Rio Colorado Photo

Photographer’s Note

Day 3, 7:30 A.M.
On our way back up to the North Rim along the Bright Angel Trail, in order to avoid the heat, we tried to leave as early as possible. Half the people already left by sunrise. It was one of the very difficult hikes I have done in a long time carrying with me an approximately 20 pounds backpack, maybe it was not but it felt like it. For the next few days, I was walking like a cowboy who’s been riding a horse all day.

This is the view of the Colorado River. There was a thunder storm the night before somewhere up stream, the rain flushed down with it much soil content, the river was completely brown like chocolate milk versus the crystal clear turquoise green that we saw just the day before. See WS Colorado River in Green

leo61, Philippe, Sistercosmo, patdeph, magalik, yedirenk, feather, ChrisJ, shevchenko, Angshu, Bluejeans, plimrn trouve(nt) cette note utile

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leo61 (43650) 2009-10-06 9:59

HI Way!
I like this one a lot.Great depth with these waves on the brown water and magic light and fantastic colors in the distance.
A great shot!!!!
Regareds,leo

Bartleby (5102) 2009-10-06 10:09

Hi Way,
love the play of lights and shadows here, as well as the intense colors. All this in an adequate vertical framing that allows us to take a good look at the Colorado.

Best,

Philippe

yaya13baut (2351) 2009-10-06 10:11

hi Way,
a good depth of field, a good light on the mountains and a good contrast with the blue sky... into the wild.
Yannis

baba_flies (8081) 2009-10-06 10:17

Sali Way! 30 pounds on your back :))) I know, yes I know, you had your tent. Wow this is just too much, so nice the first sun light on the rocks, impressive what the river carries in the water, yes chocolate is the right word, this is how it looks when I melt it to make my famous baba flies mousse au chocolat. Beautiful this fresh blue sky in the back, the sign of a brand new day. Love it, just so beautiful. This was worth the cowboy steps after :))) Greetings from la Suisse ... Barbara.

pajaran (3757) 2009-10-06 10:26

Dobro vece.
Opasna mutna reka ...
Interesantan kanjon reke, dobre boje i kompozicija.
Svidja mi se trenutak snimka.
Sve najbolje, Paja.

Pablo25 (1787) 2009-10-06 11:47

hello Way,
First of all I'm really impressed of the color of the water, it's almost red! I can not believe, mountains are red too! It's so beautiful and I must admit you captured wonderful moment. Scenery and light managment especially on the left side is just amazing. Great job my friend. I really like it.
warm regards
Pawel

Philippe (11787) 2009-10-06 12:15

Hi, Way. The water has a strange colour indeed. It contrasts well with the golden colours on the left side. The rocks stand out well against the sky and the river leads the eye well into the picture.
Have a nice day,
Philippe

zanzi (4702) 2009-10-06 12:24

Hi Way
Colors and light are at their best.
Since I am not convinced by the water in the foreground, may I suggest another way to look at it ? See WS
Bravo
Chris

[workshop] [compare] +

LOOOK13 (3258) 2009-10-06 13:32

Salut.
Des couleurs superbes et bien contrastées, les ombres et la lumière sont bien soignées, un trés bon cadrage finit ce trés beau cliché...
Bravo.

Sistercosmo (2653) 2009-10-06 13:44

Hi Way,

great view with the first light of the day coming in. I like both versions, hard to decide. Great details, wonderful dof. Well done!

Thanks and take good care!
Linda

Jeppo (12042) 2009-10-06 13:49

hi Way,

yes. this river is really "colorado"! brown, stormy, unendless....with a majestic surrounding.
well, I didn't get so low as you did...but hiking on grand canyon is something unique.
ciao
Silvio

PS: after the hiking you were riding like a cowboy. On the contrary I was so b...ck to have my hiking in the afternoon....and without t-shirt (it was so hot)!. the result: my back was violet....and it hurts!

patdeph (18270) 2009-10-06 14:02

hello Way
the river gives a very good perspective and leads the eyes to the marvelous golden colors of the mountains!The contrast with the darker landscape is fantastic,and the colors are splendid!
Regards
Pascale

magalik (1402) 2009-10-06 14:39

Waouh Way ! It's so beautiful !
What I like on this new photo are the different and nice colors you get ! You get yellow with red rocks ! Incredible ! Beautiful sunrise !
It's really funny and pleasant to follow your expedition and its difficulties, I have the feeling I'm reading an adventure book ! Moreover a book with images ! :-) I like the comparison with the chocolate milk also !:-) I don't want to taste this chocolate milk ! ;-)
Great sharpness and great POV (from a bridge ?)
Well done Way.
Thanks a lot.
Magali

emka (22177) 2009-10-06 15:53

Hi Way, From here the rim doesn't seem very high up. incredible chocolade colour of Colorado. Such a small river has so huge canyon. Fantastic colours of early morning You had a wonderful trip!

Regards

Malgorzata

yedirenk (7529) 2009-10-06 16:38

Hi Way,
great light..eye catcher nature details with superb colours and depth..a very nice scene in the vertical format..fine sharpness...tfs
greetings

Cevdet

sevy (13918) 2009-10-06 23:34

Hello Way,

Nice work of composition and of exposure: there is the right contrast both in the lighted area and in the shadow ones. Now, I understand why this river is called 'colorado'.

Yves.

feather (50070) 2009-10-07 2:28

The difference in the colours of the water is impressive. You must be glad you didn't catch the storm that caused it. The early morning light on the canyon sides is lovely. It's difficult to understand the scale as I know how high the GC is but from down here looking up, it doesn't appear as high as looking down from the top. I also like the WS which could have made a main post too. I hope you soon recovered the correct use of your legs. ;D
Kath

dkeus31 (26351) 2009-10-07 4:22

Hi Way,
nice composition, did you were in the water, a bridge or a horse? ;)
light is great
didier

kiks (6147) 2009-10-07 4:28

Great depth on this composition and the colors of the amazing landschape are just perfectly saturated. LOvely the first sunrays at the bg.
Best regards
KIKS

carper (65524) 2009-10-07 7:01

fine shot here Way.
the Colorado there are a lot songs over this famous river, good point of view, fine perspective, good quality job, well done, I like it, have a nice day.
regard jaap

eversmile (6381) 2009-10-07 7:51

Hi Way

I love your composition once more. The wilderness is at its best, with the intensity of contrasted colors. I love the gold on the rocks, the chocolate color of the river that reminds a bit the Mekong. Excellent exposition and a great feeling of being far far away!
Congratulations!
Regards
Marine

avene (11088) 2009-10-07 12:12

hello Way,
I think I prefer the WS version, it feels more rich (not sure I can describe the feeling better), more dramatice. I do like how the curve of the river leads the eye into the scene in this version, but lately I have developed aversion to uneven polarization, it certainly makes the WS version more appealing. I quite like the square option of this shot, though, it takes care of the polarised sky and also the foreground where nothing much is happening.

best,
Kristine

ChrisJ (70443) 2009-10-07 20:47

Hi Way

A marvellous blue sky, with striking warm cold color contrasts, against the red river in the fg. Good natural perspective & lead in lines, & excellent sharpness throughout. Tfs!

subhendu_bagchi (3452) 2009-10-08 0:52

Namaste Way,
the scenic beauty of this place is great. Nice colourful mountains in background where the colour of river is excellent. Sunlight created the magic here. Depth and light is great with a very good point of view. Great photo job. Tfs.
Have a nice day.
Subhendu

chawax (6149) 2009-10-08 2:02

Hi Way,
Nice view on Rio Colorado. I love the depth of field created by the little waves in the river. The light on the background is really fantastic. Excellent sharpness too.
Regards,
Olivier

sacimar (7626) 2009-10-08 10:20

Hi Way,

beautiful picture, I like the morning light in the mountains, and now I know why the name of the river is Colorado.....good composition, you did a great job,

Best regards

Segio

delpeoples (6634) 2009-10-08 19:44

Hi Way, wow you know how to manage light. Every time I see one of your photos I learn something from your technique (wish I could emulate it!). I'm torn between the full vertical shot versus the shot squared off alla Jaap. They're both superb. Congratulations once again and thanks for sharing this beautiful image with us, Lisa.

shevchenko (10030) 2009-10-08 22:41

Hello Way,
Lovely morning sunlight, the begining of a new day and new journey. Suprise to see the river flowing with orange water, good vertical format to frame the geographical features, distinct color, good sharpness, well done.
Intriguing, the water look clear and clean in WS.
Ally

Angshu (34027) 2009-10-10 7:08

Sabaidie Way
As Kath says, it's difficult to comprehend the height of the canyon and the depth of the Colorado from this view as compared to the view from the top. Interesting to see and 'compare' both images, though theoretically you can't compare two locations. The light is fabulous here as it lits up the top of the hills, but the wider view, the green water and the bridge in the WS may take my vote, even though the margin is very less. The colours of the rocks in this one is no less interesting! A fine post again!
Best Regards
Angshu

Bluejeans (32945) 2009-10-12 13:01

Ola Way,
Parece que estou dentro do rio Colorado , muito bonito o contraste entre a cor da terra com o céu , a paisagem é muito bonita , boa profundidade de foto , bom uso da foto na vertical , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

plimrn (19694) 2009-10-16 15:24

Hi Way,
I love the bands of light and color, they give great depth to your composition. Our son just hiked 200 miles on the Pacific Crest trail, in a section with five 14,000 foot passes; but he started out with the Grand Canyon so this hiking thing might be contagious, leading to bigger packs, longer trails and more vertical.

I grew up in Northern Arizona In my mind; the Colorado River is more often red/brown than green, so I was surprised to see your earlier picture & the WS with green water.
HLJ, Pat