Fall in Charleston, SC

This evening I went downtown, scouting for Christmas decorations to photograph.  I didn't come up with much, so I guess the City is waiting for Thanksgiving to be over before launching into their Christmas effort.  At least I hope that's the case, because the wreaths hung around the lanterns on Broad Street didn't really cut it.  Even Marion Square is still bare, although they were working on installing their annual Christmas tree made with strung lights.  What I did notice however, were a few trees arrayed in full fall splendor, a couple outside the Library Society Building on King Street, and the other on Hasell Street.

Favorite Boy in the World

This last weekend I had the pleasure of Gideon's company.  It just also so happened that his new sister, Torah was born on Saturday night.  What an awesome weekend; fun outings with Gideon and a brand new granddaughter.  That's hard to beat.  Torah will have her own post shortly, but these photos were taken during my time with Gideon, my four year old grandson.

Kolob Terrace Road

The time went so fast.  Four days isn't very long to try and cover all the moods and faces of Zion.  It would be presumptuous to even attempt it.  I had a flight out of Las Vegas at 11.30am and a 2+ hour drive to get there, return the car, check in, and make it to the gate (quite a production I might add) so I had time for a brief sortie along Kolob Terrace Road.  I remembered it from a trip in 2004, 10 years ago now, and always wanted to return.  Not many tourists venture down there, mostly hikers and local folks, but what a beautiful place, and quite different from the better known parts of Zion National Park.  Here are some early morning shots I grabbed as I headed out of the area.

Zion, a National Treasure

The thing about spending four days somewhere on a photographic mission is that one feels obliged to pack the maximum into the time you have.  Plane fares, car rentals, and hotel stays are not cheap so you had better produce as many images as possible in the time you have, and they need to be good.  An hour before sunrise we are in place, watching for the first glow of light to hit the red rock monoliths, and after twilight has faded into dark, we are still busy, trying to record shooting stars streaking across the Milky Way.  Tomorrow morning I start driving back to Las Vegas to fly back east, with one last sunrise shoot planned on the way.  I mustn't get too distracted - my plane won't wait for me...

Moonset and dawn over the Court of the Patriachs

Satellite moves across the night sky over the Virgin River

Water Canyon

The Watchman in late afternoon

Firey Cottonwoods near Watchman Campground

Greetings from Zion National Park, UT

It is late and we have another very early start tomorrow so I am unable to write anything very sensible, but in the meantime, here are a couple of images from one of the most beautiful places on earth.

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A visit to the Center for Birds of Prey, Awendaw

This is an amazing non-profit organization that does excellent work in the fields of research, education, and rehabilitation of birds of prey.  Our nature photography club schedules an annual visit to the center for a donation, and we get the opportunity to photograph some of these birds.  Here are a few of the images from that trip last weekend.