Fire and Light (Zion/Kolob burn area)

Some sunset shots in and around the entrance to Kolob Terrace, an area of Zion National Park.

From what I know the fire was in 2006 and due to an invasive exotic grass called Cheat Grass. The grass greens early and then becomes ridiculously dry and ignitable in the summer, giving it the nickname "Grassolene". Can't remember the acreage of the burn but I'm told it was suspected to be ignited by humans.

1.

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Really like 4, the comp works really well for me. Also love the warmth of the sunlight on shots 2,3,4,5 & 6 hitting the face of the mountains in the back drop.

Good series, John. I like the compositions and you had good lighting.

I really like the composition and lighting in #5.
The tree in #4 takes away from a great sky, imo.

Very nice. Especially 3,4 and 5

Wellsy54 wrote in post #9739005

I'm told it was suspected to be ignited by humans. 

,I think most are
Nice shots especially 3,4 & 5
Cheers

Good point
Thank you!

fatclay wrote in post #9739540
Really like 4, the comp works really well for me. Also love the warmth of the sunlight on shots 2,3,4,5 & 6 hitting the face of the mountains in the back drop.

Thank you! The light got even warmer for a few seconds but I fumbled around too much with what I wanted to do and missed it.

sparker1 wrote in post #9739615
Good series, John. I like the compositions and you had good lighting.

Thanks Stan, this area seems to consistently glow at sunset. For example, 2 and 3 were shot about 3 weeks earlier than the rest.

oldno7 wrote in post #9739713
I really like the composition and lighting in #5.
The tree in #4 takes away from a great sky, imo.

Thanks Kurt, I don't know how I feel about #4. I liked the idea of framing with the tree but I agree it is somewhat distracting. I was thinking of re-shooting a similar comp but with the tree positioned lower, basically framing only the rock face and foreground with the sky above and less disrupted. ?

philk54 wrote in post #9740177
Very nice. Especially 3,4 and 5

Thanks Phil!

...

John
I love framing with tree's. I like your idea to frame the rock with the tree and show the full sky. It all boils down to personal perspective when it comes to composition.

Went back out this afternoon for some scouting. Got some good ideas and would have taken some today but some large storm clouds started forming the closer it got to sunset and eventually there was no light on the cliffs.

I did manage to get a few fired off. This being the best.

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John
If the lighting is good, pull out just above the bmx track. There are some great shot's looking into Left fork,Guardian Angels.
Do you live close? Or just visiting?

Kurt, thanks for the tip, I'll have to check out that location. I just realized that was a bmx track recently so I know where you're talking about. I'm living in Hurricane so pretty close, kind of visiting kind of permanent, not sure yet.

Glad to see somebody besides me is enjoying Kolob in the Winter. Thanks for the pictures, like 'em all.

A side note on the fires: we were up there yesterday and it was the first time we've seen herds of Mule Deer in the burn area.

Win

The second one, and the last image that you posted are my favorites, very well done.

Years ago, back around 1980 when I was even more stupid, a friend and I rode up to Colorado on our motorcycles (from Texas) for a short vacation...
We were to camp out (which we did do) and generally just have fun, we met a biker guy named, "Deacon", we asked where a good place to camp, and he took us on a really beautiful mountain top.
I was about to pitch my tent when I noticed a LOT of the trees up there were like the ones in your shot, I asked "Deacon" about it.
He said that lightning is the culprit, being so high up, and they are sticking up the way do, they get hit.
Needless to say, my friend and I stayed in a motel that night... heheh
I'm not saying that is what caused these, but I have noticed that quite a bit on mountains since then.

Brought back some memories of that, for sure, but I still like the shots.

Randy

Win,
Thank you. I'm really loving Kolob right now. Even when I plan on going out to the main canyon I seem to find myself turning off to Kolob. I don't know what it is. I've got some more shots from higher up the road in Feb. when there was more snow (might post a series from then sometime.)

The deer really seem to be in the area right now, seen at least a few the last couple times I've been in.


Randy,

Hope I didn't bring back too many bad memories! Haha Thanks for the comment and the story.