Here is a potpourri of various places and photos from our Southern Utah trip, not covered in our five previous blogs. Again, Mary and I drove from Los Angeles straight through to Torrey, UT, home of Capitol Reef National Park. We spent three days there; then drove through Grand Staircase Escalante; spent three days in Zion and then a couple of days in Bryce. We have many nice photos from Bryce. Here is an example of a close-up of red hoodoos that works.
The Devil’s Garden in the Canyons of the Escalante is a very interesting and fun place to see strangely shaped hoodoos.
This “wave-like” sandstone was in the middle of the garden. The Wave is a VERY famous sandstone structure in Arizona.
The Emerald Pools Hike at Zion
This is a popular hike that starts in front of the Zion Lodge. There are three pools along a two mile one-way hike. Most people stop at the lower pool, but the upper pool is the best. There is not a lot of water this time of year and the middle pool was pretty much empty. Here is the “classic” shot of the water falling into the first pool.
When we got to the third pool, it was completely in shadow and the reflections were just incredible. At one point a little girl was about to throw a rock into the pool in the middle of a 15 second exposure. Mary and I both yelled at the same time and startled the poor thing. There is nothing like a ravenous photographer in a good spot with great conditions. At some point we were not looking and another little girl touched the pond with a stick, sending ripples out for a few minutes while we waited for the pound to settle down again.
Water Reflections and Abstracts from the Virgin River in Zion
An infinite source of subject is any body of water, especially a river. The old saying that you never step into the same river twice is very appropriate for photographers. You can never photograph the same river twice. Here are some water shots from Mary’s artistic eye.
Hidden Canyon at Zion
This very steep, 2.2-mile round-trip hike begins at the same trailhead as Weeping Rock, Observation Point and the East Rim Trail. The Weeping Rock Trail will split off to the left and the East Rim, Observation Point and Hidden Canyon Trails will share the path until Hidden Canyon breaks off to the right at the signed junction. The winding Hidden Canyon Trail hugs the side of the cliff and although much of it is wide, there are long drop-offs throughout the hike. There is even a chain hand rail to hold on to. If it is wet or raining, this would not be a good hike as the trail will be too slippery and dangerous. Be prepared for a steep uphill climb of almost a thousand feet and a steep downhill return. There are so many great hikes at Zion, you could stay there a week or two. Given, that you only have one sunrise and sunset a day for the best light, you have to make choices.
Once again, we used Photographing the Southwest by Laurent Martres as our main guidebook on our trip (see this month’s book review), and as always, Robert Hitchman’s newsletters. To see more of our photography, please go to www.pamphotography.com.
pamphotography 
More great shots …. thanks.