Tag Archives: canoe

Our 3rd and 4th days we’re spent camping and canoeing through Santa Elena Canyon. This was a captivating experience and immediately I knew it wouldn’t be our last trip.

Canyon walls framed this star shot at 3am

Canyon walls framed this star shot, cropping Orion at 3am

Light floods in over the walls and then in the next bend your floating in shadows. This presented it’s own challenges shooting with my Sony a6000 as I am using all old full manual Nikkor 25mm and 35mm prime lenses. These lenses are great for static shots, but with our boat moving and then our river partners boat moving it wasn’t easy to get the focus dialed. Thus, most of my “action” shots didn’t make it into this batch of photos. I do really enjoy the subtle cool whites these lenses achieve though, seen in the photograph below @ right corner.

My favorite co-pilot Michelle, steady’s the boat for a river portrait.

Our campsite for night 3, now bathed in morning light

Once the sun broke over the East canyon wall Kody jumped in for an invigorating morning bath

Our dry well, $15 bin, roof straps to secure & it’s the most convenient way to stow your gear.

Standing to stretch her legs, thanks for these 2 photos Kody Gibson

Each bend in the canyon offers a new cascade of light and shadow

Kody and Jenny worked together and steered their 1980’s Mohawk canoe through a bunch of fun Class I & II rapids

Scouting Rock Slide Rapid

The river walls are full of features torn into the canyon

At the canyon’s end, lines in the walls sending you out into the park.

One more entry of photographs to come, all detail shots from the trip! Check back shortly…

Santa Elena Canyon via Canoe: 4 Dias y 3 Noches, Part 1

December 14, 2016

Photography, Travel

7 Comments

Double Exposure, Spinning Eclipse

Michelle and I had done a number of extended trips on the water, but this was our first multi-day excursion in our new old canoe. Paddling through Big Bend National Park, we went from Lajitas through Santa Elena Canyon with our friends Kody and Jenny, soaking in vast starscapes, glowing canyon walls and some fun Class II water. My goal for the trip was to find some desert inspiration for photos and sketches, enjoy the company of good friends and immerse ourselves in Big Bend’s border waterway the Rio Grande.

At camp, Kody lights up the wall while firelight dances orange through the canyon.

Loaded down with our gear for a 4 day trip luckily didn’t have to make any significant portages. I had done a lot of new outfitting to the boat to ready for the trip so everything went real smooth and comfy. Organized and prepared we were able to focus on the views and relaxing. Each night our campsites continued to impress us and since we accomplished a 2-3 day trip in 3-4 days we got to spend nearly 2 whole days inside of the canyon. Camping in the canyon was an incredible experience, scroll down to see some of my favorite photos from the trip.

Starting the trip with clear skies and still water.

Setting up our first campsite at dusk

We awoke to stomping horse hoofs. Rounding our tent and then narrowly passing by this mother horse tried to distract us from her colt across the river.

Excited for day 2, our canoe was ready to float us onward

A shallow rapid awaited us at each river bend, most of which at this low flow rate pushed straight into the rivers walls. Here Kody and Jenny navigate one of the more rewarding rapids of the day near a confluence.

A shallow stony rapid awaited us at each river bend, most of which at this low 200cfs flow rate would push straight into the river’s walls. Here Kody and Jenny navigate one of the more rewarding rapids of the day near a confluence just above our second campsite.

Today as it happened was Thanksgiving, so a tasty meal of stuffing, taters, summer sausage and gravy was served up. Great way to celebrate the holiday with friends and a warm sunset.

Today as it happened was Thanksgiving, so after a refreshing skinny dip in the Rio Grande, a tasty meal of stuffing, taters, summer sausage and gravy was served up. Great way to celebrate the holiday with friends and a warm sunset.

This was my first chance on the trip to shoot some night shots, since on day one I crawled into my tent at 8PM and crashed…

I shot with a few prime lenses this trip, this one a 35mm, so tried to do my cropping by moving forward and backward of the subject. I was excited about this composition reminding me of the small scenes from the corners of landscape romanticism paintings.

Rain was in the forecast this morning, as we woke up to a light drizzle. We went on a day hike out to a bluff and a nearby slot canyon. Michelle poses with her trusty “snack pack”, cheesing it up for the camera with Jenny. Traveling with Michelle is a constant inspiration to stop and enjoy the details of what is around you. Here she teaches us about Resurrection moss and leafing Ocotillo.