Utah Trip

For those of you that will be joining us on our trip to

Utah

….

Please confirm by email that you will be going.

A basic itinerary will be as below. The group will determine the actual times and locations. You can choose to join us for all or any part of the trip. The weather could be any where between Fantastic and 55F to 22F and Snowing. You never know this time of year. I have gone to this area for several years in February and have never been disappointed.  So, it’s up to you and your adventurous spirit! One rule applies…NO WHINERS!

I will be planning to camp and hotel as listed below. If you should choose to do something other, feel free to catch up at some point. Just let us know so we can watch out for you.

Anyway….

I will leave

Denver

Thursday late afternoon about 3-4pm.  Arrive Canyonlands ~10pm  and plan to camp in the “Willow Flat” campground,

Island

in the Sky, Canyonlands. See the map at http://www.ddpaonline.com/FriMap.htm  ***NOTE*** no showers or food are available at this location. (Please see me about meals prior to going.) If by chance the campground is full, (unlikely but possible) you will need to go back about 10 miles on the road that you came in on and there are some “unimproved” campsites to catch a few winks in. Look for the little tent markers along the road that mark the unimproved sites. The “Willow Flat” campsite is a great place because it’s easy to set up in and it is only 5min to Mesa Arch in the morning. We need to be at the arch BEFORE sunrise. About 5:45 AM. ***Further Note*** If you choose to stay in town (Moab) it is a 1.25hr drive from Moab to Mesa, making for a very early rise if you are trying to catch the sunrise. I would highly recommend the camp site if you can make it. You can drive into the park after sunset (or before 8am) without paying a fee (about $10) and camp (about $15) just pay the entry fee in the AM.

Friday

We will plan to photograph Mesa Arch for about 1.5 hrs then move to a breakfast location with a fantastic view and additional shooting. We will continue our exploration and shooting in Canyonlands until about 1pm then move on to

Goblin

Valley

State Park

.

Goblin

Valley

is about a 2 hr drive from Canyonlands we want to be there by about 2-3pm. I am planning to camp at Goblins to avoid the late 3hr drive back to

Moab

. There ARE showers at

Goblin

Valley

State Park

. The State park fee is about $10 and Camping is about $15

Saturday morning

Drive to

MOAB

secure lodging & relax for a short while. Early afternoon, head out to Arches for the Sunset. Back to

Moab

for Dinner

Sunday

Take a lazy trip over to

Fisher

Towers

and back to

Denver

.

To see some pix of past trips to the area as well as some Links & Maps go to http://www.ddpaonline.com/PSUtah.htm

Equipment & What to Bring

Each participant is expected to bring their own camera, camera instruction manual and accessories. Don't forget extra batteries (rechargeable and regular) as well as extra memory cards or film. Bring a tripod (you can't fix camera shake in Photoshop) and cable release as well. If your camera allows, also bring a polarizer and split neutral density filters if you have them. A small flashlight is advisable for early morning and night

shooting. Even throw in a couple of plastic bags (the clear kind that you put fruit in at the grocery store) to cover your camera in case of rain.

Some of us will also be camping. If you plan to camp, bring an easy to set-up tent and a good sleeping bag and even some extra blankets. Hey, we are car camping! In the morning just throw it into the car and take off! It will be COLD at night but with a good bag you will be fine. If you have doubts about the camping portion, call me. I can give you some advice.

What Type of Clothing

Comfortable clothing that can take a little scuffing if needed to get that perfect shot. Comfortable walking shoes are mandatory, a hat to protect from the suns harsh rays, a good jacket is advisable for those early mornings and evenings. Don’t forget the sunscreen. Remember, you will be outside a lot so bring appropriate clothing. You may also want to bring a small day-pack or fanny-pack to carry your extra camera equipment while walking or hiking. There are some great hikes that we can all do together.

It will be COLD early morning and nice during the day. The average temps have been between 52f in the day and 28f at night and the forecast is for clear to partly cloudy. Check the weather at http://msnbc.com/news/wea_front.asp (I think this is the link to it)

I want to give all fair warning about being outside this time of year in this location. I don’t want to scare anyone away but you can never tell what the whether will do. I hope that you will heed my cautions above but, by all means, I also hope that you will choose to join in. I am planning to have a fantastic time getting some great pix, relaxing and enjoying the incredible scenery.

Lastly….I am trying to arrange to have a model on location as well. Let me know if you would be interested in photographing and splitting some of the associated costs of having her come along.

 

Sincerely Dale

Digital Imaging

By...Dale Honning

Digital Imaging - Virtual

Tours

- Digital Workshops

303-795-2670

www.DaleHonning.com

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