Utah became the 45th state to join the United States on January 4, 1896. The capital city is Salt Lake City. The highest point is Kings Peak at 13,528 feet.

Road Trip 2013 - Day 12 - June 22 - Island in the Sky, Canyonlands (Previous 2013 Road Trip posts: Indiana Dunes, De Immigrant, Amana Colonies, Des Moines, Madison County Roads, Bridges of Madison County, White Pole Road, Great Platte River Road Archway Monument, Golden Spike Tower & Union Pacific's Bailey Rail Yard, Loveland Pass, The Resting Day at Powderhorn, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Cimarron, Colorado National Monument, Fruita Rodeo, Arches National Park, Grand Junction, Grand Mesa Creek, Arches National Park Add-On)

Look through the Mesa ArchIsland in the Sky, Canyonlands National Park Canyonlands National Park, located in the southeastern corner of Utah, is spread over a very large area and is divided into districts, each offering a whole different experience. Island in the Sky in the park's north is high above the canyons and offers expansive scenic views of the land below. It is squeezed between two rivers, the Green River to the west and the Colorado River to the east. The other districts of the park are Needles, Maze, Horseshoe Canyon, Rivers.

Canyonlands is not as famous as the Grand Canyon in Arizona, or some of the other parks in southern Utah like Bryce or Zion. You don't hear people planning a vacation at Canylonlands (at least not here on the East Coast). Even for us it remained illusive for a long time. Over time, we made it to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, the North Rim, Monument Valley, Zion, and Bryce. We never made it north enough to visit Canyonlands. On this road trip, Arches National Park had a priority too, as well as the Colorado National Monument due to proximity to our base. Now that we needed to make it from our base in Mesa, Colorado to the Mesa Verde National Park, a route had to be established. Long story short, the fact that it laid so conveniently located near Utah Route 191, which offered a nice detour through Utah between the two Colorado destinations, won us over.

Textures in the WoodCanyonlands Seeing the whole park was out of the question and we decided to focus on the Island in the Sky and see as much of the area as possible in one day. Being there still before the main summer travel season certainly helped a lot and even the better known areas and viewpoints allowed for exploration free of crowds, and often free of any people at all, even if just for several minutes. That was the case even by the Mesa Arch where we arrived as another family was leaving. We had plenty of time to enjoy the spot on our own, pose family photos, and capture several angles of the American Southwest classic looks of the red rock.

I am a sucker not only for rock formations, but for strange and spooky "formations" created by dead trees, cacti, and other plants. And these fit in the desert very well in my opinion adding a sense of danger to the dry desert look. I usually focus on their spooky shapes placing them as a photo foreground to add to the story of the landscape captured with a wide lens. However, details also often call for attention as was the case with the tree in the photo on the left. It's lack of color provided a nice contrast to the prevalent reds yet reinforced the same message of the effect of water deficiency. With close ups like this I always find it intriguing how much even the slightest move of the camera matters. The tiniest shift in position or an angle can change the composition so much!

As we moved through the park I realized what a wonderful surprise this visit was. Planned only as a possibility and not included in the itinerary until the very last moment Island in the Sky impressed me. There was so much to see and the views were extraordinary. In my opinion they easily rivaled those of the Grand Canyon. The drops of the individual canyons were dramatic with the cliff walls tall and steep. They also connected an intriguing maze of interconnected canyons painting an abstract pattern into the top plateau where the erosion started its carving process a long time ago.

The Canyons BelowGlimpse into Geologic Past I also felt the park's views were the missing piece in between to explain the erosion process. Reading about it is one thing but seeing it is another. In Grand Canyon, despite its sheer size, there is no doubt about the canyon being carved out into the rock by the Colorado River and the forces of erosion. In Monument Valley, the whole concept seems impossible to grasp as relatively few rock formations stand tall above a huge expanse of land below. There, they seem more like hills or mountains pushed up from the land. It does not seem possible that hundreds of square miles of flat land would be the result of erosion with just a few rocks defying the process and towering over the land that lost the battle.

In Canyonlands, I found both types of views. I could find areas of what clearly used to be a flat land with narrow deep canyons carved into it. I could also find other areas where a wide canyon had tall rock formations raising above their floors with no apparent "ceiling" that used to exist. And these areas were close to each other, with sections being a blend or in between.

I really enjoyed all focal lengths I had available switching between wide views and telephoto "close ups" often resulting in abstract patterns that the forces of nature left behind in the land. The distant mountains struck me again too.  They provided food for thought about how areas so different can be such close and good neighbors.

The Snaking CulpritGreen River

Green River, the Snaking Culprit - Green River Overlook, Island in the Sky, Canyonlands National Park

And in closing, a view I have always enjoyed. If there is water to be found in the desert I want to see it and photograph it. There is something mysterious about it! Here in Canyonlands, that water was the Green River, a tributary to the Colorado River. The river that started working on this natural wonder a long time ago and is still tirelessly at it today. The river, the culprit caught in the act.

If another road trip takes us within a stone's throw of the Canyonlands we will be less likely to hesitate and leave things for a last minute decision and more likely to include some of the other districts of the park into our itinerary. The 2013 road trip gave us a wonderful preview and a teaser to stay with us until we are back for more.

Have fun on your trips!

References: Places to Go in Canyonlands on NPS, Utah on 50states.com

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Green Lake BluesWinter's Absence Just a few days ago I drove past Green Lake in Orchard Park, NY after dusk and saw a nice thin layer of ice on it. It was dark though with no color left in the cloudy sky. Checking the forecast I saw a significant warm up was on the way. I set the alarm to be there before sunrise the next day hoping the above freezing temperature and possibly some rain would not completely melt that beautiful icy layer. I wanted to try to shoot against the rising sun and put some color on it for a new look of the lake I had not captured yet.

When I arrived it was still very dark but I could see right away that my plans were thwarted. The layer of ice was gone and in the distance a few patches of ice were floating around. No snow, no ice, there was not going to be a winter photo.

I took a walk around the lake, explored the area around the dam and the fishing pier and returned back to the beach where I saw a nice rock sticking out of the water. Wide views did not work for me that morning so I focused on details and my minimalist mood set in. I spent quite a while positioning the tripod and the camera for a placement of the rock where I liked it, against the gap in the tree reflection. Right there I knew this one would be a square format and I composed accordingly.

There was no wind, the lake and the air were perfectly calm, and I liked how that made the protruding rock stand out even more. And while my original intention was to get some wild colors reflected of the now gone layer of ice I was happy with the cloudy blues I was getting instead.

Glimpse of SunriseGreen Lake

Then, just for the briefest of moments, the rising sun managed to find some thinner clouds and a sliver of color showed up on the eastern sky. I quickly moved back to the dam and captured at least a documentary shot of that morning that was close to my intended composition but lacked the winter ingredients and even wilder colors.

The colors disappeared quickly and permanently for the day as clouds took reign. I circled back around the lake looking along the shore if I could find some left over ice. And in a few areas, there was some! Like a child I got excited by the about 4 square feet of very thin ice and spent quite a while tuning my composition trying to keep it very simple again with no distracting elements along the edges of the photo.

Last Ice StandingGreen Lake

When I was ready to call it I noticed that the geese were having fun too. In one area where it visually looked like there was no ice left they were jumping from the shore, landing on the invisible ice layer and sliding in a cumbersome way. And the next one, and the next. I called it goose skating and enjoyed the sight for several more minutes. I did not have my telephoto with me so photos were out of question but it was fun. I know it goes against many theories but I bet the geese had fun doing it!

Have fun too!

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Discover Buffalo Niagara2015 Calendar

Do you live in Buffalo, NY or around and don't have one of these yet? It is not too late. You can head out to Barnes and Noble, Wegmans, Dash's Markets, Premier Gourmet, Hallmark, Vidler's, and other places to get one (or several to serve as presents).

These are not just regular generic calendars. They completely focus on Buffalo, present local photography from several local photographers along with Behind the Photo stories, and include over 400 local events right on the calendar to provide inspiration as far as where to go and what to do, as well as a complete event index at the back of the calendar. Every Buffalonian should have one!

Discover Buffalo Niagara2015 Calendar Back Cover

For 2015, you will find three of my photographs included, as well as photographs from 7 other local photographers showcasing our beautiful city and how it is changing. In three photographs you will also leave the city limits and travel to natural locations that are within a stone's throw: Niagara Falls, and Letchworth State Park.

Thank you all, have a wonderful time and enjoy the Holidays!

Using my links to buy your equipment keeps me going and costs you nothing. You can also use the Amazon search box in bottom left for anything not mentioned here. Thank you very much, I really appreciate it!

The photo on the calendar cover is © Kevin Wojcik displayed with the permission of the calendar publisher.