Cactus garden along the river, a photo from Arizona, West

Photographer's Note

You are still with me on my "virtual hike" down to the Colorado river and this is the first time you can see it.

I would like to explain you the difference between hiking in Slovakia (or other mountainous country) and hiking in the Grand Canyon.
1) first difference is abnormal heat, im sure its possible to see it from last posted pictures.
2) maybe you´ll expect more colours, but in the Canyon everything is mainly orange and "hot" ;)
3) almost no trees or grass in the Canyon desert, only dust and cactuses.
4) last and main difference.
When i hike at home, first way is up, its always difficult to climb but im full of motivation to reach the top and see something majestic. Just then i go down, with satisfied feeling that i made it.
In the Canyon your first way is down, you are still full of motivation to see something unexpected there, but we all know, going down is much less tyring than going up. You get to the very bottom, see the Colorado and the Phantom ranch in 50 degrees, spend there at least 3 hours there cause you cant go back in the midday heat and just then you can climb up, with satisfied feeling but no motivation left.. :)

So think about these "pros and cons" and just then decide to hike in the Grand Canyon :)

martou, Floydian, alekpet, kabo, Paolo, andante, Cuba-Junky, Cretense, imrek, Luan, siolaw, linask, pboehringer has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

martou (1660) 2006-06-01 3:05

bonjour Veronika,
really nice view and composition, the exposure is well managed, superb photo of this superb place, good work,
bravo Martin

Floydian (30970) 2006-06-01 3:48

Hi Veronika,
Hard light, very hard, but i like it.
For me personal these high saturated and full contrast USA pictures is something i am always aiming at.
You did well on this one, great depth to the bottom of the Canyon.
Really nice...
Regards, Henk

kabo (356) 2006-06-01 4:00

Ahoj Fevero ! ;p
Super fotka , strasne sa mi pacia tie farby a ta rodinka kaktusssssov je uplne skvela:)
len tak dalej ! :P
pekny den ;p
KaBO

alekpet (4663) 2006-06-01 4:10

Hi Veronika.

Unusually rich coloured photo from this place.
Saturation is unbeleaivabe, but still enough low, in order to see details, specially on the cactii. Very good job.

Enjoy your day, Aleks

Paolo (41258) 2006-06-01 4:30

Hi Veronika, nice shot. just a little bit too saturated, but with an amazing view down the canyon and a fantastic gamma of red tones.
excellent POV.
thanks, ciao

Gustaw (21670) 2006-06-01 5:23

Hallo Veronika!
Beautiful photo, very nice colours, good shot!
Marek

sebinho342 (19329) 2006-06-01 5:27

Hi Vero, for our health it shoould be an obligation to go down this site and hike up each morning after breakfast and before going to work ;))
It reminsd me a very similar picture in your gallery when you were not gold labelled ;) I definitely love those "red and warm colors" :))
Have a great day princess lemon

breo (167) 2006-06-01 6:12

Ktovie ci sa z tychto kaktusov da robit tequila. Ak hej tak by bola urcite tak vynikajuca ako toto foto. U mna mas plne 2 body :).

nika (0) 2006-06-01 6:34

So i would try both because despite "pros" and "cons" both seem to interesting and worthwhile to live .Maybe they are antagonic experiencies but with this picture , the colours (or maybe the orange-red mutation ) is astounding . The compo is well balanced in depth of field and the greeness with the cactus(and spotless blue sky ) suits finely to contrast the blasts of reds the Grand canyon provides .

Kisses for the princesita de amarillo ;)(more spanglish for you )

Cuba-Junky (2817) 2006-06-01 9:00

Hi Veronika,
Never have visited the Grand Canyon but his must have been a stunning view I'm sure.
Great shot and the cactusses are a nice extra for a great POV and depth in the picture
:)
An

Cretense (68709) 2006-06-01 9:20

Hola Veronica!
Como puedo ver, a lo largo de mi ausencia, has regrasado a mi tema querido, el Grand Canyon. Esa es una de tus mejores fotos. El rojo "quema" y me hace sudar y sentir el calor intolerable (asimismo tu nueva foto en el intro). Bromas aparte, la composicion es excellente y la posicion del cacto ideal. Muy buena nota tambien.
Besos,
Hercules

imrek (4) 2006-06-01 9:56

Hi Vero,
nicely composed shot and well saturated colours...I like it!!!
regards,
imre

Luan (12971) 2006-06-01 14:50

Hello Vero,
I want to visit this place one day, it is quite incredible by looking at your nice picture, but in real, it shoul be awesome. A beautiful view over the red rocks.
Take care
Luan

sergecross (3438) 2006-06-01 15:23

Vero, i like this picture and the red balance looks great in this series. I like the sky tone color too.
Thanks
Sergio

Wahclellaspirit (4125) 2006-06-02 3:09

Hello Veronika,
Very good image showing the rough terrain and colors of the Grand Canyon. The colors do lead one to believe that the temperature of this immense area is very hot and unbearable in the afternoon sun. The Cactus only places the final stamp on the unwelcoming terrain that you will find as you find yourself drained as you trek to the bottom of the canyon, and then back again.
I like the image as it does inded tell the story of this beautiful but treacherous location, very good exposure and crop.....
Steve

siolaw (38294) 2006-06-03 0:44

Hello Veronika!
A real nice compo with those green cactii in the middle of that orange domination...I sweat from the heat by only looking your photo!
Good POV and DOF keeping all in focus... and a very good note... to tell you the truth.... i think i ve just decided NOT to hike the canyon!!! ;D
Regards
laurent

capthaddock (28790) 2006-06-03 14:09

Hi Veronika -wonderful catch, a patch of green in a sea of red, nice vivid colours, perhaps the whole thing can be darkened a little.

pboehringer (770) 2006-06-07 8:57

Very nice shot with outstanding POV. I like the little green sign of live in the middle of the red desert. Amazingly saturated picture.
Many, many years ago I was also at Grand Canyon, however during winter. So, the first part of your note didn't apply to me :-), but I also experienced this weird sensation of going full of motivation down and then exhausted up.

marietom (34611) 2006-07-26 5:02 [Comment]