INSPIRATION Amongst the HOODOOS
                                                                    By Jim Moerschel

I can vividly remember my first drive through the Ponderosa Pine forest and fir-spruce forest
Of the Paunsaugunt Plateau in Utah as I entered a place called Bryce Canyon – a place that I
Had seen many photos of, but had never witnessed in person. It was November 1997, and the
Forest scenery, although very pleasant was lulling my senses and not preparing me for the vivid
Showcase that awaited.

After entering the park and driving a mile up to the visitor center, I saw a sign for the Fairyland
Point road. A short drive and an equally short walk to the edge of the rim gave me my first
Glimpse of this absolutely stunning landscape. Very few scenes have ever affected me the way
This park does. The view shocks the visual senses to new heights, draws “oohs and ahhs” from
The viewers and whether you are a seasoned photographer, a casual one or non image maker,
This place simply cries out to you to “take my picture.”

I had arrived late in the afternoon on that first trip and I was compelled to begin shooting from
The rim. At first, I was using my 24 – 70mm zoom on my Nikon N90s on the widest angle
Trying to fill the frame with the entire ampitheater. This is the usual reaction – to take in the
Overall scene at first glance. With the general scenic “in the bag” I loaded two cameras with
Fuji Velvia, placed a 100 – 300mm zoom on one and kept the 24 –70mm on the other. With my
Bogen tripod in hand I made the walk down Fairyland loop Trail. All along the way there were
Spectacular formations of fins, towers, columns and slots that formed a myriad of mazes to walk
Through, providing endless image making opportunities.

Collectively, all of the dizzying array of these wonderfully eroded formations are called
HOODOOS. They are bizarre, whimsical and fanciful to the eye and in groups or clusters they
Become fairy tale castles, medieval fortresses and ancient cities. All it takes is a little imagination.
I sat down on the trail and took all of this in on my first hike amongst the HOODOOS and I
Was hooked!

Many people visit here, usually 1.5 million every year, but very few spend much time here. Many
Folks spend a few hours driving the 18 miles of rim road, stopping at the many overlooks and
Then leave. There are so many wonders to be discovered here and so many photographs to
Be created here that a serious image maker should spend at least a few days exploring this
Dynamic park.

As with any fantastic scenic location, good photography is dependant on quality lighting. Time
Of day with the sweet light of very early morning and the same just before sundown is enough
Reason to spend several days here to have more opportunities to experience the moods from
Various vantage points throughout the canyon. Each day I spend here begins with a drive in
Darkness so as to arrive at a designated rim location or a predetermined spot along a trail for
A scenic at “first light.” This way I’m set with my tripod at the precise spot I’ve selected for
The rising sun. There are several ampitheaters along the eastern rim and as the sun rises,
Each of these horseshoe shaped locales receives the light at different angles. Depending where
The photographer places his/her tripod determines how the light will affect the intended image.
The mood of the scenes rapidly changes with the ever changing light and this enables the photographer an infinite variety of ever changing scenes.

As one walks the trails, there are lots of foreground and nearby subjects that add interest
Either by themselves as subjects, or as foreground elements for landscape scenics. There are
Gnarly bristlecone pines, charred trees from long ago fires and lightning strikes, unusual
Rocks and twisted logs all along each of the trails that stir the imagination and fuel the creative
Process for wonderful images. Add to that a nice dusting of snow or frost if you come here
In early November. Just like adding icing on an orange colored cake.

Bryce Canyon is at a high elevation (10,000 feet), so it does make hiking for some a bit difficult.
The Navajo Loop Trail is rather short and not too hard and it has plenty of great photography
Opportunities all along. If one is pressed for time I would say that this trail would give a visitor
A nice experience, with or without a camera.

Most of my images have been created using both the 24 – 70mm and 100 – 300mm zoom lenses.
By zooming in and out all along the trails, I’ve been able to see how the scene changes with
The varying focal lengths. This helps keep the creative juices flowing constantly. Bring a few
Filters along in your pack. A graduated gray is good when the bright sky will be included
In the scene to help bring the contrast closer. A couple of warming filters such as 81A and
81B will add some warm hues to the red/orange rock formations. And last but not least a
polarizing filter is a good bet. My film of choice is Velvia (ISO 50). This film will add plenty
of color punch to these already bizarre scenes you will discover here and it’s very fine grain
feature will yield crisp enlargements. I hope that some of you will visit Bryce someday and
experience the magic and become inspired as you walk amongst the HOODOOS. I wish you
good luck in your image making.
                                                                                               Jim