Canyonlands Sunrise

This is another one of those photos that needs to be viewed in a larger size to see the detail in the wood. You cannot find a more scenic area in the world that compares to Arizona and Utah. No wonder there are traffic jams getting into Arches National Park. But you don't have to go to Arches to see fabulous landscapes.

Slick Rock Rocks

Here is the big question. How did these large sandstone boulders get on top of this section of slick rock? I guess you might speculate that these particular boulders just happen to be slightly more resistant to erosion than the huge expanse of slick rock but that just raises another series of questions as to why the slick rock erodes to an almost level surface. If you are walking on this sandstone, it is not really "slick." It is actually quite rough and easy to walk on. It might be slick in wet weather or if it were covered in ice, but that begs the issue.

The Last of the Sunset

The days are shorter and shorter so it seems that the sunsets are coming around faster each day. Sometimes the light is almost gone when the last of the color is still in the clouds. I liked the very pastel look of this cloud and tried to capture it before the last of the light was gone. Not only are the days getting shorter, but it is colder, so if I run outside to take a photo without a coat, I soon decide that it wasn't a very good idea.

Flying Over the Y

My wife and I stood outside near our home a while ago and watched a hang glider circle overhead. I realized that he or she was going to pass right over the very visible Y on the side of Y Mount and I waited to take the shot until both the glider and the Y were together. It was a beautiful clear day, but late in the afternoon and I am sure that the glider pilot was bundled up because of the cold. The Y is a giant painted symbol of the very close Brigham Young University which is often referred to as the "Y."

Fall Leaves in Transition

Just before the snow began to fall and before the owner of these beautiful leaves could rake them up, I captured this evening shot of the leaves under a huge maple tree. Within a short time, they had all been piled up and were on their way to becoming compost. Sometimes extraordinary events are the most transitory.

Snowfall Out My Window

The first major snowfall of the winter of 2015-2016 finally showed up in mid-November. Snow accumulations were not very significant this early in the morning, but it was scheduled to continue all day. The little Maple tree that had such beautiful Fall leaves looks pretty cold and sad in the snow. The vinca menor never loses its bright green color, all through the winter. The trees that have yet to lose their leaves, may also lose some branches. It looks like travel will be interesting today.

The Fallen

The last of the leaves are now falling to the ground outside my window. The background is vinca minor also known as Periwinkle or sometimes Myrtle. This vinca minor plant grows rapidly all over the hillside next to our house. The tree that dropped these leaves is most likely a Sugar Maple. It was probably planted here since it is not a native to the Wasatch Front.