My wife and I decided to take a roadtrip to Moab, UT and the surrounding areas on a long extended weekend. This area was indeed one of the highlights. Just a short two hours from Moab. After passing through the visitors center, we were greeted with this iconic view. The “Mittens” (formations that look like hands in gloves) were simply astounding. I have been working on my composition throughout the trip and have become more “depth obsessed” in my photography skills. Tell me if you like the inclusion of the sagebrush in the foreground or not? We ended up driving the valley floor later in the day as well. To say we are somewhat exhausted would be correct. All in all we drove from KC to Moab (Arches and Canyonlands NP) to Monument Valley and then on to Page, Arizona. I crossed off so many things off my photography and travel bucket list on this trip. I am excited to share of the the images I was able to take. Thanks for the comments and critiques as you see fit.

After arriving home and pixel peeping on some images I can tell you that I need to get a good cleaning of my camera sensor. I’ve tried in the past and just can’t quite seem to do a very good job of it. I think its time to have it professionally cleaned. Any recommendations of places in KC or should I send to Canon?

Mike D.

Tags:   Southwest Valley Utah Monument sagebrush desert reservation indian Navajo landscape canon 16-35 roadtrip

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I finally made it to Horseshoe Bend, Arizona this past weekend. A quite long roadtrip focusing on photography of the American Southwest. This was quite definitely one of my favorite stops along the way. We drove from Kansas City to Moab, UT and then onto Arizona as this was the furthest stopping point. My appreciation of the Colorado River became more transparent as we drove through the Colorado Rockies witnessing waterfalls cascading downward and people rafting down this gorgeous waterway. To think of how it carved out such beautiful landscape (Grand Canyon among other areas) really blows my mind. This particular bend in the river is by far one of my favorite images I think I’ve ever captured. If you click on the image to view it in larger detail you can see people rafting to the left and a boat to the right of the bend. There is also a camp of people situated to the bottom left that looks like a starting point for river rafting. This really gives scale to the incredible vista. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I do. It has become my desktop image.

Mike D.

Tags:   Bend Horseshoe Arizona Page water River Colorado Southwest America desert

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The view once you get to the top of the hike to the Delicate Arch in Moab, Utah. We woke up at 5am and got to the trailhead just before sunrise. As we made it to the Arch, the sun had risen above the horizon. There are over 2,000 natural sandstone arches in Arches National Park but this one is the grand daddy of them all.

Mike D.

Tags:   arch delicate southwest Utah park national sandstone hiking hike sunrise rock

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A very low perspective of Utah’s most famous Arch in Arches National Park. I like to take time around my subject matter whether it be different angles or high/low perspectives looking for creative takes on popular captures. I liked how this one turned out with the crevice in the slick rock becoming a leading line.

Mike D.

Tags:   arch delicate Utah Moab park national perspective low rock granite slickrock hiking adventure

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“Life is like the wind.
When life goes away, the body is very still
The body cannot move or feel
or do anything anymore.
Where does life go when it goes from the body?”

The hike to the Delicate Arch in Moab, Utah. Following the trail to the sun. A 3 mile roundtrip hike across “slickrock” and desert scenes. Shot this as I was coming back down the trail. I turned to look back from where I had been and the sunrise was shining bright amidst the trail sign.

Mike D.

Tags:   sign trail hiking rock slick granite desert Utah Moab arch Delicate path adventure sunrise life wind move southwest America “United States “Arches National Park

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