Grand canyon dripping springs

Link to recent trip log

http://mygrandcanyonpark.com/Blogs/post/Hermits-Rest-to-Dripping-Springs.aspx

HDR First Attempt

I've been meaning to for a while, but today I finally decided to give HDR (high dynamic range) imaging a shot.  I'm usually not a big fan of a lot of digital enhancement with my photos, but some of the hdr stuff out there is just awesome...and its quite popular these days.  HDR is a process that combines multiple exposures of the same composition to capture all the shadow/highlight detail--so nothing is too blown out or too shadowy.  It can make a very cool effect, but is a hard technique to master.  This is my first attempt. It's not a very cool composition, but i just wanted to give the technique a try.  You'll notice a "photomatix" watermark in the hdr image because i'm using a trial version of some HDR software... Here's the before and after of my sweet ride:

smiley spider

This is a spider (cat-face spider, Araneus gemmoides) that posted up in my dad's office/garage/mancave for basically her whole existence.  She showed up, hung out, laid eggs, then died, all with a smile on her face...or abdomen, really.  Have a nice day! 

 

Snow Cave

Took these a couple months ago, but since Flagtown is getting yet another dose of this el nino (translation: the nino) weather, i figure they are appropriate.  A few friends and i attempted to make a snow cave to spend a night in after nearly 5 ft of snow was dumped on Flagstaff.  We did manage to make a cave-but it was not exactly what i had had in mind.  I went into it hoping to make the type of snow cave you would make if you wanted to actually stay warm through the night-meaning a one or two person wormhole, built higher than the entrance hole to trap in heat.  This was not the case, as four friends joined me and we opted to make a "party" cave.  We built a giant snow mound, then dug it out.  It was pretty neat, and fit all of us comfortably.  Not exactly practical for sleeping in, and it was the coldest night of my life.  It was three degrees when i emerged from my sleeping bag and put on my frozen stiff pants and boots.  It was cold, but satisfying to know i did it.  3 degrees...  That was back in January.  The temp outside now?  15 degrees...i'm over it, flagstaff

grand canyon south kaibab

Made it to the Grand Canyon today.  For my journalism capstone class I am doing an internship for a website, mygrandcanyonpark.com.  I have a blog going there as well, and post triplogs and photos and random musings.  It is not live as of yet, but when it is i will post a link for all you devoted followers (hey mom!) to check out.  Here are some pics from today.  Saw a coyote and some antelope but no shots of that unfortunately.  hiked a ways down the south kaibab trail.  It was a snowy day for the most part, but cleared up nicely for a bit and provided some epicness. 

Stormy North Rim

...livin on the edge--cedar ridge.  ate a delicious sandwich and had an epic pee here

  

you'll shoot yer eye out

some pics i put together from a weekend of debauchery in the desert.  Trying to get a video clip up as well.  I took the footage as part of a journalism capstone project 

about the new law permitting guns in national parks...and also 

'caus it was awesome!   'MURICA! 

 

fashion shot for class

did this a couple days ago in class.  fun shoot, good model, love the lighting setup

Hello everyone, or anyone who is actually looking at this blog.  This is my first blog post...ever.  I have created some pages, which are on the right side of this page, for y'all to look at.  Just some of the photos i have taken throughout the years.  Enjoy