This past spring, I embarked on, what turned out to be, a very productive 23-day photo expedition to the American Southwest and Oregon. While I have many images yet to process from that trip, the following are some of the works I have completed during the busy summer show season:

"Winter's Last Stand" - Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah

This photograph is among the first chronologically that I captured on the trip. I explored Dead Horse Point and found this scene after a night during which I set up camp in a snowfall. Yes, you know it was a slow spring when leaving Minnesota for Utah in mid-April doesn't take you away from snow!

The remnants of snow resting on the shrubbery were from the last snowfall I experienced this past spring, hence the title. The river seen below is the mighty Colorado River, which carves through the Grand Canyon over 200 miles downstream from here.

Portions of nine different shots were incorporated into this panorama to achieve a wider field of view with high resolution.

"Edge of Dusk" - Horseshoe Bend, near Page, AZ

Horseshoe Bend is one of the icons of the Southwest where the Colorado River, deep within Glen Canyon, makes a nearly 360° meander in the shape of a horseshoe. I was fortunate to be there on a gorgeous spring evening, standing at the edge of a 1,000-foot precipice, to view the sun set over this stunning geologic marvel. Some people seem to experience acrophobia (fear of heights) while standing near the cliff's edge. I didn't — but then again, I kept a safe distance and didn't stand on any questionable ledges. This image was made by manually blending two consecutive exposures for increased tonal definition.

"Antelope Dream" - Lower Antelope Canyon, near Page, AZ

One of my favorite subjects to photograph in the American Southwest is the slot canyon. These canyons, formed by erosion of Navajo sandstone from flash floods, contain some of the most beautiful and unusual geologic formations on Earth, as well as amazing light! Sunlight bounces off the swirling sandstone walls of these deep and very narrow canyons, creating peach, orange, red, pink, and violet hues that are a feast for the eyes.


Canyon X is a slot canyon that, in many ways, resembles nearby Antelope Canyon with its smooth and intricate sandstone formations within a deep, narrow chasm. One thing that sets this canyon apart from Antelope Canyon is the lack of crowds, due to its more remote location and the need to hire a guide to drive you there in an off-road vehicle. Due to its location on Navajo land, it is also off-limits to unaccompanied visitors.

Here are a few images from the American West that I processed over the winter...


"Mount Moran and Mergansers"

I captured this image on an evening last spring in Grand Teton National Park. I wasn't treated to dramatic skies during my time in the park, but this image evokes a feeling of serenity, with the Mergansers paddling on the calm waters of Oxbow Bend as the last light of day slowly slips away.

 "Chapel and Cathedral Group"

Like many people, I find a certain appeal in rustic structures from an earlier era, especially those exuding beauty for their simplicity.

I captured this photograph of the Chapel of the Transfiguration last May in Grand Teton National Park. This chapel, built in 1925, actually predates the park it now resides within by four years and was constructed by local ranchers to serve guests and employees of the dude ranches north of Jackson, Wyoming. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the chapel continues to be utilized for weddings and some services.

 "Chapel of the Transfiguration"

This is the interior of the chapel. While inside, I felt a deep sense of serenity that was enhanced by the silence within and the rustic nature of the exposed log interior. Behind the altar, a picture window, seldom a part of churches and chapels, frames a magnificent view of the Cathedral Group of the Tetons, which is viewable through the window from near the front of the chapel.

 "Tetons and John Moulton Barn"

This photograph is also from last spring in Grand Teton National Park. This barn, once part of the John Moulton estate, is one of a few remaining structures that was built during the early 1900s along a string of homesteads known as Mormon Row. John's brother, Thomas A. Moulton, also built a homestead in this location, less than a half-mile south of this barn.

I rarely make black & white photographs. However, this scene, I thought, made good use of the format.

 "Mexican Hat"

This one was captured back in 2010 on my first trip to the American Southwest. This natural rock formation. located in southern Utah, is called "Mexican Hat" for a reason that should be visually evident. There is also a small village nearby that is named after this unique geologic formation.

This week, I will embark on a new photographic expedition to the American Southwest and Oregon. You can follow along on my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/NorthShoreImages) where I will regularly post images and updates from my iPhone.