Another version of Taylor Creek

I just realized that I hadn't posted the rest of my photos from last trip to Taylor Creek in May. I figured I should go ahead and remedy that. These are the photos I took with my Diana Mini while hiking around. The film I used was Lucky 200iso film, and I love how grainy the images turned out.

Looking up

I love how the play of shadows makes that orange rock wall look gray-blue

The trail was thick with Juniper trees for a good long portion.

You can compare the above image with what my Polaroid did using film from the Impossible Project HERE.

Stained and worn rock alcove.

I love the subtle layers in the rock, and the signs of it having weathered many many years in the elements.

The Double Alcove, what we worked so hard to get to that day.

Drizzle

Is it bad that any time it so much as thinks about raining out here I start scheming ways of getting going out to take photos? It's a bit tricky, of course, trying to get as much gear as I can outside without ruining any of it.

So far my tips and tricks are these: plan ahead, pack only cameras that can be replaced, have a waterproof or water-resistant camera bag AND a coat (So you can dig around in your bag with the coat over the opening to avoid letting the rain in), and don't stray too far from your car. Also, have a couple of towels waiting for you your car, just in case.

Most of my rainy day photography has been done in spittle type rain, but I have taken a few shots in certifiable rainstorms--mostly under the cover of something. By "cover" I mean things like my car, a bridge, a porch, or my coat pulled up and over my camera as best as I can.

Then there are a few cameras that I might make an exception for, ones where I just pull them out and quickly get my shot and then stuff the camera back in the bag. My Polaroid Spectra and Polaroid One cameras get that kind of treatment because I can frame the shot, take the picture, and hide the camera away really quickly. And those cameras didn't cost me an arm and a leg, so I am a little more brutal with them.

I've said it before and I'll probably say it again-- I love the way that everything around here changes when storms roll in. Not that I don't love basking in sunshine, but I really do like the occasional thunderstorm.


Comparisons---

Sunny days in Zion National Park:

Stormy/rainy days in Zion:

As you may have guessed, the weather has been stormy around here for the last couple of days. I'm planning on going out to enjoy it tomorrow.

Taylor Creek

I hike the Taylor Creek Trail with a couple of friends yesterday. It is found in the Kolob section of Zion National Park. The trail is an easy hike with a bunch of creek crossings, two historic cabins, and at the end of it, there's a double arch alcove. The first photo is from the alcove looking back towards the trail home. I took it on my SX70 Alpha camera using The Impossible Project's PX70 PUSH! film. For this photo I used a turquoise filter and had the lighten/darken wheel in the middle. I like that some blue came out, but that the photo retained some hazy pink tones.

This next photo is of a grove of Juniper trees growing along side the trail right by one of the historic cabins. It was taken in the same conditions as the shot above, except the wheel was set all the way to lighten. A lot more green tones came out in this photograph, which I thought was really pretty great.

I adore the new film that The Impossible Project came out with, but I have really learned to love playing with the PUSH! film. I'll admit it--initially it wasn't my favorite. I'd gotten used to First Flush (how it worked, its color palette) and it took me a while to really take advantage of what PUSH! had to offer, but I think the challenge of PUSH! is what endeared it to me. While the day will soon come when I'll finish my stash of PUSH!, I'll be grateful for the things I've learned from it. It really did help me push myself to try new things (like development temperatures, filters, lighting  settings, etc).

Three of the same

I got to witness a muted sunset on a winter's day in Zion National Park. It was so nice I had to let all of my cameras have a turn.

Keystone 60Second Everflash camera. Polaroid Chocolate film.

SX70, PX70 PUSH! film.

Polaroid Spectra camera, PZ UV+ film.