Lone Pine without the sky? This specimen somewhat less gnarled than numbers 1 and 2. Here we see more of the beetling crag, layered up sediment of eons.

For this shot we approached Zion National Park from the east, via route 9, past Checkerboard Mesa. Our lodging was to the east, probably the Best Western in Mt. Carmel on Rt 89. Meaning there were four opportunities for capturing memorable East Zion images over two days.

Lone Pine 2

silhouetted wonder

June 21, 2021June 15, 2021 MichaelStephenWills2 Comments

Here is the same gnarled pinyon pine of the previous post, with a sky centered exposure revealing the silhouetted wonder.

Lone Pine 1

Tortured existence rendered plain.

June 19, 2021June 14, 2021 MichaelStephenWills12 Comments

The eastern approach Zion Canyon is a national park unto itself, route 9 passes through otherworldly landscapes.

Ephemeral Water

June 16, 2021June 13, 2021 MichaelStephenWills1 Comment

Rainwater from distant thunderstorms on the vast Colorado Plateau emerge from a cliff wall, Zion Canyon. The fall will last for a few hours, we bore lucky witness as do my images shared below.

Captured with a Kodak DCS Pro SLE/c dslr and a Canon lens EF 200 mm 1:2.8 L II stabilized with the Manfrotto Studio Tripod model 475 and the 468 Hydrostatic ball head. I prefer the details of misting water at the widest lens aperture, focus is clear throughout the plane, excepting some foreground brush.