Arizona, Utah and Las Vegas... - DPChallenge Forums

03/11/2010 11:44:52 AM · #1

I'm in the planning stages for my next Southwest photo safari. It will be in the April/May time frame and it's primary purpose is to catch the Spring wildflower season in full swing.

I've expanded this trip from my original concept because it looks like the wildflower season is going be exceptional this year.

I will go to three main areas:
1-Head down as far south as southern Arizona to one of my favorite places... the Sonora Desert in the Phoenix/Tucson area and Sedona region and other Arizona photo ops to the north.
2-Las Vegas area to photograph Little Finland, Valley of Fire and Vegas night lights.
3-The Grand Staircase region in southern Utah for my main photo project where I venture into "The Land of Secrets".

If this is appealing and you are interested in joining me for part of it in a mini-safari please contact me and lets see if we can work out a meeting. That would be fun.

03/11/2010 03:31:41 PM · #2

Hey Steve,
Are you keeping an eye on the AZ wildflower season timing? It looks like an outrageous good season this time around. I'm trying to figure out how I can finagle a trip down. What's your timing look like?

03/11/2010 04:00:59 PM · #3

My timing is still up in the air... but pretty much any time after the first week of April to early May is what I'm looking at. I'm looking into a couple other equipment purchases before I go. I travel light and have no problem driving far at the drop of a hat.

Because of heavy rains I expect Phoenix to have an especially good wildflower season. I don't think it will match what we saw in 2005, which was the ultimate, but still should be exceptional. And I have much better tools to capture it this time around.

THE place to monitor current wildflower activity is DesertUSA - DesertUSA Wildflower Reports

Added note:
I noticed that we took pictures on March 18, 2005 and that was near the peak... maybe I need to get cracking and go sooner!

Message edited by author 2010-03-11 16:07:07.

03/11/2010 04:34:30 PM · #4

Originally posted by Artifacts:

Added note:
I noticed that we took pictures on March 18, 2005 and that was near the peak... maybe I need to get cracking and go sooner!

LOL, when after reading your initial post I looked at the dates on some of my shots, and realized the time is nigh!

Thanks for the link, I'm going to check out the situation...

Tamron 16-300mm Di II VC PZD MACRO w/Canon Nikon mount

03/12/2010 09:17:34 AM · #5

I'm getting serious about this trip...

I will probably leave within the next week to 2 weeks.

For flora/insect macro photography I ordered a Canon MT-24EX Macro Twin Lite Flash for my 100mm Macro lens. I expect to get the flash unit by Tuesday. One of my major goals in "The Land of Secrets" is to capture images or rare plants and insects and that should help for getting high quality field images.

I will go to southern Arizona first because wildflowers there bloom first. Then I will work up to photo ops in northern Arizona, then Vegas and finally to "The Land of Secrets".

If anyone in those areas would like to meet up for a little photo safari let me know. I can be pretty flexible.

JulietNN

Canon EOS R7

03/12/2010 09:39:56 AM · #6

the flowers have all ready started here in Tucson, a fair amount are in bloom, we have had a cold snap, so as soon as it warms up to about 70-75 they will burst forward. I will be in Flagstaff (always a month later)Sedona (2 weeks behind) this afternoon and PHX on Saturday (in the next 2-3 weeks) I will let you know what I find!

quiche

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Panasonic Lumix 20mm f1.7 ASPH

03/12/2010 09:41:50 AM · #7

Nothing in Flagstaff yet. It's snowed twice this week. It'll be a while before flowers appear here. But I'm up for meeting w/ any DPCers who come through town.

03/12/2010 10:12:41 AM · #8

Originally posted by Artifacts:

For flora/insect macro photography I ordered a Canon MT-24EX Macro Twin Lite Flash for my 100mm Macro lens. I expect to get the flash unit by Tuesday. One of my major goals in "The Land of Secrets" is to capture images or rare plants and insects and that should help for getting high quality field images.

You are going to love that flash. I've been thinking about taking that plunge as well. I have one here at work and I have borrowed it and experimented with it. I love the results. Not only can you control the position of the tow flash heads, but you can change the ratio of light between the two. It's *much* more flexible than a ring flash.

Jdroullard

Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

03/12/2010 10:21:24 AM · #9

I'll be there march 22-25! Can't wait, already rented some lenses!

Tamron 16-300mm Di II VC PZD MACRO w/Canon Nikon mount

03/12/2010 10:33:32 PM · #10

OK... so who wants to go out with yours truly - the world famous desert wilderness guide - on a mini-photo safari?

I can promise that you will have a unforgettable experience... assuming you make it back. LOL!!!

JulietNN

Canon EOS R7

03/13/2010 12:44:10 PM · #11

okay did my journey from Page az to Tucson, here is the flower report.

nothing in page
3foot snow in flagstaff
nothing in Sedona
Mile post 233 wild marigolds starting to come out.
Trees starting to turn a little green.

MASSIVE amount of greenary, mostly weeds, but I have never ever seen so much green adn water running in washes and rivers

phoenix, just green, no flowers

I10 some wild marigolds
Picacho Peak (famous wild flower area) nothing yet
BUT on the medians and on teh side of the roads, Mexican Poppies coming out,
10 miles further purple lupins in median

~~~~~~~~

there is a massive amount of wild flowers growing, just been told the last week it has rained everyday in Tucson and cold. So as soon as the weather hits about 70 for 2 days everything will bloom

JulietNN

Canon EOS R7

Tamron 16-300mm Di II VC PZD MACRO w/Canon Nikon mount

03/13/2010 12:45:22 PM · #12

Originally posted by Artifacts:

let me know when you get some dates for sure and I will let you know, would love to come. Or if you are going to hitting Tucson, come over for some dinner/lunch/breakfast`!!

see

Canon PowerShot S95

03/13/2010 01:05:02 PM · #13

I live in southern Utah, near St. George, are you interested in Anasazi petroglyph's? I on the other hand am interested in what you have in the Grand Staircase region ..

JacksonGariety

Sony DSC-RX1

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

03/13/2010 01:45:07 PM · #14

Hey! I'm heading down there in a week! Have fun!

03/14/2010 08:33:06 PM · #15

Thanks for your interest.

I might get down to the Phx/Tuc area as early as next weekend.

I will private message later tonight those of you who've expressed an interest and anyone else who inquires.

Alan, you might be interested in going to "Little Finland". It is a little known, but truly world class photo op. It is in Nevada but not really all that far from you in St. George.

Sigma 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical HF for Pentax

03/14/2010 08:39:04 PM · #16

JulietNN... I got a report from Phx yesterday that the wildflowers are starting to come out there. I saw the pictures to. Mexican poppies are usually first to show followed quickly by legions of other wildflowers.

The desert is a green carpet that portends a magnificent wildflower season for that area.

Saguaro National Park (West) and/or Picacho Peak might make good photo safari choices. I did both with

kirbic in 2005 and they were terrific.

Pug-H

Pentax K10D

03/14/2010 08:57:20 PM · #17

Maybe you could swing by Kanab in southern Utah. It's not so interesting, perhaps, but nearby is Pugh Canyon. It might not be as photographically spectacular as those other places you're going to, but, gee, what a great name for a canyon. ;-)

jbsmithana

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED

03/14/2010 10:21:29 PM · #18

Steve -sent you a PM.

03/15/2010 08:39:40 PM · #19

Originally posted by Pug-H:

Funny you should mention Kanab. That is my base of operations for photography in southern Utah. I work with the BLM there at the headquarters for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument(GSENM). That is my primary photo southwest photo project.

Message edited by author 2010-03-15 20:48:33.

03/15/2010 08:47:12 PM · #20

These are the folks that have so far expressed interest in joining me for a photo safari in their areas:
jbsmithana, ColemanGariety, alans_world, kirbic and julietNN.

I send each of you a private email with contact information.

If there is anyone else interested then please post here or send me a private message.

I'll likely leave by this weekend with stops in California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah over a 3 week period. I am anxiously awaiting an important piece of equipment that has not yet arrived that I need before I can go.

see

Canon PowerShot S95

03/15/2010 08:58:45 PM · #21

Thanks for the heads up on Little Finland, will be a trip as soon as I 100% this old Jeep I bought recently..

03/16/2010 12:06:14 PM · #22

Originally posted by alans_world:

Thanks for the heads up on Little Finland, will be a trip as soon as I 100% this old Jeep I bought recently..

If we go together we can take my rig.

03/17/2010 07:11:38 PM · #23

It is looking like I may not be able to leave for my 4 state journey as soon as I want. A critical piece of equipment I need for this specific trip still has not arrived and I cannot go without it. :(

I'm trying to get that expedited.

I will keep folks posted.

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

03/17/2010 07:36:38 PM · #24

For God's sake, bring a map and a compass!!! I don't want another 2000 post thread about you wandering around the wilderness for six days...

:)

I'm going to be in Phoenix from tomorrow to Tuesday. Don't know if I'll be able to get anywhere for pics though. It's visiting family time and pretty short as it is.