This week’s Foto Friday Fun features images chosen by nine readers including Grand Canyon and other national parks.
Jennifer chose #4444. A peak at Capitol Reef National Park from Scenic Byway UT24 during a way too short vacation in October 2015.
Diane and Nigel chose #507. They may remember driving past Jacob Lake Fire Tower when visiting Grand Canyon. This shot was taken my first season at the North Rim while exploring the area but before blogging in 2008. Yes, I climbed it, along with a couple other towers.
Yogi chose #3909. This calico colored Wild Dog galloped down the road after the rest of the pack in Kruger National Park, South Africa, during my 2014 visit.
Gilda chose #8888. A milky way shot from the Lodge at the North Rim Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, during July 2016. I have taken very few night shots since then and the skies at Bryce are extremely dark.
Rita chose #5398. During July monsoon lightning frequently strikes and in this shot smoke is rising from such a hit in the depths of Grand Canyon.
TreDeuce chose #1923, one of six in a panorama. Late light on the Kelso Dunes creates crisp lines next to shadows. Mojave National Preserve, California 2-20-16, from camp.
Pat chose #2804, “the last four digits of my phone number backwards.” I didn’t have a phone number when taking this shot of the valley below Swartberg Pass in South Africa during my 2013 visit.
Jo chose #1207, “when our oldest grandson, Joshua turns 13.” This shot is a Grand Canyon birthday present for Joshua. Brady Peak and beyond seen from Vista Encantada overlook on the North Rim in 2009.
Jodee and Bill chose #913. They drive a lot of back roads exploring wherever they travel. I like to do that too. This 2009 shot is returning to SR89 from a Lake Powell overlook on the Arizona/Utah border near Page.
I so admire the tenacity of life in the desert.
Thank you for playing along with Foto Friday Fun which allows me to share these photographs and memories. Please join in next week by leaving a number between 1 and 9999 in your comment below.
Do you have a favorite this week?
A special thank you for those who weighed in on my last post. I thank you for suggestions, recommendations, and just listening.
Dark skies at Bryce should be a bonanza of opportunities for celestial photography.
2931 for next week, please.
It really is, just getting my butt out there after dark is difficult. #2931 for next week.
I love the Milky Way photo, Gaelyn. Let’s do 36 for next week, as that’s how may thousands of feet we flew over the Grand Canyon on Monday.
Thanks. I’m only a little jealous about your recent flight view. 😉 #36 for next week.
I love the milkway shot, very happy with my choice. Dark skies over Bryce Canyon will probably give you some amazing photos 🙂
Thanks. When I’m out operating scopes at work the dark skies blow visitors mind. Now I just need to get out there on my own and shoot. #8998 for next week.
We left the North Rim on our motorcycles and headed to Pipe Springs N. M. Just past there we stopped, because it was to cold to continue, and pulled off the road out into the desert and laid our bags down.
The sky was ablaze with uncountable stars like an intensely sparkling celestial bowl over the world. My traveling companion, a city boy who had never camped out before our trip, had never seen anything like it. I ventured the question of how it could it have ever started. The typical response is ‘God made it all’. My response is always… and where did God come from. Who made her/him/it. That there is no conceivable reason for anything to exist even a void of nothing, Even ‘nothing’ implies ‘something’. It was too much for him and he pulled his bag over his head so he couldn’t see the stars and went to sleep.
The next morning he was still visibly bothered by what he saw and what I said. But we did return to the subject several times over the years. He could never grasp the concept, but his sister understood it without a problem.
His dad was a missionary and he was Canadian, but born in Cape Town, South Africa.
Good story.
“Dark skies ‘blow’ visitors mind.” _ Amazing enough all those distant stars, But I venture something even more amazing. For me, a real Mind Blower.
In the first 3-minutes after the ‘Big Bang’ 14-Billion years ago, Hydrogen & Helium were formed creating the building blocks for the universe we inhabit. Those elements coalesced into stars and solar systems. In the sun, elemental Hydrogen fuses to create Helium-4, a reaction that produces energy of various forms, among other things.
When the Sun burns up nearly all its Hydrogen it expands into a Red Giant and starts fusing Helium atoms, producing Carbon.
In the final stage, the sun explodes sending Carbon and other elements out into space from which other stars & planets are formed.
The point of all of the above is… carbon. From carbon, and other atoms and elements, but primarily carbon, we get life. And while the mere existence of space, the stars, and planets is unreal enough, the fact that carbon dust from the core of an exploding star has become ‘sentient’, carbon that Thinks, is Self-aware, and is Curious, for me is the real ‘mind blower’.
Forgot to say can I have 8998 for next Friday? Thanks
I meant Milky Way…oops
All good, but the Milky Way (wish I had one right now, haha) photo is wondrous. Next week put me down for 247. Just measured my blood pressure and that is my systolic, diastolic, and pulse rate all added together!
What, no Milky Way where you are? 😉 Thanks. #247 for next week. I hope all those separate where good.
All great photos but my favourite has to be the wild dog, I just love them and leopards, my two most favourite wild
animals. Having said that the milky way is fabulous. 1217 for next week please. Happy weekend, Diane and Nigel
Thanks. I loved seeing the wild dogs. #1217 for next week.
As always Gaelyn there are brilliant photo’s here. I have to say I love the shot I chose last week of the July Monsoon Grand Canyon . My favourite this week is that wonderful shot of the Milky Way North Rim Grand Canyon National Park. Have a great weekend.
Thank you. I figured you’d like all the canyon shots.
Your night sky is really good! But I’ll take the struggle for desert survival on AZ 89. For next week I’d like 89 are currently on US 89 in MT.
Thanks. That highway 89 does get around.
The back road highways of ’89’, ’93’ ’95’, & ‘191’. Start in southern Arizona and go all the way up into Montana and the Canadian border.
These highways are a scenic and historic adventure, each worthy of a dedicated trip. I have boondocked all three and hope to catch part of them again.
I like best the back roads and byways.
Hi Gaelyn,, the wild dog is awesome but I love the last image in your post. Reminds ,me of an escarpment we used to visit in Mali, West Africa. Sorry I’m late this week; m brother passed away this week so my days were taken up by helping my older brother arrange the memorial. I choose 8719 (the date my brother passed) for this week. Have a great day. Jo
Do you host photography sessions as part of your ranger talks? That could be a step towards more part time work in the future, leading photography excursions in parks and whatnot. Could be a side gig as you camp host?
Your Grand Canyon shots once again captivate me. My surprise favorite was the sand dune panorama, though.
Number 6391 for me next week, please!
I am considering a photo full moon walk for next month. But honestly, most people are shooting with their phones. Glad you enjoyed this weeks shots. #6391 for next week.
Thanks Jo. I am sorry about the loss of your brother. #8719 for next week.
It’s an amazing country. I enjoy your photos! #3333 next week!
Yes it is. Thank you. #3333 for next week.
I love the milky way shot. I am going to have to figure out how to do it but I wonder if the sky is dark enough for it to work in town where I live.
6292 from random dot org for next week.
Thanks. Can you see the milky way from where you live? #6292 for you and random next week.
The back roads along the AZ/UT border are some of our favorites – thanks for sharing this one! That milky way shot really is incredible.
#355 for next week please
Thanks. Back roads are great everywhere, as you prove all the time. #355 for next week.