More from the Balloon Adventure

Floating in a Hot air Balloon Near a landscape such as Zion is an amazing experience. If you are interested in a flight within the next few weeks let me or Steiger know www.dropzoneballoon.com. He doesn't have an exact date for the next flight. A lot depends on the weather and which way the wind is blowing, Another way to support the expedition is by buying a coffee table book which will be a collaboration of local artist brought together by Steiger the balloon captain. The book will not only have beautiful photographs and paintings by various local artist,  but will also be an education into the geology of Zion National Park and the unique environmental problems we face in this beautiful landscape.  My first few flights were amazing, I look forward to a few more sunrise flights before late spring arrives, these flights are fleeting as he does not plan to do them into the summer months.

Breaking News!

 "Winter Patriarchs" was chosen to be part of a traveling photographic exhibition around Australia and Hong Kong as part of the worlds first Medium Format Fine Art Prize Exhibition! check it out http://www.loupeawards.com/

Kauai

A few days ago I returned from a week in Kauai, Hawaii with my wife and daughter. We went thinking of it as a vacation from work, not as me being on a nonstop photo-safari.  I did take my camera gear along and managed to create a few images.

Mystical Koke'e Forest

The day was coming to an end and I had not created any new work while trekking through this tropical rainforest in the Koke'e Forest in Kauai. I was enjoying the humid fresh air, the air in Zion Canyon where I live is so dry! Suddenly as I rounded a bend in the trail light beams began to faintly appear until they grew stronger and created this dramatic light. It goes to show that sometimes when you least expect it Mother Nature may have a surprise for you at any moment. 

Rainbow Eucalyptus

 Rainbow Eucalyptus is one of the most colorful trees I have ever seen! Each year patches of bark shed at different times revealing the newer green bark below. As the bark ages and sheds it turns purple,  orange and maroon creating a rainbow of colors.

Overlooking Kalalau Valley

  The Kalalau Valley is one of the most beautiful spots on earth, in my opinion. On this particular morning I watched the fog roll over the lush green valley below, it's no wonder they call Kauai the Garden Isle. On the horizon you can see the ocean in the clearing mist. Not far from here is one of the rainiest places on Earth, Mount Waialeale. 

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Hot Air Balloon Adventure

West Temple From Above

A photo my brother Steve took of us taking off

Steiger, The Balloon Captain

It's not every day you get to go up in a hot air balloon, even less likely over one of the most rugged beautiful landscapes in the world. Recently I was fortunate to experience such an adventure with one of the most adventurous balloon pilots out there, Steiger. It was a surreal journey floating over the landscape I've been studying from the ground for the past 10 years, always trying to show it in a new and unique perspective so naturally I was drawn to the idea of seeing Zion from above.  The two journeys I did were just outside the park taking off at the mouth of the canyon and landing one time up on Gooseberry Mesa and the next in Colorado City. Check out Steiger's website for more information regarding going up on a hot air balloon.

End of Year Sale

From now until the End of the Year I will be doing free shipping within the 48 states on anything over $100! This includes orders online or at the gallery. Also, if you are in Springdale Thanksgiving Week I have a variety of pictures on sale as I make room for some of my newer photographs on the wall. See you around! - David

Rafting through the Grand Canyon

The hot sun glared in my face as I turned to look back from the front of the small raft. There were three of us on the raft and we were all focused on the tumultuous river in front of us, scanning for the tell tale signs of the upcoming rapid, Lava Falls Rapid. Our guide was straining with the oars, trying to head us over to the left bank of the river, but our raft wouldn’t budge. We all seemed to realize at the same moment that we were too late in turning and our future was no longer in our hands.

Lava Falls Rapid is the most dangerous rapid to maneuver through the Grand Canyon, particularly a section called the Lava Ledge Hole. Few are able to go through the Lava Ledge Hole and live to tell about it. Of course, as chance would have it, I was in the raft that would hit the Ledge Hole dead center. With barely a moment to take a quick breath we were tossed to our fate like rag dolls in a washing machine. The churning water chewed us alive as we were repeatedly dunked in the water, only to be completely sucked under and shot out further down river. It was humbling, to say the least. Obviously, I survived. I was told when I was pulled out of the river I was gray. I only remember thinking, "I’m alive", and then I thought about all my camera equipment. Gratefully, my cameras were on a different raft and made it through untouched.

Rafting 279 miles on a river is an experience of a lifetime. Chores are second nature, the absence of the digital world not as glaring, and your life becomes in tune with the pulse of the river and the landscape. Mornings consist of a quick stretch of the legs on a hike, maybe a few shots of the sunrise and breakfast. Packing up is organized and efficient. Then, there is the river, all day, everyday. A few dips in the slower moving sections, and focused scanning on quicker rapid days. But, throughout it all there is the never ending conversations. You leave knowing not only yourself better, but everyone else in the group. The end of the day on the river begins with the placement of the groover, the portable toilet. I am quite proud to be awarded the most scenic toilet spot on the whole trip. Dinner was a variety of gourmet dishes. Don’t tell my wife, but I think I ate better on the river than at home. Though, near the end, the food became a soupy mess in the coolers.

Day to day life was pleasantly rhythmic, but knowing at one time John Muir, Thomas Moran, and numerous other adventurers once roamed the Grand Canyon was truly exciting. I happened upon an old campsite littered with cowboy junk that once belonged to the famous river scout, William Bass. Bass was known for guiding Muir and Moran throughout the Grand Canyon. I saw the ancient ruins of the Anasazi on the cliffs above and the amazing death defying heights where they lived. I loved looking at the many colorful layers of the sandstone and feeling as if I was rafting through time.

History was wonderful to see firsthand and there is so much I want learn of how the Colorado River effected the history of the American West. But, the landscapes of the Grand Canyon are what really occupied my mind throughout my adventure. The ever changing color of the river, the brilliant blue sky, and the sheer redrock cliffs kept me engaged in my surroundings. Sunrises and sunsets were beautiful, I was spellbound watching the redrock come alive as the sun illuminated the cliffs in the morning. I loved watching the clear water thunder out of the springs. I was entranced. Although I don't know when I will raft the Colorado River again, I look forward to my next trip through the Grand Canyon.