The Grand Circle is a region in the Southwest United States which contains the largest concentration of national parks in the USA. The grand circle incorporates part of Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and a small part of Nevada. It incorporate well know destinations such as the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park and Monument valley. There are quite a few lesser known destinations as well. One of these is Moab. Moab is a small town located between Arches National Park and Canyonlands national park and it is worth spending a few days there to explore both these parks.
Arches, especially is very photogenic, the landscape is made out of red sandstone and erosion has caused the formation of some dramatic natural arches. The Arches landscape has featured in various movies, probably the most famous of which is in the opening scenes of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Some of the most famous arches are Delicate Arch, Double Arch and Landscape Arch.
Canyonlands is a much larger park than Arches, nearly 5 times the size, however it is not as easily accessible. It does offer some good photography opportunities. Like Arches it also has natural Arches as well as vista’s overlooking the various canyons that make up the park.
Moab itself is a quaint little town and it makes the prefect base, there is also plenty to do for family members who aren’t into photography, as there are plenty of hiking, mountain biking, wild water rafting. I was last in Moab 5 years ago and stayed in the Aarchway inn, which was pleasant enough, but nothing special.
For Moab hotel reviews and prices please click here.
Mesa Arch, Canyonlands National Park. Photo by Snowpeak
Delicate Arch, Arches National park. Photo by Alan Vernon
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Tags: arches national park, canyonlands national park, landscape, moab, utah
Gouldings Lodge is a great little lodge, the accommodation probably won’t be the best you’ve ever stayed in, but the location might well be. It is located just 4 miles from the entrance of Monument Valley and offers great photographic opportunities. The lodge itself is set itself against a steep cliff face. It is definitely worth staying here, rather than cheaper lodging in Mexican Hat or Kayenta. You will be able to get great sunrise and sunset opportunities. When visiting Monument Valley I also heartily recommend one of the guided tours with the Navajo Nation. These tours let you go deeper into the Valley and they will show you some amazing scenes and you will be able to get some great shots. It’s been a few years since we were at the lodge, but the food at the restaurant wasn’t that great when we were there. So my top tip is to buy a throw away BBQ from the camping shop near the lodge and have a BBQ on you balcony overlooking the valley.
You can check availability and prices here.
Monument Valley. Photo by Thom Quine
Monument Valley. Photo by Alex E. Proimos
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Planning your first trip to the rainforest? Then you may be unsure what you need to take. I’ve been to the rainforest three times over the last few years and have compiled a list of what you should take with you. These are split into 2 categories. The first is related to your personal wellbeing and the second is related to specific camera equipment you might want to consider.
Your personal wellbeing and comfort
Suntan lotion: This one might sound a bit strange as you’re under the trees right? Wrong, the first day I went into the rainforest I thought I didn’t need this, but you forget about all those little instances where there is a gap in the canopy. Some of the trails might be wide, a boat trip on the river, around your accommodation, etc. You are so near the equator that you burn very quickly. The circumstances when you get there might be different to mine, but I used suntan lotion on all 3 visits to the rainforest and I suggest that you at least take some with you. Remember when you’re in the rainforest your unlikely to find a chemist that can sell you it so make sure you bring some with you.
Mosquito repellent: One of the most important things that you should take with you. Personally I don’t think the generic stuff that you find in the supermarket is that good. I’ve used the 100% Deet before and that seems to work a treat. I’ve written a review of the Lifesystems one which can be found here.
A hat: there are lots of creepy crawlies in the rainforest and you will need to protect any exposed areas, which includes wearing long sleeved shirts. For example in the Amazon rainforest my wife felt something land on her hat. When she asked the guide what it was it turned out to be a poisonous caterpillar that could have caused some serious irritation. You will also be pleased when it rains as the hat will shield your face from the worst of it.
Clothing: I recommend very thin long sleeved shirts. I particularly recommend ones by Craghoppers, Berghaus and Columbia (there are probably plenty of other good one out there, but these are ones I’ve personally used). Forget about the ones which are impregnated with mosquito repellent as this does not work. Ones that provide protection from the sun are good though. I recommend thin trousers; I especially like the Craghopper Kiwi trousers.
I can also recommend gators; these are basically a hardish covering, which cover the gap between your shoes and your trousers. The reason you should consider these is that it will prevent anything from climbing up your shoes and subsequently into them. There are lots of nasty ants, and other creepy crawlies out there. Also when we went to the Amazon there were a lot of ticks around and the gators were essential to keep them off. I believe our guide, who never wore them had 5 or so ticks after every hike. They also keep your trousers clean if it is muddy.
It is important to wear sturdy hiking boots. There are lots of wet tree roots all over the place and it is therefore essential to have a good grip and good support. The trails are also often muddy and wet so it might be an idea to invest in some gore-tex ones so they are guaranteed to be dry at he end of the day.
Water: The rainforest is damp so you don’t need much water right? Wrong it is so humid that you sweat a lot and can dehydrate quickly. I recommend a smallish rucksack, which incorporates a Camelbak reservoir. This means that you can carry your water on your back. If you’re the photographer you should try and convince your partner to carry the water so you can carry your camera equipment.
Camera equipment
Bag: a good waterproof bag is essential to protect your camera and equipment. I personally use the Lowepro slingshot 200AW and can vouch for the AW protection even in deluges.
Binoculars: This seems a strange one for a photographer. However there are going to be many instances whereby your subject is just too far away or too much in the shadows to be able to get any sort of good quality images. I’d say it was only about 25% of the time that we spotted something that I was able to get a photo of it. So it is worth taking a pair of binoculars so you can enjoy the other 75%. I recommend spending the money on a good pair of waterproof ones.
Flash and Flash X tender: A flash and flash extender is essential when you are trying to get photos of subjects in the shadows or up in the canopy. I’ve reviewed the Kirk flash X-Tender here.
Waterproof covering for camera and lens: It is essential that you bring some sort of protection for your camera as when it is not raining it is often still dripping down from the top of the canopy. I used the Wildlife Watching Camera Cover Reversible Camouflage and Waterproof Olive, which is available from Warehouse Express. It is a little bit cumbersome, but it will allow you to continue to take photos in light rain and damp conditions. I would never have been able to take the photos of the puma and monkey shown below for example if I didn’t have this covering.
Spare battery: A spare battery for your camera could come in very useful as often lodges only have electricity for part of the day, or you might be in an area where there is no electricity at all. Also make sure you charge your batteries up whenever you can.
Memory: Either in the form of memory cards or even better in the form of a portable memory device. There are various one on the market. I recommend the Vosonic 5500, however I am unsure whether this model is still available.
In conclusion it is worth remembering that preparation is key, when you’re out there you don’t have the facilities to just go out and buy anything you have forgotten or not thought about. Hopefully you’ll have found this information useful and I hope that you see many exciting things on your trip to the rainforest.
Puma, Bosque Del Cabo. Costa Rica
Golden Howler Monkey, Cano Negro. Costa Rica
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Tags: binoculars, camera, clothes, craghoppers, essentials, flahs x tender, memory, mosuito, rainforest
