skypointer2000
A Tear in the Eye
In May, I visited Grand Staircase-Escalante NM and had the privilege to photograph different places in this incredibly beautiful zone for several days and nights.
The most strenuous part of my visit was a 5 mile one-way hike along an old mining road to the Cosmic Ashtray, which I prefer to call the Eye of Earth. You can read about my ordeal here: flic.kr/p/W6brbo
Today, I post another image of the Eye of Earth, but this time the eye seems to be crying.
A few days ago, the National Monument status of this part of Grand Staircase-Escalante was undone.
As a foreigner, I do neither have full knowledge of the reasons behind this decision, nor the right to criticize it.
Reading however, that there are plans to pave the road giving access to this beautiful region, in order to open it for mining and large groups of tourists makes me sad.
The hike to the cosmic ashtray showed me my physical limits, but I would not want to miss this experience.
The pristine beauty of this place, the feeling of achievement of making it there, the solitude… All would be destroyed, by driving there by car!
Thinking that this remote place might soon be ruined by coal mining, passing trucks or by hordes of tourists, like those at Horseshoe Bend, leaves me speechless and with tears in my eyes.
EXIF
Astro modified Canon EOS 6D
Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8 @ 15mm
Foreground:
Stack of 3 × 300s @ ISO1600
Sky:
5 x 25s @ ISO1600
untracked, stacked with fitswork4
Thanks for all your faves and comments.
Prints available:
A Tear in the Eye
In May, I visited Grand Staircase-Escalante NM and had the privilege to photograph different places in this incredibly beautiful zone for several days and nights.
The most strenuous part of my visit was a 5 mile one-way hike along an old mining road to the Cosmic Ashtray, which I prefer to call the Eye of Earth. You can read about my ordeal here: flic.kr/p/W6brbo
Today, I post another image of the Eye of Earth, but this time the eye seems to be crying.
A few days ago, the National Monument status of this part of Grand Staircase-Escalante was undone.
As a foreigner, I do neither have full knowledge of the reasons behind this decision, nor the right to criticize it.
Reading however, that there are plans to pave the road giving access to this beautiful region, in order to open it for mining and large groups of tourists makes me sad.
The hike to the cosmic ashtray showed me my physical limits, but I would not want to miss this experience.
The pristine beauty of this place, the feeling of achievement of making it there, the solitude… All would be destroyed, by driving there by car!
Thinking that this remote place might soon be ruined by coal mining, passing trucks or by hordes of tourists, like those at Horseshoe Bend, leaves me speechless and with tears in my eyes.
EXIF
Astro modified Canon EOS 6D
Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8 @ 15mm
Foreground:
Stack of 3 × 300s @ ISO1600
Sky:
5 x 25s @ ISO1600
untracked, stacked with fitswork4
Thanks for all your faves and comments.
Prints available: