It is 1.30 am and I find myself in Moab, Utah. And it is probably a bad time for blogging but sleep escapes me tonight. I went to bed at 00.15am and then proceeded to have a strange dream and woke up instantly. So here I am; Wide Awake in America. I am a little tired of sleeping in strange motel beds, but the landscapes here are stunningly magical. Every day as I drive through the Southwest I am continually surprised by how beautiful the land here is.
Earlier today I had a bit of a blissful being in the wild moment. Going by directions received by fellow photographers I found the trailhead to Mule Canyon in Utah, the trail leading to House on Fire anasazi ruins. A location I really wanted to visit. I hiked the mile and a half along the wash in brilliant sunshine and arrived at the ruins with plenty of time to shoot them while they are still in the shade. I was somewhat ecstatic that I have found them. They must be in the shade for the ‘fire’ effect caused by reflected sunlight onto the rock above the ruins. The effect is quite simply surreal and really spectacular when photographed at just the right angle to catch the reflections. I shot every conceivable angle and then sat on a rock worshipping the sun for an hour. Just me and not a soul around me and not a sound. Being there. In the moment. In nature. Truly content not wanting to move.
Later I arrived in Moab, Utah and checked into my hotel room. I drove to Arches National Park to shoot the sunset. There is a sand storm blowing but it is still nicely warm. Just as the light show is about to happen Mother Nature drops a large cloud in front of the sun, but the clouds are still great. 17mm wideangle pointed almost straight up with just some gorgeous red rocks in the foreground and I have my shot. I steer my black spaceship back to base.
It has been one of those days. Days on the road. From magical moments in America’s nature to waking up in a motel bed, an inner as much as an outer journey. That sums up the present life of this travelling photographer. An image that sums it up? Well, since I am saving the hero shots for my new website, here is what I really love about this US road trip. Simply driving down a back road in gorgeous Navajo Country, Arizona and shooting a dramatic cloudscape at sunset with a storm approaching over the red soil. A bit of magic for just a few minutes, what this is all about. (There is a stitched version of this that will be the final version, this is is a quick preview).
7 Comments on “Days on the road”
Thank you Flemming… great read and an awesome image.
thanks heaps Michael !
Albert,
Stop posting these… your making me jealous…..
Another cracker mate….. cant wait to see your new site huh
thanks matey, get yourself over here mate, steal a plane ticket or something!
Reading this for the 3rd time so I thought I should say something.
I've heard lots about the House on Fire and would have loved to have been with you there, sun/rock worshipping in mutual silence.
Some years ago we came thisclose to moving to San Francisco (other half had a job offer), but plans fell through at the last minute. There went my visions of exploring the 50 states and all of these Ansel Adams landscapes. I don't think I'm really over it yet, although it worked out for the best. At least I'm still in Australia!
Hi Charlene. House of Fire may not be the biggest most spectacular location but as for experiences go it was quite sacred and incredible. You would love it! Also nice difference from all those paved National Parks with the coach busses etc, yuk!
Yeah at least you still have Australia – and you can still do the Ansel road trip! I must admit it has been so thrilling to visit some of the Ansel locations, and I still have Yosemite to come 🙂
I'm definitely looking forward to those hero shots 🙂