If you've ever shot in Zion Park please read this

Rob Skeoch · Aug 16, 2005

If you've ever shot in Zion park please read this.

So this is my sad story....
Last fall I attended the LF gathering that Per put together in Zion. On the final day I noticed a couple classmates just packing up from an area I hadn't shot in, so I stopped the car and looked around.

After looking around for a while I "discovered" this unique shot and went back to the car for the 8x10 and my last sheet of film to make this photo.

Now fast forward to the LF conference held this spring in Springdale. I purchased Steve Simmons book "Using the View Camera" and there on page 139 was a photo by Gordon Hutchings titled "Tree and Cliff" ( I kinda like the name) from basically the same angle... although his was shot with a 600mm and I only used a 450mm. My unique shot was just a standard Zion photo that everyone has.

So this is my question for you.... have you taken this shot at Zion before.... how does yours look. How many people have this unique shot in their collection, portfolio or on the wall.

I just think it's fun to know.

-Rob Skeoch

Paul Sorensen · Aug 16, 2005

I don't and I think it is a wonderful shot. Unfortunately, with a place like Zion, it is nearly impossible (or at least very hard) to come up with something that no one else has, even if you came upon it without their inspiration. I think that's why I try to go places where no one else goes. It makes it all easier for me.

photomc · Aug 16, 2005

Never been there, but IMO you have a beautifull print that anyone would be proud of...maybe others have made the same image...but heck, that one is Yours.

David Brown · Aug 16, 2005

Not me.

It doesn't lesson your eye just because someone else also saw it, but you didn't know.

However, let me go on record as saying that even if I found St. Ansel's tripod holes at Yosemite, I'd still take the picture!

Yours is great, BTW.

David

Bob F. · Aug 16, 2005

Not Zion, but a few months ago I was at Corfe Castle here in the UK and decided that a good view might be a couple of miles to the south east, up a steep hill that might give an overview of the castle in its surroundings. Drove up there and lo and behold, an excellent view, better than I could have hoped for. A view showing the castle on its hill, commanding a natural gap in the ridge of the Purbeck Hills, a slither of Poole Harbour in the distance. Great

Got home a few days later, developed and printed, feeling quite chuffed with my insight that the hill would make a good vantage point. Decided I'd like to see exactly where I was on a map, so got out the maps and traced where I had been. Turns out, exactly where I set up my camera, the area has a name:

"Castle View"

Ho hum...

Cheers, Bob.

blaze-on · Aug 16, 2005

It's still a nice shot Rob...even though you pushed me over, stepped on my camera, and stole my dark cloth to get it.

i was there and I don't have this shot...whatever that means...

MenacingTourist · Aug 16, 2005

I was there and even used your camera for a few or six shots. This was not one of my six. I must have been running interference and throwing rocks at Matt so you could get this one Well done.

Shmoo · Aug 16, 2005

I thought I saw someone rolling downhill screaming...was that you, Matt? Or were you the one who was telling us to move a 1/4 mile further down the road????

Rob - don't let your enthusiasm for what you shot be dampened. It's a beautiful shot and it's the first time I've ever seen it.

S

Aggie · Aug 17, 2005

I have taken the same shot, but with a different focal length, and time of day. Each one is still unique. Mine is not so hot, your's is great. BTW, in a few weeks I move near there. I will be able to spend every day if I want running around in the park. I have to get out there and hike some of the old trails that are now almost forgotten. Come on up and stay any time you want to Rob.

Dave Wooten · Aug 17, 2005

ok thanks will do

blaze-on · Aug 17, 2005

So Alan, It WAS a Conspiracy...I knew it!!

Now if I could learn to roll uphill, with gear, I would love LF even more.

galyons · Aug 17, 2005

blaze-on said:
i was there and I don't have this shot...whatever that means...

Well if you had spent less time "ragging on my tired behind" to hurry up, you might not have missed it.

BTW, Well done Rob!!

Cheers,
Geary

roteague · Aug 17, 2005

David Brown said:
However, let me go on record as saying that even if I found St. Ansel's tripod holes at Yosemite, I'd still take the picture!

I would as well. As much as I like Ansel, I think that the foreground appears more prominently in my work than his - so I am sure I would have a different image, as I would shooting the Zion image referred to above.

ReallyBigCameras · Aug 17, 2005

Rob,

I'll be darned! I have a similar shot of the same subject - only mine is in color. I shot it on a trip to Zion in early Nov. 1996.

Kerry

patrickjames · Aug 17, 2005

Does anyone know where this is? Just curious if anyone else has ever seen this thing or if it is even still there. I am actually trying to remember myself.

Patrick

photobum · Aug 17, 2005

A few years back I was at a 3 day seminar in Cape Cod. There was a slide contest with the subject, "Red". Well I "found" a red fishing boat the next morning and shot the heck out of it. By 10 am at least 30 other photographers had "found" the same red boat. What I found amazing was that out of hundreds of red boat shots, none were the same.

Oh, the top prize went to a bunch of red marbles.

mark · Aug 17, 2005

I think the secret to Zion and unique pictures is to take the big images apart. Get closer, and shoot parts. By the way i did not take that image last fall, when I was there. I did see it though, but it did not strike my fancy. Now I think I missed something. Good Shootin.

MurrayMinchin · Aug 17, 2005

Please...the climber in me needs to know...

How solid is that rock? Do grains come off when you rub it with your hands or toes? If you pull on juggy handholds and small flakes do they pop off? I need to know because that photograph makes the climber in me DROOL!

I agree - good image.

Murray

Shmoo · Aug 17, 2005

blaze-on said:
So Alan, It WAS a Conspiracy...I knew it!!

Now if I could learn to roll uphill, with gear, I would love LF even more.

It would be easier to hire your own sherpa (MenacingTourist) like Rob did.

lol

Loose Gravel · Aug 17, 2005

I've shot at Zion, but never taken this shot. It's very nice. Could I borrow the negative?

mark · Aug 17, 2005

MurrayMinchin said:
Please...the climber in me needs to know...

How solid is that rock? Do grains come off when you rub it with your hands or toes? If you pull on juggy handholds and small flakes do they pop off? I need to know because that photograph makes the climber in me DROOL!

I agree - good image.

Murray

Slick rock climbing, lots of exposure and holds come off in some areas very easily. On the other hand there are lots of places to take a verticle walk, but I would not go unsecured.

Jeff Dyck · Aug 17, 2005

I recounted this story in another thread a few months back - while not in Zion, it seems somewhat approriate here:

I was out on some old mining roads near the border of Northern BC and Alaska with my LF gear in the truck (as always). It was my second day out (having camped in the back of the truck the night before) and I hadn't seen a single other person or vehicle for almost 2 days. I spied a potential shot from the truck that interested me, so I parked, put my pack on, slung my tripod over my shoulder and proceeded to bushwack up the side of a hill to get above the trees and get a better viewpoint. Imagine my surprise when I crested the hill and saw an old TLR set-up on a tripod! The photographer showed up about 10 minutes later (he was scouting another shot) and we had a good chat. He was out camping in the area with friends and had taken off hiking by himself for the day and spied the same shot. My shot! He was the only other person I saw that whole weekend. I took the shot anyway... some things just cry out to be photgraphed.

Rob Skeoch · Aug 17, 2005

While I was setting up this shot I didn't notice any tripod holes.... but I was concentrating on keeping clear of the big yellow sign that said Kodak Photo Spot.
-Rob

Kirk Keyes · Aug 17, 2005

Patrick - the tree on the rock is on the side of the highway between the East Park Entrance and the Tunnel - In the area of Checkerboard Mesa.

Kirk

abelsykes · Aug 17, 2005

Matt, I was there and I have the same shot, although mine is not quite as well crafted as yours appears. Although it has been shot many times before this is the first time I have shot it. For me it was a great experience.

Abel

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