Looking eastward from the top of Cape Final across the magnificent vista of Unkar Creek one can sense without directly seeing the intriguing smaller watersheds of Basalt Canyon and Lava Canyon, well-named for the primary content of their rocks. The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is a geological puzzle that allows for endless possibilities of construction and reconstruction, layer upon layer upon layer. It is the lithic heart and soul of a nation laid bare for anyone to see.
A focal length of 142mm, near the middle of short telephotoland, gave me the narrowed angle-of-view I wanted and a bit of magnification to emphasize the awesome layers of strata in the canyon’s opposing wall. An aperture of f/20 provided depth-of-field; and a shutter speed of 1/6th second at ISO 100 gave me an overall medium exposure.
No matter how far from the Grand Canyon you live, I hope you will join with me in the notion that it is sacred geography and must be preserved completely intact for future generations.
Another awesome image. I agree with you that there are places that need to be protected, especially our National Parks and Monuments. These are places that cannot be replaced and it is our responsibility to protect them for future generations
Hey Chris. It’s great to hear from you! I hope that you and Sue remain safe and well. Thank you for affirming the sentiments I expressed in the announcement for this Image. What I have learned in my trips to the canyon, and especially the North Rim, is that pictures, no matter how dramatic, simply cannot tell the story of this awesome place. Every time I am there, I come away with the most acute feeling of personal insignificance. Bonnie and I are very excited about sharing what we have felt and learned with you and Sue in 2021. We’re already working on the logistics of our adventure. I hope your summer is going well and you autumn will be beautiful and filled with creativity.
I have great memories of this portion of the Grand Canyon when I n did my through hike in July of mid 90s as well as a road scholar trip to the north rim in Oct. of 2015. You have captured the nature of canyon’s unique layers that show its geologic uniqueness. I wish I could join you but have committed to capturing the fall colors in the beautiful state of Michigan.
Hi Charles. It’s always a pleasure to have you join us. I so envy your wonderful experience in this place. I’m afraid my through-hiking days are behind me, and I missed this one; so glad you got to do it. It would be great to have you with us in ’21 for the Southwest adventure, but having led workshops in the UP for 15 years, I can assure you that you are in for the fall color experience of a lifetime. Peak color seems to have been delayed to about October 8-12 across the UP, so if you can aim your time there to fit with the later dates, I would encourage that. Walk in Beauty.
I sat on the very edge of the North Rim having just learned that my 102 year old grandmother had died. The clouds and condors brought her close to me and I built an altar to her —- the Leader of the Clan— stones and sticks forming this Native American symbol.
Hey Robin, It’s delightful to hear from you. Thanks for joining us. I cannot imagine another place on the Earth’s surface that would offer a more meaningful opportunity to reflect upon a life well-lived, especially on a beloved relative. I can only imagine the depth of feeling that you found there among the atmospherics and great creatures of the air. The spirits of the ancestors are surely in that place and have much to offer us if we open ourselves to their communications. Thanks for sharing that wonderful story.
Lovely, Don
Hey Lynne. Always wonderful to have you join me. Thanks for your very kind comment. I somehow have the feeling that the North Rim would be a place of profound meaning for you. Be well and stay safe. Looking forward to our rendezvous, wherever and whenever, this week. In Beauty may you Walk.
Thanks, Don. A wonder, indeed, and so worthy of strong protection. Your images help stir hearts to lean into that. I feel fortunate to have visited a few times (only once to N Rim).
Hi Ray. I always look forward to what you will share with us. I am honored to have you join the conversation. You know, the Kaibab Plateau and its awesome national forest abut the North Rim footprint. I’m thinking there is are lots of great reasons for you to visit The Kaibab, maybe even regularly. Thanks for your kind words. If my work encourages folks to act in the name of preservation, I will have accomplished meaningful work indeed. Stay safe and well, my Friend.
Howdy Don, you have to love the randomness yet pattern that Mother Nature presents us with. You angle and time of day of lighting brings out all the details of the land form relief. Love the tree in the bottom right in silhouette.
Howdy Michael. Thank you very much for joining us and sharing your poignant words. I very much appreciate them. This is a perfect place for the keen eye for intimate landscapes that you possess. And there is no better place for “random pattern” than the North Rim’s Cape Royal Road. Late afternoon, just after the solstice, is a lighting dream. If you’ve not gotten there yet, I really encourage you to go. It’s precisely your kind of place. Walk in Beauty, my Friend.
And, too, Michael, I appreciate your pointing out the tree in silhouette. It was a joy to have that element present to anchor the bottom right. It can sometimes be a challenge to find elements in the near ground to help create additional depth.
Thank you Everyone for joining me for this engaging conversation. I realized that having the capacity to engage with each of you individually means I no longer need to wait until the end of the week to begin to answer comments. It’s delightful to be able to have separate conversations as the week goes by. Sometimes an Image evokes responses that lean toward the technical end of camerawork and sometimes the more emotional side of craft comes out. No matter, both sides of the coin are essential to creativity, and I truly enjoy the chance to have both. It would be interesting to sometime have a discussion about what kinds of images evoke what kinds of responses. Have and excellent week. Stay safe, be well, and may we all walk in the presence of Beauty.
Another wonderful image. Sorry I have been remiss in posting. Just trying to juggle too many balls at once. So many things to like about this picture. The diagonal lines are a great road map leading me from the bottom left to the right. I love the shapes formed by the tops of the rock formations. I like the choice of no sky and am assuming it was drab anyway. Last but not least, the browns and greens really compliment each other. Thanks for sharing.