Photo Trip to the Southwest of the US

maddog

Hi All,

I'm going to the southwest of the US to capture all the best locations in the ares of Nevada, Utah and California and some not so famous.
I'm just wondering if anyone would be interested in coming along? I have just booked my flight for under 500 Euro going for two weeks, I will include tuition if needed..... mind you I'm only at this 1 year but I will share my knowledge on aspects of landscape photography.

This is a unique opportunity to do this trip on the cheap as we will share expenses on car hire, fuel and accommodation ( Bear in mind that we will be camping in some places for Astro photography and sunrise shots) so it will be cheaper yet again.

Places of interest to me is:
The Slot canyons
Bryce Canyon National Park
Badlands National Park
Yosemite National Park
Mono Lake
Arches National Park
Monument Canyon

Dates of Travel:
Wed, 12 Sep 2012 to Wed, 26 Sep 2012

So Anyone tempted on what might be a trip of a lifetime? Pm me here on boards if you think this is for you?


Regards,
Bren

magicbastarder

you know there's a waiting list to camp in yosemite?

maddog

magicbastarder wrote: »

you know there's a waiting list to camp in yosemite?

Yes :-) Like most stuff you have to apply for permits:cool::cool:

Mjollnir

maddog wrote: »

Hi All,

I'm going to the southwest of the US to capture all the best locations in the ares of Nevada, Utah and California and some not so famous.
I'm just wondering if anyone would be interested in coming along? I have just booked my flight for under 500 Euro going for two weeks, I will include tuition if needed..... mind you I'm only at this 1 year but I will share my knowledge on aspects of landscape photography.

This is a unique opportunity to do this trip on the cheap as we will share expenses on car hire, fuel and accommodation ( Bear in mind that we will be camping in some places for Astro photography and sunrise shots) so it will be cheaper yet again.

Places of interest to me is:
The Slot canyons
Bryce Canyon National Park
Badlands National Park
Yosemite National Park
Mono Lake
Arches National Park
Monument Canyon

Dates of Travel:
Wed, 12 Sep 2012 to Wed, 26 Sep 2012

So Anyone tempted on what might be a trip of a lifetime? Pm me here on boards if you think this is for you?


Regards,
Bren

I have been to (and go to) all those places quite frequently for photography, and you're talking about HUGE distances here and a LOT of driving. And it's a lot more than just the Southwest if you're talking about Badlands (South flippin' Dakota) to Yosemite.

My advice would be to pick two or three places in close proximity to go to and stick around them, giving yourself the opportunity to get them at the best times, not having to worry about driving times and whether you'll miss sunsets, etc...

For example, Yosemite, Mono Lake, Mt. Whitney and SEKI/Death Valley are all close(r) to each other, and give you huge variety. Hell, for that matter, the White Mountains are right there with the famous Bristlecone Pine groves. Once you see the Owens Valley, you'll never forget it.

Or stick with the area between Page, AZ, where the slot canyons and Alstrom Point are, and Monument Valley with Cedar Mesa and Valley of the Gods (just as good as Monument Valley, not as famous).

Or just spend your time between Zion, Bryce, Cedar Breaks, and Arches.

Believe me, they're all really great places, and I'm lucky to live so close to them, living in Los Angeles, but do yourself a favor and concentrate on just a few.

maddog

Mjollnir wrote: »

I have been to (and go to) all those places quite frequently for photography, and you're talking about HUGE distances here and a LOT of driving. And it's a lot more than just the Southwest if you're talking about Badlands (South flippin' Dakota) to Yosemite.

My advice would be to pick two or three places in close proximity to go to and stick around them, giving yourself the opportunity to get them at the best times, not having to worry about driving times and whether you'll miss sunsets, etc...

For example, Yosemite, Mono Lake, Mt. Whitney and SEKI/Death Valley are all close(r) to each other, and give you huge variety. Hell, for that matter, the White Mountains are right there with the famous Bristlecone Pine groves. Once you see the Owens Valley, you'll never forget it.

Or stick with the area between Page, AZ, where the slot canyons and Alstrom Point are, and Monument Valley with Cedar Mesa and Valley of the Gods (just as good as Monument Valley, not as famous).

Or just spend your time between Zion, Bryce, Cedar Breaks, and Arches.

Believe me, they're all really great places, and I'm lucky to live so close to them, living in Los Angeles, but do yourself a favor and concentrate on just a few.

Thanks for that Mjollnir, I made a mistake and meant Monument Valley and not the canyons:o:o but I see your point I plan to fly into Vegas and drive to Page and spend seven or eight odd days in that area and then head back towards Vegas and do Death Valley Junction heading up to Mono lakes then cutting into Yosemite:):)
I actually added you as a contact on Flickr last night...in the hope that maybe you'd be interested in meeting up at some point....to get that local knowledge....cheeky I know...but if you don't ask and all that:D:D:D


Bren:)

artyeva

first of all - you lucky absolute b******!!! i'd love that.

if you're flying into vegas you should ease into it by checking out the valley of fire when you arrive, easily accesible half day trip while you get over the jet lag and while on a much much smaller scale that all the other places you have in mind, is still pretty cool.

well, i liked it.



but then i didn't have enough time [or money] to go to the places you mentioned - the farthest i got was up route 66 as far as the grand canyon - on one of the worst days imaginable - got stuck in a freak hail/snow storm on the way and by the time i got there i couldn't see two feet away

Mjollnir

maddog wrote: »

Thanks for that Mjollnir, I made a mistake and meant Monument Valley and not the canyons:o:o but I see your point I plan to fly into Vegas and drive to Page and spend seven or eight odd days in that area and then head back towards Vegas and do Death Valley Junction heading up to Mono lakes then cutting into Yosemite:):)
I actually added you as a contact on Flickr last night...in the hope that maybe you'd be interested in meeting up at some point....to get that local knowledge....cheeky I know...but if you don't ask and all that:D:D:D


Bren:)

As artyeva recommended, if you're flying into that steaming turd called Las Vegas, you'll never forgive yourself for not seeing Valley Of Fire.

And if you're interested in slot canyons (Upper Antelope, Lower Antelope, Canyon X, etc...) and can afford their price, you need to avail yourself to the amazing Charly Moore, who owns Overland Canyon Tours, esp. for Upper Antelope. A former East German, he's on really close terms with the tribes there (who own all the land the canyons are on) is a great guy besides and knows the area religiously and intimately. Looks like a Harley bike gang member, but is the real deal, the business.

http://www.overlandcanyontours.com/



I'd be happy to meet up, depending on when/where you are. I've been going to Yosemite since I was 2, and I always love bringing people there who haven't seen it yet. It's like a different sort of Grand Canyon. Until you're actually there, it's just a story. And as far as Mono Lake goes, I can set you straight on where to go.

That said, at the risk of boring you, once you see the Owens Valley, and the east side, as it's known locally, it will be like an Alpha/Omega moment. US 395 is something to behold.

But keep in mind: Yosemite is like the Vatican. Everybody wants to cram in there. We always stay either at Camp Curry or at my family's ranch outside the park. Getting actual campsites is something I've never had to do but it's possible.

For anyone who really wants to get experts' opinions of almost anything about the park, including campsites, go here: http://yosemitenews.info/forum/list.php?3

And, beyond that, there are two major sections of the park: the valley, and Tuolumne Meadows. One high, one low.

waldo

Where do you fly into? I've travelled to the southwest every year for the past 6 years. I'll try and suggest some ideas. I'd second what Mjollnir has said, distances are great and you don't want to spend 6-8 hours in the car every day.

Paulw

With that trip, unless you have a month, you'll spend more time driving than you will taking photos, and that is just wrong.

I've done most of those sites, over time. I was in Yosemite last year, just for two days, and it was brilliant. You can stay not too far away and then just drive in each day. A lot easier than trying to stay in the park.

Utah was brilliant. But, you might be better just sticking to a few parks. For that, we flew in/out of Salt Lake City. Drove down to Zion, Bryce, then across to Arches. Stunning scenes and well worth doing.

Hopefully I'll get back again soon and do some more.

gloobag

I'd nearly consider it, but I don't drive, and I'm assuming you're looking for someone to share driving duties?

That, and I'm crap at landscapes. I would love to do something similar sometime in my life but with a more people oriented approach. Just photographing whatever characters I come across, and can convince to let me shoot, along the way.

Still very jealous of your trip though. I have no doubt you'll do great things over there.

michellemuncher

I agree that you shouldn't try to fit the yosemite area in with the Utah area, not unless you have well over a month. I have been to both areas on two separate trips and they were both excellent but especially the southwest because I travelled with an American photographer and we both wanted to shoot the same kinda things.

My favourite area was Moab, which was where we based ourselves to visit Arches National Park and Canyonlands. They are truly stunning natural environments and I'd highly recommend them. The grand Canyon is also excellent but you wont get photos that everyone hasn't seen a million times, although I did get an unusual angle by going out at midnight to shoot it by moonlight which was very cool, in both senses of the word. If you're interested to see, this is my flickr set of the trip : http://www.flickr.com/photos/7270471@N07/sets/72157625344733329/

Nebezpeci Mys

Hi Bren,

firstly, let me tell you how much I envy you. I know I shouldn't - we did something similar last year and the year before, but I still do; simply for the fact that I loved every single moment of each of the trips.

My advice would be 2-fold; do a good bit of 'google-mapping' and be very realistic allowing plenty of time for any kind of photostops. We compiled a wishlist of places we definitely wanted to go to, then connected the dots on google earth and then searched for other places along the route that we thought were worth a stop. We had nearly 3 weeks in the camper and our daily min. driving distance was set at 300km which is well doable. In the end that proved to be ideal as it comfortably fitted in the time we had; we drove more than 5,000km in 17 days.

As for the camping in Yosemite, we just parked up beside the road outside the park boundaries - unless there is a sign that you can't park overnight, you are fairly safe. Just keep all your food safely away - you don't want to attract the bears.

Oh, and if you are looking for good & cheap places to eat, get Yelp on your phone - that proved to be invaluable app for our food searches.

My pix are nowhere near as good as Mjollnir's but if you fancy a look, there is a good few albums on my pix.ie.

Happy travels!:D

Paulw

The thread has sorta spurred me on to do something similar, but on a much much smaller scale.

I'm thinking of just doing Arizona. Sedona, Antelope Canyon, and such places. A lot less driving.

Paulw

Well, I booked a trip to the US.

Flying to Phoenix, AZ, then taking a trip up to Sedona. Doing an organised photo tour that will take me from there up through some Hopi reservation lands. Then I will have just over a week, to travel up to Utah. I plan to go via Monument Valley and Arches.

Going from 13th Oct until 26th Oct. Flights only cost me €500.

Anyone interested in joining me??

Strawberry Swan

That's a great price. Good luck, you'll love it.

Paulw

Been before, so looking forward to doing it again, but better this time, I hope.