Last October, I was fortunate to catch amazing conditions near 10k ft in Southern Utah. It had been rainy so the morning was filled with rolling fog and soft dawn light. Moments before this, a great horned owl flew through the forest and perched as if he was watching this show. Unfortunately he landed just out of this frame or it would have too good to be true!

The colors are just beginning to change up high here now and on full display soon!
October 2021 // Southern Utah // 5 image stitched pano (Lightroom)
(file here is not full res, only 3.9MB:))

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(full screen recommended) This photo almost didn't happen. I was at Bryce Canyon (for the 1000th time) on a grey, cloudy evening. I had hiked and shot in the morning and had a productive morning so I wasn't feeling overly excited about the dull evening. I went anyway because you just never know.

Then, the "you just never know" happened and it started snowing lightly as the sun popped out from behind a cloud on the horizon. For 5 minutes or so, the entire forest lit up with backlit golden flakes. I was already in a good place to look back at the forest so I put on the telephoto and shot what I could and focused the best I could.

January 2021
Hope you enjoy:)

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I live near Zion and shoot regularly at these places and can help but what lenses do you have already? How/what do you like to shoot? So far everyone has recommended 14-400mm and every lens combo so I'm not sure if you're confused more now😂

You'll likely shoot way more telephoto than you expect and I'd recommend using 1 body, not 2. Too much gear and it bogs you down.

Highway 195 runs through there but these were all away from the highway.

It depends on the area but that's mostly true. This year the cool wet spring lasted until the end of June!

And this is just the tip of the iceberg! Thanks

That's awesome, that tree isn't in a popular place but was fun to discover! Thanks and you're right about it being special💚💚

Thanks:) I'll try to share like that next time.

There's so much to explore here! It was a rainy year there I guess and still wet and cold in June. I secretly want to go back in Winter😎🙏

🙏😎 thanks George

Thanks, the weather was perfect to explore!

A few panos from the Palouse in Eastern Washington state this Spring. I lead a workshop here and find something new every visit. This year brought rainy mornings and clearing afternoons..a perfect combo😀

Who would ever do that?? I CERTAINLY have never done that! hahaha!

I like the crop you did and would just say that a line leading to a corner simply creates a strong geometric design in the image, in this case a triangle on a corner. It confuses the eye a bit as asymmetry and curves seem more "natural" than geometric shapes for Nature. This isn't so much a rule as it is about what feels comfortable. A line to a corner feels forced and uncomfortable.

I think this summarizes my thoughts exactly. Go experience and photograph and bring the camera you have. You'll always make better images this way too:)