Horseshoe Bend Photo

Photographer’s Note

Horseshoe Bend in the Colorado River is upstream from the Grand Canyon and downstream from Glen Canyon Dam. Considering the popularity of this viewpoint, it's surprising that there is no sign on the highway directing people here. You have to read a guidebook to find that a particular unmarked dirt road outside Page, Arizona takes you to a parking lot from which an 0.7 km hike gets you here. You hike across a flat desert landscape and suddenly this appears in front of you (so hopefully you're looking where you're going, instead of at the cute girlfriends/boyfriends of other hikers or something.)

After planning to post this, I saw that some other shots from the same location had already been posted, so I hesitated. Then I saw that those other shots had snagged a lot of green smileys, so I figured I should cash in too! ;-)

SampraS, Floydian, jhm, pitai, ngythanh, elihesamian, gervaso, izler, thor68 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Jribeirosantos (1908) 2006-03-23 11:25

Amazing ... it looks like it was handmaid!

Very good shot!

Joana

fkk (1804) 2006-03-23 11:34

Merhaba Ken;
wooow beautiful idea, wonderful shot
great job.

catman-fatih

thor68 (5529) 2006-03-23 11:41

hi ken,
wonderful landscape shot! :-)
breathtaking view,
excellent pov with the horseshoe
fitting perfectly in the photo.
well seen & captured,
thor.

oochappan (22026) 2006-03-23 11:41

Indeed Ken, I was not always there but wandering through your gallery I enjoy such an evolution resulting in this beautuful view natural contrasted and saturated, your isolating this impressive nature phenomene by border framing takes us along to be right there.
Keep it on so that everyone can enjoy your passion.
Henk

Floydian (30970) 2006-03-23 11:48

Hi Ken,
Great shot, great place. Rich deep colors, really good..!!!
I am planning to go there myself in September, can you give me more info on how to get there. I am staying the night at the north rim and drive the next day to Page, wich road i need to get there.
The best time is high noon for taking picture is what i have read, is that correct?
Or maybe you can mail me? I would really appriciate that.
Regards, Henk

sonti_in (346) 2006-03-23 11:48 [Comment]

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pommedujardin (383) 2006-03-23 11:49

Bonjour Ken !
Belle prise de vue très impressionante.
J'ai moi même dans ma galerie ce même endroit mais bien moins bien maitriser que toi !

Bravo !

pommedujardin

baba_flies (7937) 2006-03-23 11:53

Impressive landscape, rugged and strong. Wonderful how the river goes around. Well done.

jhm (81687) 2006-03-23 12:29

Hi Ken,
I browsed today in your gallery, I find these picture very beautiful through the horseshoe model indeed, the curving of the river around the rocks gives a excellent composition. Real colours too!
Very well done!
John.

ramthakur (1501) 2006-03-23 12:30

You deserve a lot of smileys for this remarkable shot, Ken. Your point of view is truly dramatic and projects this great charisma of nature very impressively.
Well done and thanks for sharing.

mlopes (492) 2006-03-23 16:16

I would cut a little from the top, it's a little overexposed, but apart that, everything about this is soooo cool. Not the first time i see this place, but it keeps drawing my attencion... nature is ggreat!
Mário

vts_ch (2624) 2006-03-23 18:14

with your image, I sudenly realise the power of water, using the rocks years after years, century after century, with a calm and nonchalent power.
I like this one more than any of your serie, the POV is remarcable and the use of small focal amplifies the perspective, wich is a great idea for that kind of shot.

Really nice
See ya

cloverstar (0) 2006-03-23 18:30

This is an amazing view. Very good composition and point of view. Good strong colours.

pitai (3925) 2006-03-23 22:07

Incredible view.... what a beautiful perspective. I love a lot the depth and contrast of colors. The shapes of this place is really a master peace of mother nature. Thanks for sharing. Gabriel

Cormac (26447) 2006-03-23 23:09

Spectacular shot Ken! I can't believe that I was in the area a couple of years ago and I missed this (although I don't feel so bad now that you explained about the lack of signs!). Your shot is perfectly positioned, showing the huge, sweeping curve of the river and the surrounding rocks. Great light too (maybe there was a cloud overhead to tame the highlights). Excellent!

ngythanh (8492) 2006-03-24 6:07

Your photo is quite different from other posts, due to the dark foreground that you captured. With the blue sky reflects strongly over the Colorado River, you gave us a kind of pleasure while being dried over hot rocky area.

I have never been to Arizona, but friends told me I will need to drive south on "89" from Page, walk west a little, before I could see this. As one who have explored the area, what are your tips for me?

Thanks,

Thanh

elihesamian (26091) 2006-03-26 12:56

Amazingly beautiful,Ken ! :)
What a POV !
What a nature!
every time I see a shot from this place made me wonder about details,
A Nature with endless beauties,
Very well worked and captured and very well composed this horseshoe shape river,nice colors and very well well reached the deatiles and contrast,nicely done,Ken,

Best
M

flydragon (0) 2006-03-26 12:57

hello Ken
what a beautifull view
and also good natural color
i would love to see this in real
like you did i guess it was amazing
regards
••simon••

sorry green later

gervaso (4968) 2006-03-28 13:37

Really a wonderful view, and very interesting shape of the rocks surrounded by the river. Excellent point of view you've chosen!

danielswalsh (13297) 2006-04-16 23:34

Now this shot I like...

I feel it's only right to comment more on some of your shots I like, after the constructive criticism I gave on the others.

I've seen this bend before, and it makes for a great subject. Quite jealous as my aunt and uncle just took a helicopter trip through the canyon. Man, would I love to do that!

Good composition and colors, a little tiny bit overexposed near the top of the frame but not too distracting. My only suggestion (which is a personal preference I guess) would be a touch of sharpening.

All the best Ken,
- Dan

izler (6) 2006-04-23 10:58

hi ken
beautiful canyon photo. POV, colors and contrast are great. your photo note is explanatory. tfs
regards
izler