Canyon Walls
Canyon Walls. © Copyright 2022 G Dan Mitchell.
The path into a narrow slot canyon passes between dark buttresses.
We hiked up a remote canyon to get to this place. There is little need for a trail in such a place — mostly you just follow the bottom of the valley or canyon, with the only exception being occasionally climbing up to get past blockages. We had a goal in mind, so the walking was that sort of stead, slow progression. I recall the clattering and clinking sounds of walking on the rocky floor of a wash, intuitive route selection that favored the shady side of the canyon, and the entrance to the narrow sections. Here the feeling is darker, cooler, quieter — in a way reminiscent of walking into a cathedral.
Canyons like this one are so interesting that it seems like they should be easy to photograph, but I’m always surprised by their challenges. It can take a while to search around for just the right perspective and composition, and the light can be tricky — there are often stark contrasts between deep shadow and bright sunlight. I’m always taken by the blue tones of the shadows in the canyons of Death Valley, and by the contrast with the warmer tones where the light manages to penetrate.
G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.
Canyon Walls
Canyon Walls. © Copyright 2022 G Dan Mitchell.
The path into a narrow slot canyon passes between dark buttresses.
We hiked up a remote canyon to get to this place. There is little need for a trail in such a place — mostly you just follow the bottom of the valley or canyon, with the only exception being occasionally climbing up to get past blockages. We had a goal in mind, so the walking was that sort of stead, slow progression. I recall the clattering and clinking sounds of walking on the rocky floor of a wash, intuitive route selection that favored the shady side of the canyon, and the entrance to the narrow sections. Here the feeling is darker, cooler, quieter — in a way reminiscent of walking into a cathedral.
Canyons like this one are so interesting that it seems like they should be easy to photograph, but I’m always surprised by their challenges. It can take a while to search around for just the right perspective and composition, and the light can be tricky — there are often stark contrasts between deep shadow and bright sunlight. I’m always taken by the blue tones of the shadows in the canyons of Death Valley, and by the contrast with the warmer tones where the light manages to penetrate.
G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.