Red Rock Canyon Natural Conservation Area

I live ten minutes from this incredibly diverse park in the Mojave Desert. Lying at the base of the Spring Mountains has created many micro climates within the park. One of my favorite places to see this is the hike into Fern Canyon. This canyon has one thousand foot sandstone cliffs on both sides with a fern-lined creek flowing through it. This picture was taken last week when the snow melt was at its peak for the year.

Zion National Park 2008

Living a short drive south of Zion National Park has led to many visits within the past several years. These trips have allowed me to get to know Zion on a personal level. Of all the times of year that I have been there, fall is my favorite time of year to be in the park. The crowds are gone and the colors are unbelievable. The golden yellow of the Ash and Cottonwood trees make everything underneath them glow with an incredible warmth. When I went this year I tried to focus on an intimate approach to my photographs. Whether I included the Virgin River or tree details, I was very pleased with my results. This picture was taken on my hike to Observation Point. As I turned a corner in the trail, I could not believe the colors in front of me. The Big-Leaf Maples were incredible this year.

Virgin River by Temple of Sinawava