Grand Canyon - Remake of an Earlier Photo

This is a remake of a photo I took from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon which I have previously posted (Grand Canyon from the South Rim #1).

Taken back in May 2005 with my old Nikon Coolpix E8700 digital (not an SLR and shot as jpeg) I just spent some time developing the photo again from scratch in preparation for printing it for some friends who saw the previous version and liked it.

Actually, the previous photo does print up very nicely on Kodak metallic paper, but I'm pretty sure this one is going to look even better. I think this latest version is a good illustration of what I've learned over the last couple of years of intensive study of Photoshop. Now there's just a millioin more things to learn. You could even compare Photoshop to the Grand Canyon; it's deep and wide and you can spend a lifetime with it. But it's fun and when you get to see improvement like I feel I can see between this photo and the previous version you get to understand that it was worthwhile.

One scary thing, however, is that when I look back at how I developed photos a year or so ago I want to redo them all again, just like this one!

Compare the photos in my U.S. Landscapes Photo Gallery (Got a slow internet connection? Then use this dial-up optimized U.S. Lanscapes gallery).

Other posts featuring photos of the Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon Chief #1

This is the first of two composite photos I made using Photoshop and two of my photos: this Native American Indian performing at a pow-wow and this photo of sunset over the Grand Canyon South Rim.

I'd really be interested to know which of the two photos you prefer by posting a comment for either this photo or photo #2 of the Grand Canyon Chief. My favorite is actually this one, but an artist friend of mine prefers #2 because he thinks it's more abstract.

The Grand Canyon from the South Rim

The favorite location on the Grand Canyon is the South Rim area of the park which is well-provided with accommodations and restaurants on top of magnificent views and a path that runs along the top of the rim for several miles.

I took this photo at 7am, before the sun got too high in the sky and washed out the color and definition of the ridge lines.

Please note that I have posted and updated version of this photo of the Grand Canyon.


Nikon E8700
Lens at 20mm
1/250sec secs at f/4.8
ISO 50

Sunset Over the Grand Canyon #2

This is the same sunset as in this other photo of sunset at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Notice how much less color there is in the sky as the sun drops lower and with the longer exposure.

The first time I went to the Grand Canyon's South Rim I went with a group of friends and we took the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams. We had seats in the Parlor Car and what a time we had. I really recommend it to you. Plan on staying over in the Park a couple of nights if you can, and then get the train back to Williams. Here's the website for the Grand Canyon Railway.

Canon EOS 20D
Canon 70-300mm lens at 300mm
1/200 secs at f/5.6
ISO 100

Sunset Over the Grand Canyon #1

I really love the national parks of the South Western United States. I'm lucky to live in Southern California as these wonders of the natural world are just a day's drive away. I have been to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon twice in the last 2 years and can't wait to go back.

Of course one of the favorite times at the Grand Canyon is sunset and crowds gather at favorite points overlooking the canyon to watch the fiery display that nature turns on each evening.

This happens to be one of my favorite photos. But what do you think? Please post a comment and let me know.

Canon EOS 20D
Canon 70-300mm lens at 165mm
1/800 secs at f/5
ISO 100