Click Here for the 2010 Photo Archives
It has been an
interesting winter in Utah, with Southern Utah receiving much more snow
than usual and Northern Utah receiving most of our snow in March and
April. Snowbird had 45 inches in one 24 hour period last week! I only
got down to the desert once to enjoy the snow and red rocks but I have
been spending plenty of time playing in the snow here in the Wasatch
Mountains. I also recently made a trip to Florida for a change of
scenery. Enjoy!
Thomas - April 13, 2010
Click Here for the 2009 Photo Archives
The Hole in the Rock road in the middle of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument holds many amazing attractions, secret canyons, over the top adventures and a great sense of the overall feel of the desert. In a recent trip, I visited Peekaboo Gulch, Spooky Gulch, Zebra Canyon and the Devil's Garden areas. They were all fantastic and have given me the bug I need to visit again very soon!
Thomas - November 15, 2009
The fall colors came out with a vengeance this year. The best part is that the reds, oranges, yellows and greens are all out together. Normally, it seems like we have cycles; red first, then yellow, etc. Fall in the Wasatch does not disappoint, and the snow in the forecast should add another element!
Thomas - September 30, 2009
This year, Escalante and other
desert locations took me away from my old friend, the San Rafael Swell.
This past weekend, I made a quick trip to backpack to a rim. Shortly
before sunset, some pretty wicked thunderstorms came through and a
decision was made to pack out. By the time I got to the car, it was
fully dark, lightning blazing and had just encountered a rattler
(rattler snakes in the dark are even creepier!). Still a wonderful
place to be but almost every time I visit, thunderstorms occur. I can be thankful for good dramatic weather patterns for photos I guess.
Thomas - September 20, 2009
I recently visited Japan and found that it is an amazing country with many treasures for all types of visitors. On one weeklong trip, I saw the very rugged and beautiful Northern Japan Alps, the temple history in Kyoto and Nara, the cityscape of Tokyo and many other cities and countrysides via train. The people are friendly, the transportation is extremely efficient and the country is fairly easy to get around in even for someone who speaks little to no Japanese.
Thomas - September 7, 2009
The wildflowers have been amazing for a few weeks now. It seems that they were at peak 2 weeks ago up at Alta & Snowbird, but after a hike this past weekend in Millcreek Canyon, I think it is safe to say that different areas and different flowers peak at different times. Another amazing feature of wild Utah.
Thomas - August 9, 2009
An adventurous Spring has turned in to an adventurous Summer. I recently visited the Cedar Mesa area of Southern Utah for the second time and the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness in Montana. Both amazing trips and amazing places. I have been exploring the Wasatch Mountains of Northern Utah as well (my backyard).
Thomas - July 7, 2009
The Spring mountain browns have turned into wonderful greens which means I have been out hiking a bit more in the area. Spring is also a great time to visit the desert before it gets too hot. I went to visit the ancients recently down in Cedar Mesa, Utah. My first time in the area and a great experience. I also went to Teton National Park which is a phenomenal place to visit in the shoulder season. The wildlife there is incredible.
Thomas - May 30, 2009
Spring usually means that the mountains turn an unphotogenic brown and the mountain runoff causes rivers swell. This allows new photographic focus. Bells Canyon Fall is one that is visited multiple times a year and for good reason. Also, The Great Salt Lake is a
little visited spectacle of Northern Utah. Most visitors go to Antelope
Island (which is beautiful) but not many explore the shores of the
lake. It's not that the edges of the lake are very hospitable, but they
are a great place to begin a photographic journey.
Thomas - May 4, 2009
The Wasatch has been pounded by 600+ inches of snow again this year with 200 inches coming in the last month. So much for Spring! This season, I have focused on backcountry (outside of ski resorts) adventures and have had many great experiences. The solitude in the backcountry is unmatched. The Red Rock Canyon area of Nevada was also explored a few weeks ago and is definitely on my list to visit again.
Thomas - April 24, 2009
Click Here for the 2008 Photo Archives
Fall is beautiful throughout
the country but especially in the mountains of Utah. Reds turn to orange
and yellow and the colors can be seen for miles across mountain ridges.
Snow and cloud cover adds even more beauty to the scene. Fall is also a
perfect time to visit desert locales as the heat has subsided and
exploration is pleasant. For these reasons, fall is my favorite season
to get out and shoot.
Thomas - October 10, 2008
It has been an interesting summer as I had to take about 2 months off of photography completely. Health is our most important attribute so focus on it was needed. -- The wildflowers were a little later than normal this year and when I visited, I never saw them in large fields as normal. Super close-up shots were chosen as a different effect and some are so close up that they become abstract. Hiking in Little Cottonwood Canyon by moonlight is always fun as well.
Thomas - September 18, 2008
Weekend trips are always productive because the trip is based on limited timing. The San Rafael Swell was once again the destination and the timing of the desert flowers was perfect. Most cactus and other flowers are blooming right now so the desert was brighter than usual. Camping on the rim above a 1000 foot cliff is always exhilarating especially when both the sunset and sunrise are right in your face.
Thomas - May 4, 2008
The San Rafael Swell in central Utah is a magical place. It is a place one can explore for years and still find something new with every visit. It feels like true high desert exploration because mapping of the area is minimal and one can go days without seeing another person. Easter weekend felt like a great time to get lost in the desert and it proved successful through grand overlooks and waterlogged slot canyons.
Thomas - March 23, 2008
Arches National Park is a place that I have not previously visited mainly due to the crowds that it brings. February however, is not a popular time to visit and so brought me there over the weekend. Also visited were Poison Spider, Moab and Deadhorse Point State Park. Southern Utah never disappoints.
Thomas - February 18, 2008
It is snowing like mad in Utah and has been since Christmas. The tram is a big part of Snowbird history and it is always great to photograph it. A very distinct tree with a background of the Salt Lake Valley was nearly missed in a blizzard today but the valley cleared up just long enough to get a good shot from Ferguson Canyon. Happy New Year!
Thomas - January 6, 2008
Click Here for the 2007 Photo Archives
Went to Antelope Island this weekend. It is a beautiful island in the middle of The Great Salt Lake. Fall is a perfect time to go as it gets very warm in the summer.
Thomas - November 17, 2007
Took a trip down to Bryce Canyon National Park in late October while my parents visited from Michigan. It is a beautiful place. Sunrises are pretty incredible there even when having to stand out in 18 degree cold for a few hours waiting for it.
Thomas - November 13, 2007
The fall colors are changing in Utah. The maples are in their peak and the aspens have yet to get there. This time of year is spectacular and it helps that the colors take so long to change here. Fall colors and the first snow of the season come together for a little magic in the Wasatch Mountians.
Thomas - September 26, 2007
I took a brief trip back to Michigan where we spent a lot of time on the water. Amazing how good the humidity feels when you have been in a desert for so long.
Thomas - August 25, 2007
Took a trip to the San Juan Mountains of Colorado this weekend. Definitely a favorite area of Colorado and one that will be visited for years to come. The weather called for thunderstorms every day and the predictions were quite accurate. It rained during every hike but it was an amazing trip nonetheless. Time was spent in the Mt. Sneffels Wilderness area and in Cunningham Gulch near Silverton.
Thomas - August 5, 2007
It has been hot in Utah so the higher altitudes of the Wasatch Mountains have been a refreshing break. The wildflowers have been blooming and spectacular for the past few weeks. 3 different trips yielded these wildflower shots. It seems that everytime I go out nature provides something beautiful. The Great Salt Lake and the Uinta Mountains were also visited recently.
Thomas - July 28, 2007
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