Afternoon Grand

To me this is the view that most folks associate with the Grand Canyon. It is a daytime view from the South Rim's Mather Point, the quintesential Grand Canyon. I find this scene of particular interest because of the clouds and singular break in them in the center of the exposure. NOTE: I used a polarizing filter to depen the colors and contrast of the sky. I also used a 2 stop Hard GND filter at time of the exposure to keep the bright sky in check and be able to exposure for the canyon.

Desert Pallisades

The 30 second exposure was taken after the sun had set and only diffuse reflected light was hitting the Pallisades of the western Grand Canyon. The tone of light and hue of blue created that was cast on this evening down the canyon was very pleasing to the eye. NOTE: At time of exposure I used a polarizing filter and a handheld 2 stop Soft GND to even tones between the above and below the horizon portions of the image.

Battleship Moon

I wish I could say I planned this shot, but I was actually on my way to Plateau Point with another view in mind at the time. We departed the South Rim around 3 int he morning, and as dawn approached I could see the waning moon trying to sneak below the horizon of the south rim. This forced me to increase my pace. Then, just as the first rays of dawn hit the south rim I was able to make this exposure that encompasses battleship rock, the moon, and three distincly different layers of strata as I looked up toward the south rim of the Grand Canyon. NOTE: I slightly increased contrast on this photo, but otherwise no major edits were made.

Sunrays

I couldn't have asked for better light on this particular evening. In addition to that, while dust is usually bad for visibility, in this case it created two effects that I absolutely find amazing. First, the sunrays. They are absolutely endless and amazing. Second is the seemingly endless supply of peaks that fade into the dusty distance of gold as the viewer peers down the Grand Canyon. This photograph was taken from near Desert View Point on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. NOTE: I exposed for the clouds with a 2 stop Hard GND Filter at the time of exposure and later lightened the under the horizon portion of the photograph by one half stop. This replicates the view as seen that evening and is necessary to more closely recreate the dynamic range that one could have seen with the human eye at the time.