Photo - Zion National Park, Utah

To me, Zion National Park is the desert version of Yosemite National Park. It has a major high-walled valley with side canyons, a few of which have waterfalls. The park was established in 1919 ten years after it was designated as Mukuntuweap (Zion) National Monument. The rock here is primarily Navajo sandstone, which makes for beautiful red vertical cliffs. While in the park during my last visit there, I saw three California condors soaring near the top edge of the valley walls. Cars are restricted from the majority of the park, which makes the park sounding natural. There are park run buses to get to the various trailheads and destinations within the park.

The Watchman and the Virgin River
Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM at 29mm
Exposure: 1/50 second at f/8, ISO 100

The Zion river near the lodge
Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM at 46mm
Exposure: 1/80 second at f/8, ISO 100

Lower Emerald Pool through the waterfall
Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM at 20mm
Exposure: 1/60 second at f/11, ISO 100

Lower Emerald Pool waterfall
Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM at 30mm
Exposure: 0.5 second at f/8 with ND6, ISO 100

Red Headed Woodpecker
Lens: Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM IS at 200mm
Exposure: 1/50 second at f/6.3, ISO 400

View from Weeping Rock
Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM at 16mm
Exposure: 0.8 second at f/11 with ND6, ISO 100

The Great White Throne from Big Bend
Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM at 16mm
Exposure: 1/60 second at f/8, ISO 100

The Virgin River at Big Bend
Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM at 16mm
Exposure: 1/60 second at f/8, ISO 100

Zion National Park entrance
Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM at 35mm
Exposure: 1/80 second at f/8, ISO 100

Small waterfall on the Virgin River
Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM at 48mm
Exposure: 8 second (2 frame average) at f/8, ISO 100

The Virgin River at the entrance to the Narrows
Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM at 16mm
Exposure: 4 seconds (2 frame average) at f/8, ISO 100

Temple of Sinawava
Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM at 23mm
Exposure: 1/30 second at f/8, ISO 200

The entrance to the Virgin River narrows
Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM at 16mm
Exposure: 1/60 second at f/8, ISO 100

Checkerboard Mesa
Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM at 18mm
Exposure: 1/60 second at f/8, ISO 100

View of the Zion Valley from the Observation Point trail
Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM at 23mm
Exposure: 1/80 second at f/8, ISO 100

Zion Valley from Observation Point
Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM at 16mm
Exposure: 1/160 second at f/11, ISO 100

Observation Point Panorama (made from 12 photographs)
Lens: Canon EF 16-350mm f/2.8L USM at 17mm
Exposure: 1/200 second at f/8, ISO 100

Photographer: Rick Scott
Date: 11-13 October 2011
Camera: Canon EOS 40D digital camera
Software: Adobe Photoshop CS5 for RAW conversion and image processing, PTgui with Panorama Tools for panorama stitching.