Postcard from Chicago

There is a unquantifiable trigger in the mind of an artist when they know immediately they have created something special. It is a special feeling that overwhelms one’s state of mind and is impossible to put into words. So it is with this image.

I started with a concept based on a sketch I had done previously. And although the final image turned out to be different than what I had originally envisioned, the original concept was fulfilled. In fact it was fulfilled way beyond my original expectations.

I recently watched a film called “The Prestige” about magicians and their tricks. In it, one of the characters said that to reveal the secret of a trick is to give away its value, and something very special becomes quite ordinary and unspectacular. I thought about that line in depth and how it applied to my photography and paintings.

So for that reason, I won’t go into detail about the creation of this image…except to say it started from an original photograph I took in Chicago that I turned into a sketch. You have probably seen photos of the Chicago Theater on State Street as it is one of great landmarks of the “Windy City.”

Unlike a magician’s illusion, this illusion is real. I created it out of my own artistic voice and it hit an artistic home run, at least in my mind. I titled the image, “The Old Chicago Scrapbook.” But it is not a photograph of a real book. It is the pure invention of an artist.      

Thank you for letting me puff out my chest and brag a little…I hope you understand. I would be interested in hearing your views on this image, if you care to share them.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)
To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Tucson

Spring is bustin’ out all over…to paraphrase an old, old song. It also describes perfectly what is happening now, here in Tucson. The wildflowers are out in abundance. I live in the western foothills above Tucson, and the hillsides are carpeted in yellow and pink. On Monday, I ran an errand…and there they were. Surprised the heck out of me! I was out and about two days before and didn’t see a one. 

Frankly, I am surprised to see any this year. I wasn’t sure we had enough winter rain to make it happen. Last year, we had no wildflowers to speak of. But, it all must have come together because we are loaded this year.

I will let you in on a little secret…this picture is from 2010 when we had a banner wildflower year. But, right now, it looks just about the same. I haven’t been out with my camera yet, but will shortly.

Spring is a special time in southern Arizona. Not only are the wildflowers in bloom (and soon the cactus flowers), but the temperatures are just perfect…it was 72 yesterday and will be 77 today. Baseball has already started, college games are underway; major league teams are in camp and will start the Cactus League games shortly. Even though we don’t have any teams training here anymore, there will be three major league spring training games played in Tucson in March.

In a couple of weeks, we have the Tucson Book Festival, one of the largest of its kind in the nation. And of course concerts and lectures continue. The UofA Jazz Festival will be in two weeks. Spring is an amazing, wonderful time here in Tucson, and you can bet I will be taking it all in…in shorts and a t-shirt of course. 

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Chicago

Now admit it…when was the last time you saw a speech made in 1893 spelled out in lights on a grand staircase? Well here it is. This is inside the Chicago Institute of Art. Here you see just one of the staircases. There are others, all with parts of the speech spelled out in lights. It was quite a sight to behold for the first time.

The speech was given in 1893 by Swami Vivekananda at First World Parliament of Religions, held in Chicago in conjunction with the World’s Columbia Exposition. The Parliament was the earliest attempt to create a global dialogue of religious faiths, and Vivekananda, eloquently addressing its 7,000 attendees, argued for an end of fanaticism and a respectful recognition of all traditions of belief through universal tolerance. A great idea.

The staircase was the brainchild of Indian artist Jitish Kallat. His goal was to connect two historical moments: the First World Parliament of Religions held on September 11, 1893, and the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on that very date, 108 years later.

The work is called Public Notice #3 and is a comment on the evolution, or devolution, of religious tolerance across the 20th and 21st centuries. I think the latter is more the case. I personally find religious intolerance to be intolerable, but once more, we find ourselves steeped in fanaticism throughout the world, even among religions that supposedly have their origins in the same place.

It’s ironic that this staircase, representing a speech on religious intolerance, leads up to some of the most beautiful paintings in the world. I guess the Swami’s speech fell on deaf ears.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Utah

It seems there is no end to the beauty of southern Utah…and there may not be. This image was taken in Long Canyon, a fantastic part of the Burr Trail. The Burr trail is a side road that comes off of Utah’s famous Highway 12, maybe one of the most beautiful highways in America.

The Burr Trail begins in Boulder, UT and is clearly marked. It winds for 68 miles, of which only the first18 miles are paved. I must admit that I never went past the point where the paved road ends, mainly because it has just rained.

The complete road runs down through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument into Capital Reef National Park and then to Bullfrog in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Almost the entire road can be called “scenic,” to put it mildly.

Long Canyon is 12 miles from Boulder and is 7 miles long…hence the name. It is absolutely beautiful as you might guess from this photo. You approach the canyon from up on high which gives you a spectacular view of the first section of it. When I got there, a rain storm was just ending, so I had fabulous clouds all the way through the canyon. I got lucky that day!

The narrow canyon itself is enclosed by sheer walls of Wingate sandstone which tower hundreds of feet above the road. The sandstone has fractured and eroded, forming alcoves. Some of the dark red sandstone has been leached by water to a whitish shade, and black desert varnish stains some of the vertical walls. There is even a small arch, if you look closely.

If you ever make it down that way, be sure and take a drive down this amazing road…or even part of it. Be sure and stop often in Long Canyon to appreciate all of its treasures. A word of caution…if you want to do the entire drive, make sure it has not rained for a few days. The dirt section of the road can become impassable, even for all wheel drives.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Zion

Wouldn’t you just love to sit by yourself at this spot to watch the sun go down and contemplate your life, nature, and how good it is to be at a place like this? Actually, so would I. When you are at this spot at sunset, especially in Autumn, you are not alone. You are usually surrounded by many photographers…in fact if you want a good spot, you better get there at least an hour early.

Zion National Park is an extremely popular place in November because of the Autumn colors, of course. And this spot is probably the most popular spot in Zion at sunset…or really any time of day.

It easy to find. Its only a couple of miles from the south entrance to the park…and its on the only automobile bridge that crosses the Virgin River. One must stand on the sidewalk on the bridge because if you don’t, you run the risk of being yelled at by a park ranger. And it’s a narrow sidewalk, which is another reason to come early.

The large mountain formation in the photo is called The Watchman. To get a good shot, it needs to be at sunset, so you get a red glow off of the the Watchman and the other nearby rock formations…and you definitely want some clouds. This is probably not the best collection of clouds ever seen here, but it was by far the best of the 4 days that I tried to get the right shot. My friend Dave, who was next to me on the bridge, says he has come here for 10 years and has only been satisfied with one photo over all that time.

So me, I will have to settle for this shot, but I do like it as I captured the sunset glow off the mountains as well as a few clouds. Like some of the other Zion photos shown here, this was a five exposure shot, reduced into one using the Exposure Fusion method.

By the way, if you turn 180 degrees and walk to the other side of the bridge, you will see this view:

  

Not a bad spot to spend sunset at, eh?

(To see a larger version of either photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Zion

In this blog, I am going to give you a chance to compare an HDR photo with an Exposure Fusion photo. In my last blog, I talked about the differences between HDR and Exposure Fusion…without showing you the differences. Today, I am going to give you the chance to compare two similar images.

Back on December 12, I shared a similar image in this blog. The difference between that one and this one is I used the Exposure Fusion method on this latest image. In the December image, I used HDR (High Dynamic Range).

Both shots were originally done using five exposures at the same location, then blended down into one shot using one of the two methods.

You can click on the above link and see the HDR image in the original December blog. But a better method would be to click on this link in one tab of your browser (this image), then click on this link (the Dec. 12 image) in a second tab. What you will see are the two images in a larger size to give you a chance to compare each method side-by-side.

In my opinion, the newest version done with Exposure Fusion image gives a better photographic rendering and is less painterly. But, you decide which is better. I would definitely love to hear your opinion.

If you would like a little more detail on the differences between the two processes and why they differ, I recommend this short article from the Digital Photography School Website. Don’t worry, it isn’t too technical.

Again, please drop me a note a share your impressions.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Zion

This photo was taken early one morning at the Court of Patriarchs inside Zion National Park. It only shows part of the “Court,” but that is fine. Turns out this is the only shot I got this morning with any semblance of the dawn’s early light. My friend Dave, who was with me on this expedition, arrived before dawn and set up our cameras and tripods.

Dave chose a spot further down the Virgin River, while I was a little further upstream on a sandy beach. We had preselected our spots the day before. This location is difficult to find the right spot as there are a ton of trees on both sides of the river. I don’t mind the ones on the other side, as you see here, they enhance the scene. The ones on this side of the river block the view, making it difficult to see the Court in all its splendor. Shooting through trees seldom renders any quality photo.

After setting up, we patiently waited for dawn…and waited…and waited. Oh,  the sun came up right on schedule, but it was behind a cloud. Then, for one brief moment, it partially broke through just enough for me to get this shot. Then hid itself once again while I patiently wait for another breakthrough. It never happened.

Still, I like this photo with its little bit of sunlight and, of course, the setting moon sneaking into the picture. A little pink in the clouds doesn’t hurt either. Sadly, Dave came away with nothing. Such is the photographer’s life.

For those interested in the technique, I exposed this scene in 5 rapid shots, each with a slightly different aperture setting. My original plan was to use and HDR software program to combine the images, then finished the final image off in Photoshop.

But by the time I got to finally work on this image, I discovered a new technique called “Exposure Fusion.” It works the same way as HDR, but (without boring you with details), it combines the images in a different manner. My experiments show that most Exposure Fusion photos come out with a more photo-realistic image, less painterly than HDR.

I will continue to experiment with both processes and see which will win out in the long run. But right now, I am pretty excited about this new process. Stay tuned…and you be the judge.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Oakland

I photographed this image back in May last year while cruising downtown Oakland for architectural masterpieces…something I love to do in big cities This image is from inside the Catholic Cathedral, appropriately named “The Cathedral of Christ the Light.” I titled this image, “A Not-So-Divine Mystery.”

Now I thought that was pretty clever on my part. But to explain, the Catholic Church has a term called “Divine Mysteries”…and according to the Catholic Encyclopedia, “This term signifies in general that which is unknowable, or valuable knowledge that is kept secret.” That would be things like communion, where the host turns into the body of Christ…or Christ’s ascension into heaven. In other words, mysteries that cannot be explained in logical, scientific terms. (Apologies to any Catholics or Christians if I get this wrong)

But the not-so-divine mystery here is…what the heck is this thing I photographed? Well, I won’t hold you in suspense. This architectural oddity is above the the rear of the church, where one enters or exits. It appears to be convex on the inside, but outside it is concave. So directly behind this structure is downtown Oakland…and the diagonal lines you see is light coming through. I think it works well as a black and white photo.

Interestingly, there is an exact replica of this structure in the front of the church, over the altar. But this one has a very large projection of Christ that appears to be behind it. It is quite striking, to say the least.  

The slats you see coming into both sides of the structure are louvered slats that run the entire length of the church that can change the amount of light being fed inside. The entire structure is quite innovative and ingenious and I encourage you to make a visit if you are ever in Oakland. It is open every day for visits and tours…and non-Catholics are welcome. After all, they let me and my camera come in. 

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Yosemite

This is Mirror Lake, although its closer to being a pond these days. It is located at the lower end of Tenaya Canyon, just below the famous Half Dome. I’ve been coming to this spot since I was a little boy. Although I have taken its picture many times, this photo was shot in May of 2011 on my most recent trip. The mountain reflection you see is Mt. Watkins.

In the old days, you could drive right to it. Today, you have to take one of the shuttle buses that drops you off at the trail head to the lake. From there is a mile walk to this spot. Actually, it is not a trail…it is the old paved road my family used to take back in the 50’s. I am not sure when they shut the road down for regular traffic. No matter. It’s a lovely, easy walk along Tenaya Creek directly below the face of Half Dome.

If you would like to see it, I recommend you do it sooner rather than later. You see, Mirror Lake is disappearing.

Mirror Lake is about the last remnant of the Old Yosemite Lake that once filled the entire Yosemite Valley. The lake was created by the melting of the last glacier that helped carved out this magnificent landscape. The original lake was anywhere from 300 to 600 feet deep, but was eventually filled in by the process of sedimentation. But a few remnants of it can be found throughout the National Park.

Today, Mirror Lake is fed by Tenaya Creek, which flows out of Tenaya Lake up in the high country. Over time, the creek deposits sediments from the lake and from its long journey down the canyon, thereby eventually displacing the water. For years, the National Park Service went in to remove the debris in order to keep Mirror Lake in a more pristine state for the tourists.

Eventually that policy was changed so Mirror Lake will one day disappear. A sad ending for me personally as this place is one my sacred icons. But our planet is always changing. The old expression, “Let nature take its course,” is perfectly suited for Mirror Lake.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Virgin

Yes, my friends, there really is a town called Virgin, and its in Utah (of course). This small town, located near Zion National Park, has less than a thousand people, and is known for two things…first and foremost, the town passed a law that requires every homeowner to keep and maintain a firearm, which includes ammo for it. There is a $500 fine for not complying with this law. The town council passed the ordinance in the year 2000 after residents expressed fear that their Second Amendment right to bear arms was under fire (no pun intended).

Exceptions have been made for the mentally ill, convicted felons, conscientious objectors and people who cannot afford to own a gun. I for one am happy about those exclusions as I passed through Virgin several times in November when driving to and from my hotel to Zion Park.

The second thing that makes the town interesting is this old west village just outside of town. I think it is a museum of sorts. What you see here is just part of it…these rather strange-shaped buildings that make you think you are in the Twilight Zone. There is very little info about it on the Internet…even the town’s official Website doesn’t even mention it.

In some shared photos, tourists have incorrectly identified it as a ghost town. I don’t think there ever was a town in the old west that looked like this! Some of the buildings have signs on them like,”Undertaker,” the “OK Corral,” “The Wild Ass Saloon,” and, of course, “The Virgin Jail.” 

Sadly, I never went in to explore the place…the only time I stopped was to take a few pictures. It looked like a tourist trap to me.

As a side note, I hope someone someday will explain the obsession that Utah folks have with the term, “Virgins.” There is the town Virgin, located on the Virgin River, which runs by the Towers of the Virgins mountain formation inside Zion Park. With no disrespect meant to any religious faith, its just a little eerie…that’s all. But each to their own.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Glacier

This is Avalanche Creek, a lovely, normal creek that flows out of beautiful Avalanche Lake in Glacier National Park. It’s normal, that is until it hits this rocky narrow canyon, then it becomes what is commonly called “rapids” as it rips through these narrows on the final part of its  journey to Lake McDonald.  

To get to this lovely view spot, just take the trail to Avalanche Lake. Shortly after leaving the parking area, you will see a bridge off to the left of the main trail. Just walk over to it and enjoy the beauty you see here.

But, if I were you, after viewing this lovely scene, I would rejoin the trail and keep going until you come to Avalanche Lake. It’s only about 3 miles round trip and well worth it. I showed photos of it here some time ago…it is a beautiful lake surrounded by steep high mountains with several waterfalls pouring into the lake. It is spectacular! And the scenery along the trail (and the more quieter parts of the creek) are also very enjoyable. Take your time and breathe it all in. Its well worth the journey if you are ever in Glacier National Park.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Lassen

This is Mt. Lassen as seen from Kings Creek Meadow. The creek meandering through the picture is (surprise!) Kings Creek. This meadow is at 7,400 feet elevation and about 4,000 feet below the Lassen Summit.

Nothing tricky about getting here as this scene was shot from alongside the road that traverses Lassen Volcanic National Park in California.  But it will involve a substantial drive, elevation wise. It is not far from the road’s highest point. But it is worth the drive as there are many rewards along the road including some lakes, meadows, rivers, steam vents, and of course, some tremendous views of this magnificent mountain.

It was pretty evident when I shot this photo that I would render it in black and white. The scene was perfect for it as it rendered the visual elements far more persuasively than if I had left it in color. Being so high in altitude, the light was crisp and clear of any negative elements like haze.

For your information, Lassen Park is in Northern California and is part of the Cascade Range, not the Sierras. The Cascades run from just north of Redding, California into Oregon, Washington, then on into Canada. It is a range of volcanoes, many of them considered active. Besides Lassen, the mountains include Shasta, Hood, St. Helens, Adams, and, of course Rainier… to name a few.

Of all the volcanoes in the Cascades, several of them are classified as active. We all know about St. Helens, but did you know that Lassen erupted during the years 1914-17? In all, 11 of the 13 volcanoes in the U.S. portion of the Cascade Range have erupted at least once in the past 4,000 years, and 7 have done so in just the past 200 years.

It would be a major catastrophe if a Rainier or Hood blew their tops as they are so close to major cities like Seattle and Portland. Vancouver, BC would be devastated if Mt. Garibaldi blew. In all, over 10 million people live around these three volcanoes.

But, after eruptions, over many years, and long after they quiet down, Mother Nature heals the damage, leaving behind some spectacular scenery…such as Kings Creek Meadow.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Quartzite, AZ

Colors Colors Colors

Colors colors colors
Give them to me
Full sky and spaces
My longing to see
Fill every dream way
Of its inside food
Let harp strings play
Their songs hued

Colors colors colors
Come here to be
Vast as the ocean
Tinctures explosions
The rivers of dreams
Inside their reams
Calling out the fire
Of spring come desire

Colors colors colors
Never be empty
With shading in places
Their tone so free
With nature in bright
And greenery lay
And in summer's night
With coming of May

Peter S Quinn

 

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Chicago

I’ve talked about the “El”, aka the Elevated Railway that runs throughout the great Chicago area, but I don’t believe I‘ve ever shown a photo of it. To be more precise, this section of the El is known as “The Loop” in downtown Chicago.

The El is Chicago’s Rapid Transit System, the second longest system in the US, smaller only to New York’s subway system. It began operations in 1892 and now consists of 8 separate lines, each designated by a color. It is run by the Chicago Transit Authority. All the lines, except the Red Line converge into the Loop, make a giant circle, then head out again on their various routes. The Loop is circular, but is actually shaped in the form a giant rectangle in the downtown area. This, of course, lets people from all over greater Chicago enter and exit into and out of the downtown area.

For instance, the Green Line starts way down on the Southside, comes into the loop, then heads due west to places like Oak Park. The Blue Line takes you out to O’Hare Airport while the Orange Line runs from the Loop out to Midway Airport.

This photo, looking north, shows the Loop as it runs on top of Wabash Street, near Adams. To get to a train, you would climb one level up from the street. The second level you see is just a bridge above the tracks to take you to the other side, if your train comes in there.    

I mentioned that the Red Line does not go into the loop. When I took this photo, I was standing on top of the Red Line as it comes into the downtown area underground. However, most of the Red Line is elevated above the city. FYI, the Red Line runs north and south and goes by both baseball stadiums…US Cellular Field on the Southside, and Wrigley Field to the North.  

In my trips to Chicago I rode on several of the lines and always found it to be an enjoyable experience. The El got me where I was going as fast as it could. I will never forget my first view of Wrigley Field was from the car of a Red Line train coming into the Addison Street Station. WOW! Chicago is definitely a very special place.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Tucson

This is one of those images that started out as one thing and turned into something entirely different. Let me explain.

My camera and I were wandering around the University of Arizona campus looking for different architectural elements. You have seen some of these photos in past blogs. I saw these interesting steps that were wide at the bottom and nearly converged at the top. I tried photographing them at different angles and thought I might find something of interest.

Later, when looking at photos in Lightroom, they were all duds! And I mean really boring duds. I almost erased them when I started playing with one of them and narrowed down the point of view to just the end of the steps and the rail. And for some reason, I liked what I had.

As you can see, there are lines that are straight, then take off in right angles and a rail rising up at and angle that gave the image depth. A little more cropping and some more Photoshop magic and I had a special image. Of course it is in black and white as there is no color to distract your eye (there was not much color to begin with).  So, you see the elements of the image as they are meant to be seen. 

Unlike some of my photos, I never tire of seeing this one. I hope you enjoy it also. If nothing else, it is a good lesson on the value of cropping and never giving up on an image until you have explored all the possibilities.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Yosemite

Back in May of last year, I showed you a photo very similar to this one. In fact it was taken on the same day and nearly at the same time. In going through my photos the other day, I found that I had a better composition of this same scene.

This one has much more emphasis on the reflections in the water. I must admit I am surprised I missed this image when reviewing the photos from my May trip to this great National Park. I am glad I went back and looked again.

Like the previous one, this can be classified as an HDR (High Dynamic Range) photo. I shot 5 successive photos instantaneously at different exposures, then combined them into one shot in post-processing…plus a little touch-up in Photoshop. I must say I love experimenting with HDR as it puts one’s photographic skills to the test like none other. But, in many cases, like this particular shot, it is the only way to go.

Here’s why:

This was photographed at the last waning moments of sunset where only Half Dome and the sky are lit up. The Merced River and the surrounding forest are in deep, deep shade. There is no way a single exposure with today’s camera could capture this scene…even using graduated neutral density filters (that is a topic for another day). I would love to thank the person or persons who came up with the concept of HDR…it adds new dimensions to what is capable with digital photography.

For your information, this was taken on the bridge that leads to Yosemite Village, just past the chapel. Trust me…you can’t miss it. It’s a good place to bring your camera (and tripod if shooting at sunset) to photograph this wonderful scene.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Ellensburg

There is a special little section of Washington State where I used to go every October to photograph when I called that state home. It is located just south of Ellensburg and yielded some wonderful Autumn images over the years. It had country roads loaded with trees, small farms, a river, ponds, nature trails and more. A few images from there became best-selling paintings and one photo even showed up on the cover of a music CD.

As I approached the area early one October Sunday morning, I saw a ground fog had enveloped the area and I knew some special images might just come my way. What you see here is one of them. The newly risen sun was filtered by the fog enough that I didn’t get any lens flare and the filtered light let me capture everything in the photo. I have a few more images from that morning that I will share with you in the future. As you might guess, the fog burned off fairly quickly so I had to move pretty fast to capture what I could.

Living here in the deep Southwest, I don’t get to see very much of Autumn. In November, I had to travel up to Zion to see those colors again. So I hope that those of you who live where Autumn shows all its glory can appreciate how special you have it.

On a personal note, I enjoyed my time away from blogging during the Christmas holiday, but am happy to be back. My wonderful son surprised me on Christmas day with a brand new high speed computer system with a large 23” monitor. Now, I can do my post processing and painting work at vastly accelerated speeds and they look better than ever before. I am a lucky guy.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Zion

This image, from last month’s trip to Zion, shows the “Great White Throne” (left) and a large rock formation known as “The Organ.” Barely visible at the bottom of the image is the Virgin River. I am not sure of the significance of all the names used in Zion National Park. You would have to ask someone with knowledge of the Book of Mormon…and that is not me. Obviously, since it is in Utah, the names make sense.

All I know is that it is one of the most spectacular places on the planet and I love going there. By the way, the location of these two rock formations is nearly at the end of the canyon. I photographed this image in the later part of the afternoon at a place nicknamed “Photo Point.” It is located on a short trail, down below a small parking lot. There is a plaque on a rock that talks about photography…hence its name. Trust me, it is easy to find. Let your eyes be your guide.

I would love to go back in late spring or summer and capture this scene in sunlight. In November, the sun is lower in the sky and circles around the back of these two monoliths. Of course, I would not be able to capture the Autumn colors then. Stayed tuned for more photographs of Zion and other great places I’ve been fortunate enough to photograph.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

If you subscribe to this blog by e-mail and wish to purchase a print or send a free e-mail greeting card using this image, click this link to the main Postcard Blog Site. Don’t forget, e-mail greeting cards are free.

Postcard from Winterhaven

Free!!! Here is another photo for you to use to send out free e-greeting cards to friends and relatives. Just click on the “Free E-Card” button below the photo and follow the simple instructions. If you want to be remembered to someone and did not send out Christmas cards this year, here is your easy solution. Another Christmas gift for you!

(Note: If you subscribe to this blog by e-mail and wish to purchase a print or send a free e-mail greeting card of this image, click this link to the main Postcard Blog Site. )

Just like my last blog, this photo was taken in Winterhaven, a special neighborhood in Tucson that goes all out at Christmas. It is a tradition here to walk the neighborhood at night to see the spectacular displays set up by homeowners here. This home may not be as spectacular as the last one I showed you, but its hard to pass up a good reflection. See…it does rain in Tucson!

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Winterhaven

Free!!! Use this photo to send out free e-greeting cards to friends and relatives. Just click on the “Free E-Card” button below the photo and follow the simple instructions. If you want to be remembered to someone and did not send out Christmas cards this year, here is your easy solution. My gift to you!

(Note: If you subscribe to this blog by e-mail and wish to purchase a print or send a free e-mail greeting card of this image, click this link to the main Postcard Blog Site. )

If you have a good memory and read this blog on a regular basis, you know I used this photo last year at Christmas time. A year ago I didn’t have a free e-card solution…which is why I published it again…so please make use of it.

This photo was taken in Winterhaven, a special neighborhood in Tucson that goes all out at Christmas. It is a tradition here to walk the neighborhood at night to see the spectacular displays set up by homeowners here. I hope to go back again this year before Christmas and do it again.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.