Tag Archives: redrock

2011 Top 10 #6 – Clouds Over the Courthouse



Clouds Over the Courthouse, originally uploaded by tomkellyphoto.

One of my longtime photographer friends, Rod Hanna, got me thinking about clouds several years ago in Utah’s redrock country. Nothing against a clear blue sky, but clouds make a photograph.

Sadly, puffy clouds in the morning are a rarity in the desert. So I was delighted early one morning in Moab when the sky began to fill with cumulous clouds at sunrise.

The Courthouse Towers in Arches National Park are very accessible, located right on the main drive. They are massive redrock reflectors in the morning. But on this day, they were enveloped in some of the most beautiful, puffy white clouds I had ever seen.

Knowing my interest in HDR, most think this is a multi-image photograph. It it not. It was just an amazing morning with fast, racing clouds ripping across the sky.

The photograph was made with a Nikon D300 fitted with a Nikkor 16-85 on a Manfrotto tripod.

Posted in Blog | Also tagged , , , , Leave a comment

Clouds Over the Courthouse



Clouds Over the Courthouse, originally uploaded by tomkellyphoto.

Early mornings in the desert are a special time. What’s even more special is when there’s puffy clouds floating against the blue western sky. Such was the case this past May during the Moab Photo Symposium in Courthouse Wash of Arches National Park.

It was a lazy morning. A day earlier I had driven in the pre-dawn hour to be in place at Mesa Arch. Today was going to be a bit easier. My favorite morning spot in Arches has always been Turret Arch through the North Window. But as I drove up the switchbacks as the pre-dawn light was tickling the sky, I could see I was in for a treat.

The clouds were racing across the sky, high enough to not block the sun as it crept up over the eastern horizon. The speed of the clouds diminished the opportunity for an HDR. But it wasn’t necessary.

As dawn broke, the clouds initially blocked the sun. But it looked hopeful, so I setup. Then – boom – the skies broke, the sunlight painted Courthouse Tower, and the puffy cumulous clouds literally flew across the sky.

No, it’s not an HDR. But the combination of white clouds against a deep blue sky and the brilliant redrock of Courthouse Towers made it a photograph to remember.

Posted in Blog | Also tagged , , , , , Leave a comment

Utah Redrock

Utah Redrock, originally uploaded by tkellyphoto.

Just noticed this old picture on Flickr tonight. It’s one of my all-time most viewed Flickr pix. What’s especially amazing to me is the quality given it was photographed in 2004 with an old Canon G2 point and shoot. I always got great stuff from that little camera!

This is one of the reasons you want to walk around a bit at Delicate Arch. This is a series of monuments and domes just north of the main viewpoint. It can be absolutely stunning in the sunset light.

Posted in Blog | Also tagged , , Leave a comment

Colorado River Sunrise

[singlepic id=28 w=600 h= float=]

Redrock glows at sunrise as the Colorado River winds its way below Dead Horse State Park towards the confluence with the Green River. (c) 2009 Tom Kelly

Posted in BlogOLD | Also tagged , , Leave a comment

Colorado River Sunrise

Redrock glows at sunrise as the Colorado River winds its way below Dead Horse State Park towards the confluence with the Green River. (c) 2009 Tom Kelly

Posted in BlogOLD | Also tagged , , Leave a comment