Showing posts with label Utah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Utah. Show all posts

Monday, February 18, 2013

Uintah Long Form


Uintah Long Form from Patrick Cullis on Vimeo.

  Here is the original video I made of Fantasy Canyon and the Uintah Basin in Utah.  In the "Ozone Balloons and the Uintah Basin" video I shortened the footage down and removed most of the night photography and time-lapse videos so that it could better capture the scene of our research and the strange atmospheric movements caused by the temperature inversion in the Basin.  This video takes a more leisurely stroll through the area, enjoying the movement of shadows on sculpted rock formations in Fantasy Canyon and the incredibly vivid sunsets through the pollution haze of the oil fields.

  Music by Chad Parsons.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Fantasy Canyon

Rock formation at Fantasy Canyon in Utah
  I went out to Venal, Utah for work and was lucky to be able to photograph an amazing formation in the Uintah Basin.  Fantasy Canyon is a pristine piece of beauty tucked away inside the vast sprawl of Utah's oil fields.  We were there measuring winter time ozone levels which have hit some amazingly high numbers over the past several years, and I had some free time to set up my cameras while the data came down. 
Fresh Powder on Fantasy Canyon
  We first found out about the small state park because of a curious mind and a brochure in the Vernal Airport Enterprise Rent-a-Car. 
  We were given permission to run a tether in the parking lot of the Canyon for vertical ozone and meteorological profiles.  The Uintah Basin is surrounded by three ranges of mountains which trap polluted air inside of it like a fish bowl.
Measuring Ozone from a Tether

Chance suited up for a cold afternoon.
Balloon above Fantasy Canyon
Fantasy Canyon from the balloon
  For one run I actually attached my helmet camera to the balloon in order to get some better views of the surrounding landscape.  The "canyon" consists of the eroding rocks seen just below and left of center.

I see a mayan chieftain in this silhouette.
  I worked the afternoon shift at the canyon several times and was treated to some pretty fantastic sunsets.  It felt wonderful out there in the sun, but as soon as it set, temperatures dropped in to the single digits.

  
Ozone Balloon joins Jupiter and the Pleiades
Witches Head and Three Dogs at night




Monday, October 29, 2012

01 - Arches National Park

Arches National Park
   We awoke in Moab and started the trip off with breakfast at the Love Muffin.  Service was incredibly fast and the food was delicious.  Highly recommended.  Then, after a swing by the consignment shop for Halloween ideas, we took the quick drive North to Arches National Park.
Driving around Arches National Park

  Arches really was amazing, and I'm not quite sure if this was my first time there.  I vaguely remember driving through the area in our giant van when I was young, but what I REALLY remember was playing hacky sack and surfing on my Uncle's battery guzzling Lynx...
Approaching Double Arch
  We eased in to the trip by pretty much staying in the car the whole day as we soaked up the late afternoon sunshine on one of the prettiest roads in America.   One stop we did make was at the short hike out to Double Arch.
Beneath Double Arch
From Under Double Arch
   I was really intent on practicing with the telephoto, but with exception of these couple pictures, it pretty much stayed confined to the camera bag until our last day in Zion.  I love this lens.  Thanks Kurt!
Arches National Park
Delicate Arch
  Our last stop was at the famous Delicate Arch.  The rangers should call the exterminator.  Their land is covered with ants...