Bryce Canyon National Park

I began my journey into full time travel in Florida, but quickly started to explore the west. I wanted to be in Utah for a family commitment and have taken the opportunity to extend my stay in the area. Going from Logan, Utah , then to Orem and Bridal Veil Falls, on to Capitol Reef and then Escalante Staircase National Monument and finally here in Bryce Canyon National Park.

This is only the beginning of exploring Bryce Canyon National Park and I am stunned by the scenery surrounding me.

I look out into the vast expanse and realize that my eyes truly are capable of seeing 30 miles in the distance. I can tell by the signage explaining what I am observing and how far away the mountain or plateau is. This knowledge alone surprises me. This is a capability that my body has that I was unaware of.

As I see this scenery that is new to me, except for what I have seen on TV or in the media, I feel a sense of surreal surroundings. Even the cloud formations are different from what we have in Florida. Thinking about it, I understand it intellectually but it is a bit disorienting. And my experiences expand with each bit of newness that I am exposed to.

Traveling changes a person.

Traveling not only enhances my experience in the present time, but it also changes me. The way I look at things from that point on is changed and enhanced because of my exposure to new things.

The image to the left is one of my favorites from today’s travels because it is so stark and unique to today. Bright and clear today with very few clouds. I suddenly see this composition on a hill overlooking the canyon. This image works because of the very starkness of it against the cloudless sky. The composition is good with the bottom third anchored by the hill and the trees pulling your eye upward into the top of the image.

Looking for Composition

As I walked some of the shorter trails to get an overall sense of the park on the first day, I was impressed by the vastness of the canyon and by the individual colors and intricate detail in the landscape. Shapes angles and curves provided by nature became perfect composition.

The image to the right works for many reasons.

First, I have included a foreground (the tree coming out from the side) which helps to establish size relationship. The middle ground is the magnificent rock formation itself. Then the background of forest and trees sliced through by the winding road.

Ponderosa Pines and Bryce Canyon — Bryce Canyon viewed thru mountain pines

The last image included today is about the Ponderosa Pines that are everywhere in Bryce Canyon National Park. Looking through the trees gives you a more intimate view of the canyon and establishes a sense of size and dimension as it allows the eye to wander around the image and come to rest on the valley itself.

Thanks for reading. I hope I expand your view of the world and give you a few tips for creating your own gorgeous images.

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