IntrepidXJ's Adventure Blog

Sunday, January 27, 2013

By now I’m sure many of my regular readers are tired of seeing photos from the Colorado National Monument. For those of you who might feel that way, I’m sorry to say I have another trip report of photos taken there. Better stop reading now! After spending over five hours photographing the inversion layer in the Monument on Saturday I had no plans to return on Sunday. However, in the afternoon I noticed the clouds that had been hovering over the Grand Valley all day were finally beginning to break up. I couldn’t resist, so I grabbed my camera and drove back up there. I’m glad that I did!

As I was driving to the Fruita entrance I noticed the clouds hanging in the canyon obscuring the view of Independence Monument. I found somewhere to pull over and switched to my long lens for a closer look.

In the Clouds by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

When I reached the Monument Canyon view I was pleasantly surprised to find many dynamic clouds in the canyon below.

Clearing Storm by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A disappearing act.

Kissing in the Fog by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
 

Saturday, January 26, 2013

On Saturday morning I slept in a little later than usual. A winter storm moved into the area overnight and when I looked outside towards the Colorado National Monument I could see that the humidity from the storm caused the inversion layer over the valley to thicken. I quickly got dressed and drove up to the Monument. I was planning on a short trip up there to hopefully get a couple of decent photos, but I ended up spending over 5 hours up there!

Since there was another layer of clouds above me there was no direct light the whole time I was up there, but I really enjoyed photographing the muted colors of the canyons in these conditions. It’s certainly different from what I normally shoot, which is what I was trying to do.

The base of Window Rock was just above the inversion layer.

Window by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The thick inversion filling up part of Wedding Canyon.

Filling by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The inversion layer sort of acted like water in the ocean. The fog would recede a little and then advance again. I waited until the wave of fog crashed against the cliff to take this photo.

Wave by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
 

Monday – Sunday, January 14-20, 2013

Over the past week I’ve spent a few days photographing the Colorado National Monument again. I stopped by after work a few days, caught a sunrise another day, and drove through the entire park after a morning spent along Rifle Creek. Basically, whenever I had a little free time, I was there. I actually spent a few days concentrating on one small arch that I photographed in a few different kinds of light. It’s amazing how different things can look based on the time of day and the weather.

One evening I caught the Earth’s shadow over Red Canyon.

Red Canyon by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Another evening the Grand Mesa lit up at sunset.

Pink Mesa by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A small tree growing out of the sandstone.

Sandstone Tree by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
 

Saturday, January 19, 2013

I was originally planning on visiting Rifle Falls the previous Sunday. However, when I woke up Sunday morning to leave, it was snowing pretty hard, which was not in the weather forecast the night before. I decided to change my plans and went back to bed instead. That brings us to today. I was up bright and early so I could make the drive to Rifle Falls State Park before the sun came up for the day. I made it to the park well before the sun came up and had the place all to myself until I was ready to leave a few hours later. It was pretty cold out, but I dressed appropriately and kept pretty warm, except for my hands which I can never seem to keep warm enough.

One of the falls and Rifle Creek in the dawn.

Misty Fall by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Icicles and a waterfall.

Ice & Water by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The waterfall is in the shade while the ridge above is receiving the first sunlight of the day.

Left Fall by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
 

I recently got my hands on a copy of the latest Colorado Life Magazine. I’ve been looking forward to reading this issue since it features one of my images taken last February at the Colorado National Monument when fog filled the canyons after a light snow. I really think the photo looks great as a two-page spread which opens up the article. There are plenty of other great photos of the Monument from other excellent Colorado-based photographers as well.

If you are interested in picking up a copy for yourself, below is the cover of the January / February 2013 issue that contains my image and the article about the Colorado National Monument in the winter. Click on the cover for more information or to subscribe at Colorado Life Magazine’s website.