Sunfish Pond

I had it in my mind last week that I was going to go for a hike (dammit).  Not just a walk, or a stroll, but a real hike.  It had been years since I last made the trek to Sunfish Pond, a beautiful, woodsy place along the Appalachian Trail, and that was where I would make tracks to.  And again, I decided that my camera was going to come with me.  Due to a recent promotion, I am both energized and stressed out.  Although I woke up on Saturday morning sore and tired, I knew that if I didn't toss aside all responsibility and get lost in the woods, I would be worse off both mentally and physically.

The weather was cloudy and unusually warm for early November as Leo and I took the first steps along an eight mile long loop.  I had hoped for sunnier conditions- better lighting for the camera, you know.  I took my first few shots with a rather resigned feeling of documenting our journey rather than  of creating art.  Most of the trees up north were bare, but what foliage remains is exceptionally vibrant in its coloration.  We followed Dunnfield Creek, a noisy and swift-running stream with plenty of little waterfalls along the way.  Its valley is humid and excellent habitat for moss and other moisture loving plants.  I'm inclined to say that the photo below is the best shot of the expedition, due to its composition and interesting focus on the middle ground.

While I'm out and about in the great wide world, I'm always looking for beauty in the details.  As I commute to work, I'm forever noticing neat cloud formations  and other beautiful scenery.  I can't help myself, and I'm grateful that this is such a prominent part of who I am.  Being outdoors in such great and natural loveliness is nearly a religious experience for me.  "This is great," I said to Leo over and over.  "It's so good to be out here."  It's immersive- the musky, exciting scent of leaf-mould, the sharp, fresh autumn air filling my lungs, the chilly breeze rustling the few leaves left on the trees.

The pond is a popular spot.  I'd say we saw about thirty other hikers total in the area of this, our halfway point in the hike.  Sunfish Pond is the result of a glacier carving a deep, broad depression in the mountain itself.  The water is clear and calm, and sound carries far.  One day, Leo and I are going to hike the entire Appalachian Trail.  This is one of many beautiful precursors to that end goal.  Get out there, take a good camera or sketchbook with you, and let the outdoors fill you with wonder and inspiration.

Cliff and Cloud: Photos of the American Southwest (Part 1)

Two weeks ago, I traveled to Las Vegas with my dearest friend and partner.  Las Vegas itself was not the main attraction for us, but rather the amazing natural surroundings nearby.  We spent two days on, in, and around the Grand Canyon's South Rim.  My Nikon D300 made the trip with us, and I fancied myself an Ansel Adams in the making.  The light was so clear and bright that I rarely took a photo below an aperture setting of f/16.  I had my camera on manual focus except when I saw interesting birds or animals that I feared I wouldn't be fast enough to capture.  Most of my photos were taken while hiking, which was an awe-inspiring experience both on the Bright Angel Trail and later when we traveled to Zion National Park and hiked (almost) to Angel's Landing.  It's difficult to acknowledge such huge landscapes as reality, especially coming from the tree-carpeted Northeast.  What I found even more difficult was successfully conveying the immensity of the earth and the sense of just how small you are in such a landscape.  I found it exhilarating to stand in the dry desert air and know just how much beauty there was for me to discover.

Our hike began with a thunderstorm that left hail on the trail.  All the hail had melted by the time we hiked back up.

Western scrub jay

If you want to camp at the bottom of the canyon, you can hire mules to carry your gear.

This was a very friendly spiny lizard that ran between my legs as I was photographing it.  We also saw many less cooperative whiptails.

Looking down at Indian Garden.

Courting spiny lizards.

Saw a swallow narrowly avoid being dinner for two peregrine hawks right after taking this photo!