IntrepidXJ's Adventure Blog

Concurrent by Randy Langstraat

Reflected light, lines and sandstone; some of my favorite subjects to photograph. When I first arrived at this interesting alcove on Saturday the reflected light was spectacular. I searched for a nice composition until I found this one, but as soon as I did the sun went behind a cloud. I had to wait a little while for the sun to appear again to get the nice light. It was worth the wait! I think this one will look good printed big on the wall in our house.

Sunday & Monday, October 21-22, 2012

Very, very early on Sunday morning Amanda and I headed up to Glade Park to watch the Orionid Meteor Shower from Miracle Rock. Even though we both saw plenty of meteors, I didn’t end up catching any with my camera like I had hoped. Since this was my first real attempt at photographing a meteor shower it’s not a surprise that I came away empty handed, but I’m hopeful that I will do better next time. We both still had a nice time laying on the sandstone watching the sky for meteors until the sun came up. Once the sun came up, I stuck around for a few photos.

Miracle Rock in the dawn light as the sky behind briefly turned pink.

Miracle Rock Dawn by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

I waited around until Miracle Rock was all in direct sunlight, which took quite a bit longer to happen than I thought it would. I also caught the only tiny cloud in the sky that I saw all morning.

Miracle Rock Sunrise by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

After work on Monday I noticed that there were some nice clouds in the sky which could lead to a nice sunset. I decided to head back up to Miracle Rock and try my luck at sunset that evening.

On my way up to Glade Park I stopped for this photo in the Colorado National Monument looking back towards the Grand Mesa.

Serpent View by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
 

Second Wave Storm by Randy Langstraat

A snowstorm in the distance over the Second Wave formation in Coyote Buttes North. Just a little preview of my weekend down on the Paria Plateau.

Moab Area Rock Art XXI
Saturday, October 20, 2012

This weekend, even right after my week-long trip, I was ready to get out hiking and exploring again. I figured that since I hadn’t been down to Moab for a while it might be a good time to get back for a day trip. Last year I spent some time exploring Mill Creek Canyon and wanted to get back to continue my search for rock art.

Before driving into Moab, I stopped at La Boca Arch to catch the sunrise. Here’s the arch in the soft dawn light before the sun came up.

La Boca Arch Dawn by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Early morning light striking the arch.

La Boca Arch by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A closer look at the underside of La Boca Arch.

Under the Arch by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
 

Tuesday & Wednesday, October 16-17, 2012

Just a few short days after returning from my adventures in Northern Arizona and Southern Utah, I was ready to get and photograph some of the fall colors here in the Grand Valley. I ended up driving up to the Colorado National Monument two consecutive days after work to take a few photos.

I first went over to Ute Canyon to see the cottonwood trees along the stream in the bottom. The canyon was already in the shadows, but the top of the mesa and the Book Cliffs were still receiving direct sunlight.

Ute Canyon Sunset by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The Book Cliffs across the Grand Valley near sunset.

Book Cliffs Sunset by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The Grand Mesa in the distance glows pink beyond Rim Rock Drive.

Evening Road by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A lone yellow leaf on the bark of a large cottonwood tree.

Leaf on Bark by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr