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Western Colors

57 images Created 19 Dec 2019

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  • This U shaped bend in the Colorado River is just downstream from the Glen Canyon Dam. The overlook provides a view of the bend amid its colorful rocks and the fertile, green river below.
    Horseshoe Bend_IMG1469-Pano.JPG
  • From 500  feet above the river, it still took six shots to take in the whole view.
    San Juan River_IMG4251-Pano.JPG
  • Soon after photographing at Willow Flats, we moved on and were overtaken by the squall. As it passed overhead, a clear sky emerged behind it. The late afternoon sun gave us a double rainbow!  It was one of those "slam the brakes and grab the camera" events.
    Teton Rainbow_IGP2925-Edit.JPG
  • A Hopi word meaning "Rock Pile". Natural Bridges National Monument, Bluff, Utah.  The difference between a bridge and an arch is that the water course that carved out the bridge is still present under it. So technically, Owachomo is an arch, but since it is in Natural Bridges NM, well...
    Owachomo Bridge_IMG2012-Pano.JPG
  • Grand Teton National Park
    Teton Mountains_IGP2820.JPG
  • Glacier NP
    St. Mary Falls_1070083.JPG
  • A well know location at the Grand Tetons, Willow Flats view with Jackson Lake at the foot of the Teton Mountain Range. This squall on a cool Septmber afternoon, moved through briskly and skies cleared within the hour.
    Squall With Ground Fog at Willow Fla...JPG
  • Sitting atop the Colorado Plateau near Cedar City Utah is Cedar Breaks National Monument. The view from this rim at 10,000 ft. looks into a valley 1/2 mile below.  The rocks and erosion patterns are similar to those found in Bryce Canyon, about 40 miles to the east.
    Cedar Breaks_IMG1691-Pano.JPG
  • Near the town of Mexican Hat Utah, this formation is its namesake.
    Mexican Hat Rock_IMG2124.JPG
  • Grand Teton National Park
    Moulton Barn - Teton Mountains_IGP28...JPG
  • Canyonlands National Park. This small arch with a great view is widely photographed at sunset, when the underside of the arch glows.  As the sun shines up  from underneath, it fires up a reddish glow. . However, even in broad daylight, it is still an impressive sight.
    Mesa Arch - close view.JPG
  • Grand Teton National Park
    Schwabacher's Landing_IGP2863.JPG
  • This standout clone of aspens is in Custer State Park, Black Hills, SD
    Fall Color Fun_IGP3080.JPG
  • Needles Highway, Custer State Park
    Through The Needles Eye_IMG5916-Edit.JPG
  • Dramatic light on Badlands hills as the evening sun drops below a receding bank of clouds.
    Storm Passing_IMG4895.JPG
  • When visiting Monument Valley, one must take a photo of the "big three", two mittens and Merrick. Being there at sunset is a bonus. This four shot panorama helps to put the emphasis on the monuments.
    Monument Valley View_IMG4484-Pano.JPG
  • Named by John Wesley Powell in 1871. He was leading an exploraiton of the Green River. When he encountered these red walls, he named the entire gorge in their honor.
    Flaming Gorge Utah_IMG4763.JPG
  • Another angle on the Door Trail area at sunrise. Going for a monring walk here presents challenges.
    Badlands Obstacle Course _IMG4778.JPG
  • A family stops to take in the view on a Badlands trail.
    Inspiring View_IMG4820.JPG
  • In the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park, there is a spot on the Devil's Point trail where you can see this phenomenon. At certain times of the year, when the angle of the sun is right, the morning sun shines through a space betwen these rock columns to creat this dramatic effect.
    Dragon's Tongue_IMG4103.JPG
  • It is spring in the Badlands. These early grasses  wills be brown in a month.
    Badlands in Green_IMG4854.JPG
  • Near a bend in the San Juan River near Bluff, Utah, a sunrise emerges from behind a long view of the San Miguel Mountains in Colorado.
    Bluff Sunrise_IMG4245.JPG
  • The Badlands are often thought of as colorless. And in the harsh mid-day light, this is often true. Here on the "Door Trail" at the moment of sunrise, the richness of color and  texture is on full display..
    Badlands Sunrise_IMG4765 (2).JPG
  • Near Bluff, UT is an area of geological formations that have been regarded as sacred. It is easy to imagine the spirits of the ancestors standing guard over all who enter this valley.
    Valley of the Gods 2_IMG2137.JPG
  • Custer State Park, South Dakota
    Big Dipper, Needles Highway_IMG5909.JPG
  • Glacier NP
    On Going to the Sun Road_1070012.JPG
  • Grand Teton National Park
    Willow Flats Squall_IGP2879-2.JPG
  • Grand Teton National Park
    The Grand Teton_IGP2801.JPG
  • Glacier NP
    Wild Goose Island Sunset, St Mary La...JPG
  • Theodore Roosevelt NP
    The Coyotes are Waiting_IMG5728-1-Ed...JPG
  • Grand Teton National Park
    Snake River Overlook_IMGP0789.JPG
  • Grand Teton National Park
    Mountain View_IGP2872.JPG
  • Canyonlands National Park. This small arch with a great view is widely photographed at sunset, when the underside of the arch glows.  As the sun shines up  from underneath, it fires up a reddish glow. . However, even in broad daylight, it is still an impressive sight.
    Mesa Arch_IMG2179.JPG
  • Devils Tower is called Mato Tipila (Bear's Lodge) by the Lakota.
    Mato Tipila Morning_IMG5800.JPG
  • Devils Tower (Mato Tipila)_IMG5785.JPG
  • Devils Tower is called Mato Tipila (Bear's Lodge) by the Lakota.
    Mato Tipila and Tatanka_1070112.JPG
  • Grand Teton National Park
    Schwabacher's Landing_IGP2863-2.JPG
  • In Arches National Park, Landscape Arch is the longest arch in the world. In 1991 it got a bit skinnier, however, when 800 Tons of rock fell from the arch's underside.
    Landscape Arch_IMG2332.JPG
  • If there is one iconic feature in this park that everyone looks for, it is The Watchman. It shows its best looks at sunset, but even late afternoon looks pretty good on this old rock.
    The Watchman_IMG1490.JPG
  • On Cedar Mesa, Utah within the Bears Ears National Monument, is Mule Canyon. Along four miles of its South Fork, are the remains of seven structures built by the Ancestral Puebloan civilization. They abandoned their cliff-dwelling life about 800 years ago, for reasons unknown. House on Fire was a granary, not a house. It is so named because the morning sun reflecting onto the flaked sandstone of the roof overhang creates a startling flame-like appearance..
    House on Fire_IMG1941-Edit.JPG
  • This is the classic "Milepost 13" view of Utah's Monument Valley.  It is one of the most photographed views in the country. Made popular by many old western films, it saw a resurgence after the movie "Forrest Gump" filmed a scene with this view. One way to make it more than a tourist snapshot is to take a panoramic composite with a telephoto lens. This is four shots in vertical format at 250mm.  It brings the monuments closer without sacrificing any of the foreground.
    Monument Valley Dawn_IMG2044-Pano.JPG
  • Patterns in the sand change by the minute.  These larger depressions developed in the windshadow of this cluster of plants.
    Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park_IMG...JPG
  • Sedona, AZ.  The road to the Sedona Airport offers spectaular views. This is from a point along that road, looking northwest.
    Airport Road View_1080393.JPG
  • Just north of Sedona on the scenic drive through Oak Creek Canyon is this viewpoint, which is one of many.  It is also the location of a popular swimming hole in Oak Creek.
    View From Grasshopper Point_1080345-...JPG
  • The Desert View Watchtower was designed by architect Dorothy Coulter and was built in 1932. It was designed resemble the Hopi architecture that was used in the area 1000 years ago.
    Desert View Watchtower_1080609-Pano-...JPG
  • A view from Lost Dutchman State Park on the edge of the Superstition Wilderness
    Superstition Mountain_1060609 Edit 3.JPG
  • One of many visits to this scene. This time a mysterious fog of low clouds surrounded the mountain tops.
    Superstition Mountain in CloudsP1060...JPG
  • Is there anything better than an Arizona sunset?
    Desert Sunset at Apache JunctionP106...JPG
  • The harsh light of a mid-day visit to Lipan Point was shaded by passing showers. The first of the summer monsoon season.
    Lipan Point Monsoon_1080632-Edit.JPG
  • This was in March, when pre-dawn temperatures are in the 20's.  It took some gumption to crawl out of my tent early enough to get here for the sunrise.
    Yavapai Point Before Sunrise_1060475.JPG
  • At Grand Canyon, every sunrise and sunset is a new performance.  There are no reruns here.
    Yaki Point Sunset_1060555.JPG
  • Viewing Cathedral Rocks at center, Courthouse Butte just to the left, then Schnebly Hill at far left.
    Sedona from Red Rock Loop _1080403-P...JPG
  • At  Dry Creek Vista, a tree and I watched the sun rise.
    Sedona Dawn_1080745.JPG
  • Grand Canyon can change by the hour.  If you stay for several days and just watch, it will not disappoint.
    Desert View Point_1060373.JPG
  • This is a bit later than Desert View Point 1, and looks more west than north.
    Desert View Point 2_1060377-Edit.JPG
  • The light of a mid-day visit to Moran Point was shaded by passing showers. The first of the summer monsoon season.
    July Shower Over the Canyon_1080652.JPG
  • Grandview Point, Grand Canyon. Light Clouds provide a dappled light over the slopes of canyon features.
    A Grand View_1080669.JPG
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Steve Simmer Photography

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