Zion... finally made it to Zion

During September, 2011 my wife Terry and I made our first venture into Zion National Park.  How was this overlooked for so long?  This visit was another, "inspection" for future returns.  Like Bryce Canyon on this same trip,  we played tourists not backcountry hikers, hopped on the shuttle bus and made the loop through the magnificent Virgin Canyon that is the heart of Zion.   

Jim Staub ~ Sept. 2012

Selections from Bryce Canyon National Park

My first visit to Bryce Canyon was made a year ago,  2011,  in early September.  It was an overview look at  Bryce and Zion National Parks with my wife, Terry.  Limited time - a few short trail walks in a 4 day vacation. At Bryce we remained at the Rim Trail level, looking out and down into the convolutions and colors, a hiker or horseback rider might be detected in the formations below,  inching along it appeared.  The brief time there fostered a desire to return for a better look, to be one of those day hikers below the Rim Trail spectators.   Jim Staub - September, 2012

New Photographs for Tired Landscapes

The title is my excuse for not leaving the image out of the camera, alone.

Signage ~ San Gabriel, Calif.

A couple of  architectural elements distilled down to their 1950's and 60's essence. Both are from individual building next door to each other in San Gabriel, Calif.  Jim Staub 

Mega-moon photos ~ four days old

Heard it was going to be the largest moon of the year.  Terry saw it coming up from our window.  Already late for photos, I said to myself. We got in the truck and headed to open sky near the local high school.  There it was big and way too bright for any landscape photography. You need to get the moon low to the horizon or partial clouds to even out the brightness range of the full moon and the dark landscape. High Dynamic Range shooting could work too,  but I haven't had much luck with the process. Parked and attached the camera to the tripod.  Finally found a street-lighted Eucalyptus tree to make something interesting of that searchlight of a mega-moon.  Jim Staub  May 8, 2012

The City Palm Transfigured ~ April, 2012

BEFORE

AFTER

              Here I go again,  departing from my self-assigned charge - just the facts.

Palm Trees Pasadena - Jan. 30, 2008

 Studying the axis light on city street palm trees, from the annual Rose Parade grandstands pre-parade.