Monday, March 18, 2024

"The Sound of Silence"...

For some, nature's sounds are quiet sounds. The sound of water can be so peaceful that it tends to go silent.
Cornelius Falls is a nice waterfall that is approx. 40 feet high. This is a peaceful place since the hike here is a little challenging to get to, so it keeps some of the footprints lesser. Like most waterfalls in Arkansas, the water level varies during the wet season, so the experience can vary as well.

Heber Springs, Arkansas.
Photo # K04_6942-47h3bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp



Wednesday, March 13, 2024

"Between Storms"...

I found myself mesmerized by the small white clouds that seemed to be floating on their own. To the right, there were rain and sleet storms that had passed earlier. To the left is a snow storm coming. You can see snow-capped mountains in the background.

The back highways, somewhere near the Colorado and Arizona borders.
Photo # K04_5516-39bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp



Tuesday, March 12, 2024

"The Open Range"...

A snow storm approaches (from the left) as wild/range horses graze.  The white horse, presumably the alpha, chases another keeping others in line. He would occasionally stop and look directly at me.

Near Arizona/Colorado border.
Photo # K04_5451cbw.
(c) Kelly Shipp




Saturday, March 9, 2024

"Canyon Souls"...

One thing I discovered while exploring not only these Lower Antelope Canyons but also much of Monument Valley, is that there are faces personified in almost everything I see. Even as I viewed this scene through my viewfinder, I could see multiple faces extending from the canyon walls.  Again, the colors that dance from these walls are amazing.

Lower Antelope Canyon, AZ.
Photo # K04_3208ac.
(c) Kelly Shipp

 


 

Friday, March 8, 2024

"Soft Textures"...

The light can be so amazing in the slot canyons. This photograph shows how soft and textured the light can be on the stone as the light bounces through the canyon.

Lower Antelope Canyon, AZ
Photo # K04_3522.
(c) Kelly Shipp

 


 

Thursday, March 7, 2024

"Sleeping Dragon"...

A natural formation eroded in sandstone, located in the far south-east area of Monument Valley, is known as the "Sleeping Dragon".
Starting at the far right of this photograph, you see the body of the dragon, and if you follow the body, to the left, as you near the center of the photograph, you'll see a dip and narrowing through the neck, and the head is near center ending with the nose.

Sleeping Dragon Butte, Navajo Nation Reservation, Monument Valley, AZ.
Photo # IM7_1065-74bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp



Tuesday, March 5, 2024

"The Turning Point"...

Half-way during my 4-mile desert hike, I paused to view the north side of the East Mitten Butte and take a break.  It was an extremely windy day where the wind was blowing over 20mph from the east-to-west direction (left-to-right in this photograph). What worried me was the rain storm, from the East, being carried by this front. At the time, I estimated that it was going to run into me before I finished the 4-mile hike.  What I didn't know is that the wind was already changing direction, to the North. While resting, I decided to take a long-exposure photograph of my view.  Soon afterwards, as I continued my hike, I then realized that I was walking against the wind - it indeed had changed to the North, moving the threatening rain around my return path. I was so happy and relieved that I wasn't going to walk into that storm.
What surprised me about this photograph is that it accurately shows the change in the wind direction. You can see on the left-hand side of the photograph how intent the wind was moving left-to-right, but the right side began to move more south-to-north, almost mid-point over the monument.

Being over 1,000 feet high, the summit of East Mitten Butte is 6,226 feet in elevation.
East Mitten Butte, Navajo Nation Reservation, Monument Valley, AZ.
Photo # K04_4989-5037hdrbw.
(c) Kelly Shipp