Archive for the ‘National Monument’ Tag
From the Bureau of Land Management’s Tumblr post, 1/22/16. Photos by their employee, Bob Wicks.
Some of my favorite photo locations are in the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, located in northern Arizona along the Utah border. The area contains colorful sculpted rock formations that are beyond description. Most famous is “The Wave” which has a very limited number of entry permits issued through a lottery to protect its unique and fragile features. However, South Coyote Buttes (permit required) and the White Pocket (no permit needed) offer equally spectacular and unique formations. The area offers year-round photo opportunities, although winter access to remote locations may be blocked by snow, and back roads become impassible when wet at any time of year. Summer visitors should bring plenty of water and plan outings to avoid the unrelenting mid-day sun.
Photo tip: The many slickrock basins hold water at certain times and provide for great reflections of the adjoining formations. To capture water reflections, photograph in early morning and late evening when glare is lower and the water is more likely to be calm. Optimally the sun should be shining on the subject that is being reflected. Interesting skies with textured clouds also make excellent reflection subjects.
The Vermilion Cliffs themselves form a dramatic rampart in the southern part of the monument and offer endless photo angles. Make sure to stop at the California condor release site, just two miles up House Rock Road from the main highway. The majestic condors are visible year-round at the site which is used to reintroduce them into the wild. A very long telephoto lens is needed to get good photos of the condors.
Photo tip: The “golden hour”, such as the time close to sunrise and sunset, almost always offers the best light for photography and this is especially true in the Vermilion Cliffs and other areas of the Colorado Plateau. Here the rock colors come alive with vibrant reds, oranges and golds with low sun angles, but become washed out during the mid-day. Photographing with sidelight (camera pointed 90 degrees from the sun) will ensure that you have more texture and three dimensional qualities to your images.
All we have is the imprint of the hawk’s attack in the sand … but no matter what rodent was the prey, we know the hawk won. Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 1/14/16.
Established in 2000, California Coastal National Monument includes public lands along the coast of California and in the near shore waters of the Pacific Ocean. Providing unique coastal habitat for marine-dependent wildlife and vegetation on more than 20,000 rocks, islands, exposed reefs and pinnacles, it also offers gorgeous natural beauty to all its visitors. Photo by Bob Wick. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 1/11/16.
Yosemite’s Half Dome. Picture by Ed Cooper. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 12/6/15.
Rising out of the Black Hills in Wyoming, Devils Tower National Monument is an astounding geologic feature. Shining under the veil of a fresh snow, it is a sight you’ll never forget. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 12/9/15.
Denali National Park in winter. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 12/8/15.
Northern Lights dance over Denali National Park. Photo by Jacob W Frank. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 11/5/15.
The Milky Way sparkles over the Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah. Photo by Manish Mamtani. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 12/2/15.
If you want to be the first person in the U.S. to see the sunrise, you’ll have to go to Maine. The morning’s first light hits Acadia National Park, revealing rocky coves and dense forests. It’s a spectacular scene in the sky and on the land. Photo by Rebecca Wilks. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 12/3/15.
California’s Alabama Hills National Recreation Area. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 12/4/15.
The beauty of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Photo by Steve Lanctot. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 11/24/15.
Featuring a half-mile deep geologic amphitheater and bristlecone pines more than 1,000 years old, Cedar Breaks National Monument in Utah is worth a visit. Due to its high altitude, winters can be extreme, so services are limited. The Scenic Drive usually closes in mid-November after the first heavy snowfall, but there are great trails for cross-country skiers and snowmobiles. Photo by Jay Wanta. Posted on Tumblr 10/23/15.
Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park. Photo by Darren Barnes. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 11/3/15.
Autumn colors of cottonwood trees in front of the Castle in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah on November 3, 2011. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 11/13/15.
Follow in the footsteps of the Lewis & Clark expedition and explore the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument in Montana. The monument spans 149 miles and contains a spectacular array of biological, geological, and historical points of interest. You can float the river, hike a trail, drive for pleasure, find a little solitude in a remote setting or simply marvel at the variety of natural beauty. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 11/2/15.
Can you believe this picture from Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park? As water runs into the Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, intense heat from the lava pool quickly turns it into steam, offering a canvas for flames and moonlight to color. It’s an extraordinary sight in a place of natural wonder and cultural importance. The crater’s name translates into “house of eternal flame” and it is known as the home of the goddess Pele, the creator of new land. Photo by Eric Leifer. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 10/3/15.
White Sands National Monument in New Mexico is one of the world’s great natural wonders. Here, great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert, creating the world’s largest gypsum dune field of brilliant snow-white sand. This photo of a double rainbow over the park was taken just at sunset as a rain storm let up. Photo by Raymond Lee. Posted on the US Department of the Interior blog, 10/19/15.
A full moon over the Denali National Park. Photo by Katie Thoresen. Tweeted 10/18/15 by the US Department of the Interior.
A gorgeous night scene at Michigan’s Isle Royale National Park. Photo by Carl TerHaar. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 10/27/15.
A trip to Yellowstone National Park isn’t complete without seeing Midway Geyser Basin. A boardwalk leads you to the colorful Grand Prismatic Spring. At 370 feet in diameter and over 121 feet deep, Grand Prismatic is Yellowstone’s largest hot spring. This jaw-dropping multi-image panorama shows Grand Prismatic Spring at night with the Milky Way sparkling above it and the stars reflected in the water below. Image courtesy of David Lane. Posted on the US Department of the Interior blog, 10/19/15.
Rocky Mountain National Park in the fall. Picture by Erik Stensland. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 9/14/15.
Located at the crossroads of the Cascade, Klamath, and Siskiyou mountain ranges, Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument in Oregon has long been recognized for its ecological importance. The convergence of three geologically distinct mountain ranges resulted in an area with remarkable biological diversity. The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail meanders 19 miles through the monument, offering challenging hikes with stunning views. Photo by Bob Wick. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 9/15/15.
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve in Alaska is the largest national park in the U.S. Four mountain ranges run through it, with nine of the 16 highest peaks in the country. Its Malaspina glacier is bigger than the state of Rhode Island and a diverse array of wildlife thrives in habitats from the mountains to the coast. At this time of year, the park is losing over five minutes of sunlight each day and autumn has already arrived. Enjoy these fall colors. They won’t last long. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 9/16/15.
Here’s a stunning night picture of Utah’s Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument’s Grosvenors Arch and the Milky Way. Photo by David Lane. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 7/28/15.
Stargazing is amazing at Badlands National Park in South Dakota. With very little light pollution, the park is home to some of the best dark skies in the country. Photo by Kevin Palmer. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 8/16/15.
The Milky Way over Mesa Arch in Utah’s Canyonlands National Park. Photo by David Lan. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 9/3/15.
Lightning strikes – repeatedly – near the Colorado National Monument Photo by Bob Ingelhart. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 7/18/15.
