Desert Varnish

15-06-22

Just watched photographer Ben Horne’s latest YouTube video photographing in Utah with an 8″ x 10″ film camera. He mentioned the desert varnish on the rocks and the scents and sounds in the area. It took me right back to when I visited Capitol Reef in 1992 (my first visit to the USA) We camped at Fruita N.P. for a couple of days in a very small tent, I was hardier then. I recently scanned in a roll of film from that time, I put off scanning it for so long because it has a lot of dust marks, but with the aid of Lightroom’s healing brush and a lot of patience and fan whirring on the lap top I managed to get some reasonable images. I can vividly remember the scent of Pine and Sage, and the heat reflected from the rocks.

Desert Varnish

Capitol Gorge

*******

Along the Scenic Drive

Olympus OM2n – Zuiko 24mm f2.8. Plus X Pan I think.

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Monochrome Wednesday

02-10-19

Goosenecks State Park UT

Olympus OM2n – Zuiko 24mm f2.8 – Kodak TriX (I think)

An incredible place to visit, so spectacular.

Places I’ll Never Forget #7

30-04-19

Moki Dugway  & Natural Bridges National Monument – Utah

It’s been quite a while since I posted on this subject, think these images were from 1992 my first visit to the USA, but could be 1995 when I visited this area again (wish I’d kept better notes)

Moki Dugway UT

The Moki Dugway is quite some road, it’s a steep dirt road, and driving an automatic gearbox car (I’m used to a manual box) added to the excitement, not to mention trying not to look at the view which is absolutely incredible. So much space, nothing quite like it in the UK.

Natural Bridges National Monument UT

Would have loved to have explored this area but needed to be on the road to the next destination, so just stopped long enough to get a few images.

Camera, Olympus OM2n, Kodak TMax 100 Film.

More from the archive

Olympus OM2N – 24mm – f2.8 Zuiko

The weather has been damp and dark in my part of the UK for the last few days so I haven’t been able to get out to take photographs, I think I might need to buy a underwater camera ! I’ve been looking through some of my old scans and found this one from 1992 (first visit to USA) it was taken in Arches National Park Utah. That Olympus 24mm is still one of my favourite lenses, it’s so sharp and contrasty.