Getting Some Time Away...Thanks To Some Good Friends

"A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water." 

- Carl Reiner

Okay, so anything look a little different? Come on, guess! Yep, I've modernized my blog design a bit, but I'm not done yet. This is just one modification to kick things off, but its not my end design.

Last week was full of doctor visits getting poked and prodded every single day except for last Monday. I didn't get much of anything done from being in pain for one thing or another, but mainly this trick knee. As my last post detailed, I had some focusing issues. Well, maybe God saw fit to help me out a bit, cause a few friends from my church got me to go out to the Las Vegas 51's baseball home opener last Thursday. I did NOT want to go, but wasn't doing a darn thing when a friend basically told me she was coming to pick me up. So I went. Met some interesting new people, got antagonized and harassed by some kids who seemed to take to me fairly well, and watched the 51's beat a Utah team, 7-3. After the game, there was a tremendous firework display that seemed to last a half hour.

The next morning I went to Zion on a whim with my friend John who was also looking to get away. He pretty much negated every excuse I could muster. It was a good trip. We started out early and got back late. The Narrows was closed due to high water volumes, which was expected because of all the new snow melt. The water was very muddy and I wouldn't have wanted to be in it anyway, not to mention COLD. Being a Saturday, it was crowded as expected. People still walked the mile from the drop-off point just to watch the water. I was amazed at how many people had never seen a squirrel or a deer before. For a brief moment we thought about doing Angel's landing. I'm in need of updating some of my landscape work, but that notion was quickly put to rest when I started feeling the knee. I've got to get some new hiking shoes as well. My toes were rubbing in my boots which are just a bit too large. All in all, it was a good day. We stopped off at my favorite joint, the Cracker Barrel on the way back and for the first time, I had something other than either the pancakes or the Sourdough French toast. They had a grilled fish and shrimp dinner that was pretty darn good.

What's next? I don't know yet. Taking it day by day right now.

Kolob Reservoir and the Narrows

"They came from Salt Lake"

"Thank you, for serving! Peace and Love!" -Tristan

Put another great weekend in the books. Did I say that on the last post? Maybe I did, but the truth is the truth. I took off with Felix and Summer again. This time we headed north up into Utah to Kolob Reservoir. Felix and everyone that went got there on Friday evening, but I didn't arrive til that next Saturday morning. I still had errands to complete before I took off for the weekend. I got to meet some very interesting people... Obrah and Candace, Ed and Ashley, Sally, and a few others. It got kind of chilly, surprisingly, but I guess when you're next to a lake, you should expect that. The place was nice. I tried to swim out to an island about 250 meters out, but I got half way and just barely caught my shorts with my big toe before they were certain to be lost to the murky depths. Granted, I'm used to being naked in front of strangers, but hey...this was in the middle of the day and there were plenty of kids around. I don't expect them to receive a mossy grass-covered naked black man too favorably. Several of us played catch football in the water. Footing was very slippery, so leg stability was lost in trying to get an accurate throw. It was still fun to attempt it.

The following day we packed up and headed into Zion to hike the Narrows. It was my second time hiking upstream again, but I wasn't as motivated to take pictures. All I could think about was getting a model in there. I've got someone in mind whom I have talked extensively with about this project. That would be Liliana, from the Bay area. In fact, I've promised to not shoot any other model for this project unless she turned down the project first. The problem is getting her here. She's offered to forego her usual fees in order to work with me provided I can fly her here and take care of her expenses. I've only recently started working and I am almost afraid I'll miss my window of reasonable weather before I can afford to bring here here and ticket prices are rising by the day. Anybody wishing to make a contribution to my efforts are more than welcome to donate using the Amazon Honor System thingie on the right or Paypal. We'd both appreciate the gesture.

Liliana is a lovely girl and I've thought long and hard on the body type and mentality of the model for this project. I should say durability instead of mentality. What I need is a girl that's a bit more hardy than the standard girl from the city. Liliana has the mentality of doing what it takes to make great art and has endured temperature extremes before. I have no intention of taking her for granted or abusing her, don't get me wrong. I won't let her endanger her health or welfare. I've got some other possibilities for more projects requiring hardy models and would like to involve Isobeau from Salt Lake City.

Speaking of Salt Lake... I ran into a hiking group while doing the narrows. Tristan, Carter, Monica, and Madison were coming in from camping in the backcountry at the Narrows. These guys were hiking the entire length of the Narrows. Most visitors start out at the low end and hike up as far as they want, then turn around. To start at the top, you need an overnight permit because there is no way you're going to hike the whole 16 miles in one span of daylight hours. Then again, it might be worth it to try. I met them way back into the river where very few other park patrons dared tread. I hiked with them a little while before I had to pick up the pace to catch Felix and Summer who were already heading back. Tristan caught me off guard when he thanked me for serving in the military. I was wearing my dog tags, which I frequently do, and I have a tattoo of the 101st Screaming Eagles on my left shoulder. People thank me like this often enough, but its still surprises me, I guess. No one ever told me this while I was serving, I don't think. I've talked to a few other soldiers who share the same sentiments. For me, I guess its still a hard thing to say "You are welcome". In some ways, I know there are more who sacrificed and lost so much, to include their lives. Those are they guys who truly deserve our appreciation and it should be extended to their families. I lam truly looking forward to getting to see Tristan and those guys again. I have every intention of heading up to Salt Lake to shoot and would love to hang out with them there.

After it was all said and done, we got back quite late. Getting up to go to work the next morning was a bear. In addition, I was up all night with Felix again the next night. Being a good friend, Felix offered to fix my breaks. Coming down from the mountain did a number on my brake pads and rotors. I knew I was getting close and needed to have them changed, but coming down the mountain just wore them out. I was pretty much metal on metal by the time I got to the bottom. There was a guy in front of us who chose to do 20mph going down. My breaks couldn't take it. I'm good to go now, thanks to Mr. Felix G!

I thought I'd throw in a face I hadn't seen in quite some time. This is Jacinda, whom I've truly missed photographing. We got to do one shoot, with plans for several more, but... well, she got married and doing nudes wasn't conducive to the feelings of the new hubby. Several people have likened her unto Gretta Garbo. She's got that classic old Hollywood stlye of imagry that seems to come out when I shoot her. Yeah, now that I think about it, I need to make a more concerted effort to return to do a new shoot with Jacinda. Good Gracious, she was good.

More on Zion

Tough week! I hadn't gotten to shoot all month. Two scheduled model interviews ended up having to cancel. Each of these ladies have some interesting styles that I had really looked forward to getting to shoot. The experience provided some content for a good blog post, but I am going save it for this weekend.

As promised, here are a few more pics of my hiking/scouting endeavors from this past weekend. I think I am going back out to do the original trail I had intended to do, up in Kolob Canyon, but the Rangers advised against it due to the recent rains. Angels Landing was my alternate. So this weekend I will revisit Kolob Canyons.

In the spirit of climbing and hiking large red rocks, I thought another image of Natalie would be in order. I intend to try to do some more work with her before it gets cold. I think I will still try to get some fresh faces, shapes, and looks first. Kolob was starting to get pretty chilly in Utah. The weather is already starting to change. I was actually glad I went with Angels Landing. They are both considered to be in Zion National Park, but Angels Landing was considerably warmer and I was not dressed for arctic conditions. Anyway, here's Natalie....Enjoy.

Still Scouting...Angels Landing

This is probably the longest to date I have gone without posting. I blame it on a paper for a telecommunications class I had to write. Its gonna get worse, but I'll try to keep up with my postings for a least a two times a week update. Anyhoo, I have been scouting my butt off for potential photo sites. I have made my third trip to Zion Nation Park in Utah, which is about 2 hrs away from me. Last weekend, the 15th, I hiked the Emerald Pools trails. I liked them, but I have found that right now is not the best of time to shoot. Its a way too public place as everyone does those trails. I still had to see it so it wasnt a wasted trip. In fact, I am certain, I could get some shots in if I hit them early in the morning. The upper pool was the best place to shoot if you're going to attempt it.

This past weekend, the 23rd, I did Angels Landing. My initial goal was Taylor Creek Trail out at Kolob Canyons, but the rain had made the trails nasty, so we opted to turn around and head back towards the main entrance. Angels Landing kicked my butt and then some. Its about 4 miles round trip, but the ascent is ridiculous. It zig-zags straight up about 1500 feet before you even get to Angels Landing. If you can picture a mountain with the sides sheered off leaving a narrow strip that leads up to the top and rounds out to the other side...thats Angels Landing. I know the pic does it no justice but it gives you an idea. I will post some more pics of the trip later in the week. My girlfriend went with me this time after she got tired of me hitting the road without her so much. Ironically enough, her name is Angel. We joked that we didnt want the trail name to have any new meanings!

On another note, I have still been getting inquires about Trisha, but I have also gotten a few about this girl in the water. Many like her vivaciousness. Someone said the photo was refreshing! This was done with a friend I dont have much contact with anymore, so I probably wont have any more pics of her in the near future, but who knows. If I get the chance to shoot her again, rest assured I will. I didn't get many good shots with her. I did maybe two rolls with her for a spontaneous shoot. I guess you can tell by looking at her that she'd be like that. In the meantime, I will try to get word to her that she's been reqested and see if we can make it happen. See, I try to accomodate.

The Narrows - Zion National Park

So this is me, hiking the Narrows at Zion National Park on Labor Day weekend. The place was quite crowded until you hiked farther and farther into the Narrows. This is a section of the Virgin River which has carved its way deep into the canyon walls. The website says the hike is 60% in water. Don't believe it. I was easily in the water 93.7% of the time. Which wasn't bad at all if you like walking on bowling balls size rocks...and actually, I do. Well, maybe not for as long as I was in it for. You can easily roll an ankle.

The place is abosolutely beautiful. Beautiful is actually an understatement. You are awe-struck by the sheer magnitude of the canyon walls and are amazed at the power of the water to create such a gorge out of the earth and rock.

The purpose of this trip was a scouting expedition. I wanted to visit more areas that I know I want to shoot in. Zion is full of possible locales. Its going to take me a while to check out all the places I want to see. Emerald Pools, has 3 different trails and I want to do some at Angel's Landing. The Narrows takes priority. I can basically do the other trails anytime, but to do the Narrows, my model is going to have to get wet and thats not the best thing to do when it gets cold. I can handle one or the other, but I hate being cold and wet at the same time. I get flashbacks to my Army days.

I got to meet several people including two who want to consider modeling for me. I also met some new friends from Romania, Bogdan and his wife Irina (spelling may be off). We got to hang out for the last quarter of the hike and even afterwards, we did another mile hike at the canyon overlook. I did it barefoot because my boots had worn sores on my achilles tendons. It wasnt so bad. All in all, I got to see where I wanted to bring a model and place her. The trick is going to be in finding someone willing to drive out 2 hours away and then walk against the current and over huge rocks. Old women and kids were out doing it over this weekend, so its really not that bad, but we'd have to go deep enough into the Narrows as to avoid the public. Doing it during the week may help with that. I didnt do the whole thing which is 16 miles at an estimated 10-14 hours. I am not sure how far I did but I hiked for 5 hours. Any takers?