Category: Arizona

Coyote Buttes- A Whimsical Product Of The Forces Of Nature.

Arizona, Desert Southwest, Utah

Coyote Buttes, on the Arizona/Utah border, is a landscape that defies description. Freud would have trouble developing a diagnosis for this patient.

One look at it will put a smile on your face along with a frown. It’s situated at The Vermillion Cliffs National Monument and is well protected. At North Coyote Buttes, a trip to The Wave is only accessible for 20 daily fortunates who were victorious in the dreaded lottery put on by The Bureau of Land Management.

It’s a riot of abstractness, details, hues, textures, patterns and dizzying sandstone  shapes. The Navajo Sandstone calcified dunes evolved into its current look due to erosion from winds and rains.

This is a repost from 2014..

Coyote Buttes The Wave

Coyote Buttes The Wave

Coyote Buttes The Wave

Coyote Buttes The Wave

The Second Wave

Coyote Buttes North

The Wave

Coyote Buttes North

Coyote Buttes North

Coyote Buttes Sand Cove

Sand Cove

Coyote Buttes Sand Cove

Coyote Buttes The Wave

At South Coyote Buttes, the unusual is the usual at this landscape.  Grotesque shapes of rock cast by millions of years of weathering have produced a carnival of  oddities that Barnum & Bailey would be proud of.   I half expected a woman with a beard to come  walking around the corner.

South Coyote Buttes

Coyotte Buttes

It seems as if someone put one of those curvy carnival mirrors out there to give Coyote Buttes it’s distorted look. But it is real. I think.

South Coyote Buttes

South Coyote Buttes

South Coyote Buttes

South Coyote Buttes

It’s highly believable that it took millions of years for the gods to create Coyote Buttes.

You just don’t put this together in a week.

Michael Andrew Just

Dawn2Dawn Photography

Fall Colors Without Leaves?

Aerial Photography, Arizona, Desert Southwest, Drone Produced, Grand Canyon, National Parks, Seasons, video

I caught the remnants of the fall colors at Kaibab National Forest in Northern Arizona. The Aspens were pretty much leafless as a recent storm with lots of rain and high winds caused this.

Watch at HiDef at Full Screen. Music is Ooh Yeah by Moby!

After Effects Of The Dragon Bravo Fire

Aerial Photography, Arizona, Desert Southwest, Drone Produced, Grand Canyon, National Parks, Photography, video

This forest fire took place this past summer and destroyed the Grand Canyon Lodge. This footage from this week, is from the adjacent Kaibab National Forest where I would escape 4-5 times every summer to beat the Southern Utah heat. The visit was emotional, camping won’t be the same. I would relax and listen to Science Friday every Friday from a nearby radio station.

Many thanks to the brave men and women who fought this fire for months. The cleanup is ongoing.

What is Yellow, Orange, Red, Magenta, Apricot, Pineapple, Ochre, Ruby, Plum, Sage, Gold, Amber, Rust, Mustard and Peach? Here’s a hint.

Aerial Photography, Arizona, Desert Southwest, Drone Produced, Grand Canyon, National Parks, Photography, Seasons

Feel free to add your own color!

Fall colors have arrived by way of Aspen trees at the Kaibab National Forest and Grand Canyon National Park in Northern Arizona.

Aerial View.

Aspen trees struggle to keep their colors during autumn at Kaibab National Forest, Arizona.

Aspen Forests From Above

Aerial Photography, Arizona, Desert Southwest, Drone Produced, In The Country, Seasons, video

It’s a mystery to me why some Aspens have full color and Aspens nearby have already lost their leaves but that’s nature. Filmed from above at the Kaibab National Forest in Northern Arizona.

Watch in HiDef at Full Screen. Music is Lost In Kyoto by Air.

Back To The Future

Arizona, Grand Canyon, National Parks, Photography, Seasons, video

A drive through. the Kaibab National Forest and North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park reveals new growth Aspen trees, old growth and recently fire-damaged in the park. The young Aspens at beginning of video grew after a fire there some 20 years ago. Lots of the old growth were not damaged but the Aspens inside the park were heavily damaged along with pines. The Aspens should start to bounce back in a few years and eventually look like the young Aspens at the start of this video in about 20 years.

A shout out to all those firefighters that fought to contain the devastating fire which also claimed the 100 year old Grand Canyon Lodge.

Watch In HiDef at Full Screen. Music is Time To Walk Away by Purple Noon.

Grand Canyon Lodge Destroyed

Arizona, Desert Southwest, Flowers, Grand Canyon, National Parks, Night Sky, Seasons, Weather

You’ve probably heard that the Grand Canyon Lodge at the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park is no longer standing. It was destroyed by a terrifying wildfire a few weeks ago along with 60 other buildings in the area. High winds made it impossible to contain the blazes.

Originally built in 1928, the lodge was destroyed by fire in 1932 and rebuilt in 1937 using some of the same stone. Hopefully the Grand Canyon Lodge can be rebuilt quickly along with the cabins that perished.

Courtesy of Google.

The North Rim is closed for the rest of the year so I won’t be able to capture more amazing images like I have over the last 15 years. It was a great place to escape along with the adjacent Kaibab National Forest from the extreme heat in Southern Utah where I reside. It would be 100 degrees in Utah but 75 degrees at GC. Here’s some memorable images from the past in and around the lodge.

From just outside the Lodge, this was my friend’s first sight of the Grand Canyon.
The power was out at the Lodge but they served us lunch anyways, inside. It snowed about 5 inches and this was one week before Memorial Day! The North Rim sets at about 8,500 feet in elevation, summer happens later. You’ll notice in this photo that you can’t even see the canyon.
A storm approaches the Lodge at sunset.

A window into the soul of the Grand Canyon from the Lodge.

Just below the lodge, someone is adventurous.
Wildflowers thrive in the summer at Kaibab National Forest adjacent to the North Rim. Hopefully, the forest will reopen this year as it also experienced wildfires.. Those fires are almost under control.
July is the time of the year to search for the many species of wildflowers at Grand Canyon National Park and Kaibab National Forest.
Fall is a great time to visit as the Aspens show off their colors.
Fog lifts from the bottom of Grand Canyon National Park as seen from the North Rim.
It was an electric evening at The Lodge.
I already miss camping at The North Rim.
From the North Rim, you can photograph the monsoons approaching from the south.
These tourists probable don’t know how dangerous this perch is.

Beautiful Monument Valley Sunset

Aerial Photography, Arizona, Desert Southwest, Drone Produced, Utah, video

Beautiful light and a beautiful landscape are good ingredients for a Beautiful Video of Monument Valley at dusk. . A beautiful rainbow appears on request. Beautiful music is Dreams Of You by Icarus featuring Rae Morris. Watch in HiDef at Full Screen.

Photography Workshops Now Forming In Utah And Arizona. Discounts For WordPress Members

Aerial Photography, Arizona, Desert Southwest, Drone Produced, Equipment, Instruction, National Parks, Night Sky, Out In The Field, Photo Workshops, Photography, Zion

If you’re visiting the area, sign up for one of my photography workshops that will get you to those iconic and hard to get to locations at America’s Amazing Desert Southwest. You’ll not only receive photography instruction, but will experience a guided tour of the areas natural resources and history. WordPress Members Get 20% Off Through 2025. Use Discount Code WP2025. Can take groups up to 3 people.

https://www.dawn2dawnphotography.com/photography-workshops

New Photography Workshop Video

Arizona, Desert Southwest, Instruction, National Parks, Photo Workshops, Photography, Utah, video, Zion

Updated with new images. Photography workshops in the Southern Utah and Northern Arizona area. I can get you to some really fun and remote locations in the area.

https://www.dawn2dawnphotography.com/photography-workshops