We Defected to the West! DLR 2013

[missangelalexis]

Such beautiful shots! Glad the waterproof camera worked out well

 

[jhoannam]

I've spent the last week reading all your trip reports. They are awesome. When is your next trip? I can't wait to read your next trip report. Awesome Pictures.

 

[PhiSigKris]

Hi! New to Dis & have loved reading your Christmas 2013 DLR trip report! We missed you by 1 day! Your photos are gorgeous!!! Have to ask what lens you shoot with. I take my 30 to the parks, but thinking of getting a zoom. I just love my primes, but would like some versatility. Can't wait to read more!!!

 

[RachelleBeaney]

So glad you found us!

Congrats on the new camera! My number one suggestion would be to get out and practice with it! My number two suggestion would be to read Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. My number 3 suggestion would be to pop into the DISboards Photography Board and ask any questions you have.

The carolers really were quite awesome. I'm really looking forward to seeing them again this year!

Thank you I have passed these tips onto my husband, and don't worry, he's already well onto number one. He had to work at a country fair type things we have here in Australia called the Royal Show recently, and he spend the night hours after he finish strolling the show and taking night shots of rides etc, getting used to the night settings on the camera....Looking forward to catching up on the rest of this report now

 

[mvf-m11c]

I hope you'll check in after your weekend trip and give us a report on the lens. I'd love to hear what you think of it.

Hi Janet. Just got back from my trip last night and it was another fine trip to the DLR. You can follow my DL trip report quick update from Sunday and Monday[post=52287319]here[/post].

I was able to take over 1500 pictures with the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 lens and here is my review of this lens. I was mostly impressed with the sharpness of the Sigma lens when I went to f/1.8 aperture for the dark rides like HMH, PotC and AiW. They were quite sharp and didn't have those blurry parts of the bottom of the pictures when I set the ISO so hgh. I didn't even set the ISO at 6400 during any of the dark rides whihc I have done in the past with the other lenses I have used. Even doing long exposure shots at night from the firework shots is nice at f/16. It is built very well where I was very careful of not dropping it. This lens easily outperforms the 35mm f/1.8 lens that I have which is way more sharper. It is a little heavy out of all the lenses that I have used but I am so used to carry heaving lenses in my bag. There were times where the auto focus doesn't focus up correctly but it was only a minor thing.

I know that you will enjoy using the Sigma lens during your trip. After this trip, I might get it before or after my upcoming trip next month. You really encourage me to try out this lens and I don't even want to return it. So I will now have to look for a good deal online but I don't think that there will be a discount for this lens since it is still new.


Read your latest updates from the Utah trip and they are very nice. The canyon shots are nice and along with the rafting. I would not do that but it did look very interesting.

 

[Sherry E]

Janet --

The AP Fall Hotel Discount (which I have been saying for a while would be coming -- and I was right!) is apparently out now. Did you see this thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3331019

 

[BebopAngel88]

I love all of the park pictures!!! I can't wait till my lil ones are older. Those hikes would not be fun w/ a 3 yr old, LOL.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

So I started reading your TR a couple months ago and am just now getting caught up. Your pic are amazing and stunning! Thanks for posting about your trip to Utah too. I am typically of the opinion that it really isn't a vacation unless the beach or Disney is involved, but I'm thinking a couple week road trip to explore the western states needs to be in store.

 

[petals]

If I ever won the lotto I think I would tour America. Looking at your pics and a few other trip reports where people visited other places that aren't Disney it all looks so interesting.

 

[amandaw]

What gorgeous scenery you were able to photograph! Just WOW!

And y'all are quite adventurous going on the raft in the river, especially given how cold it was. I would've definitely been sitting that one out.

 

[MEK]

I apologize for getting so far behind, but I think I am caught up now and have really enjoyed all your pictures from your drive out west. That scenery is just so spectacular! There is another DISer who is also writing about some of the same amazing parks! I could view those pictures all day.

Looking forward to seeing more!

 

[mom2rtk]

Sorry for getting behind again. But then I suspect nobody here is really surprised by that! This is a really busy time of year for me, so I'm sure I'll get behind again. But I WILL finish!

This road trip looks like so much fun! I'm drooling over these landscape images. Keep em' coming please.

The link you provided on the falling rock is one of those things that you think in the back of your mind but press on especially when your at National Parks.

Better late than never, right? More on the way very soon.

I do look at the big boulders near the roadside and wonder how that would go if one came down at the wrong time. But I don't dwell on it. I probably have a better chance of winning the lottery. And I don't play!

Such awesome shots. And that surfer colliding with you is kind of scary, but you all look like you are lauging about it. If you were really on your game you would've gotten that shot too!

Thanks Jen. The surfer thing was just weird all the way around. Definitely one of those "you'll never believe it" shots.

Such beautiful shots! Glad the waterproof camera worked out well

I must say, I didn't really test out the waterproof part of the camera. It got splashed on, but never dunked. Katie kept wanting to take it in the pool at the hotel. I was finally going to let her on the last night but everyone was too tired to swim that night. Maybe next time?

I've spent the last week reading all your trip reports. They are awesome. When is your next trip? I can't wait to read your next trip report. Awesome Pictures.

Well, it's never too late for a ! So glad you found us. And as luck would have it, I'm not done yet, so there's more to come!

Hi! New to Dis & have loved reading your Christmas 2013 DLR trip report! We missed you by 1 day! Your photos are gorgeous!!! Have to ask what lens you shoot with. I take my 30 to the parks, but thinking of getting a zoom. I just love my primes, but would like some versatility. Can't wait to read more!!!

to you as well! See, if I wait long enough, everyone will eventually get here!

Thanks for the kind words. Were you a day ahead of us or a day behind us last year? Hopefully you missed all that cold weather.

I shoot 90% of my shots with my Canon 17-55 f/2.8. I LOVE that lens. I love it so much it's a major consideration in whether I would ever swap to a full frame camera.

I do have the 30mm prime that I have used for dark rides, but I love the versatility of a zoom, especially at Disney where it's usually too hard to zoom with your feet.

Thank you I have passed these tips onto my husband, and don't worry, he's already well onto number one. He had to work at a country fair type things we have here in Australia called the Royal Show recently, and he spend the night hours after he finish strolling the show and taking night shots of rides etc, getting used to the night settings on the camera....Looking forward to catching up on the rest of this report now

I love going out by myself taking photos. I don't get to do that when Katie and I are alone on a trip. But my husband is coming for part of the trip this year, so who knows?

Hi Janet. Just got back from my trip last night and it was another fine trip to the DLR. You can follow my DL trip report quick update from Sunday and Monday[post=52287319]here[/post].

I was able to take over 1500 pictures with the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 lens and here is my review of this lens. I was mostly impressed with the sharpness of the Sigma lens when I went to f/1.8 aperture for the dark rides like HMH, PotC and AiW. They were quite sharp and didn't have those blurry parts of the bottom of the pictures when I set the ISO so hgh. I didn't even set the ISO at 6400 during any of the dark rides whihc I have done in the past with the other lenses I have used. Even doing long exposure shots at night from the firework shots is nice at f/16. It is built very well where I was very careful of not dropping it. This lens easily outperforms the 35mm f/1.8 lens that I have which is way more sharper. It is a little heavy out of all the lenses that I have used but I am so used to carry heaving lenses in my bag. There were times where the auto focus doesn't focus up correctly but it was only a minor thing.

I know that you will enjoy using the Sigma lens during your trip. After this trip, I might get it before or after my upcoming trip next month. You really encourage me to try out this lens and I don't even want to return it. So I will now have to look for a good deal online but I don't think that there will be a discount for this lens since it is still new.


Read your latest updates from the Utah trip and they are very nice. The canyon shots are nice and along with the rafting. I would not do that but it did look very interesting.

Bret,

You are now officially a much more experienced expert on that lens than I am! I'm going to dig it out this evening for some photos at Katie's birthday party though, so hopefully I'll get some feel for it.

And I'm sorry for whetting your appetite for this lens. I do love spending other people's money on photography gear!

I agree it's a bit on the heavy side, but I'm also used to carrying some weight in my bag in the parks. My only issue is that I love my 17-55 so much I'm not sure I can leave it behind. And I'm not sure I want to carry both. We'll just have to see.

I did try it out at a couple volleyball games, but we were really too far away for me to get much of a feel for it.

More Utah shots to come. And never say never about something like rafting. I would have said I would never do it. But I really am glad I did.

 

[mom2rtk]

Janet --

The AP Fall Hotel Discount (which I have been saying for a while would be coming -- and I was right!) is apparently out now. Did you see this thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3331019

You were so kind to post that over here Sherry. I know we have talked since then, but I didn't want to miss the chance to thank you again.

I'm patiently (Ok, maybe not TOO patiently) waiting to see if anything changes on the room availability front.

I love all of the park pictures!!! I can't wait till my lil ones are older. Those hikes would not be fun w/ a 3 yr old, LOL.

Oh no...... definitely not fun with a 3 year old. We tried some of it when Katie was 4, and the whines definitely detract from the experience! She's old enough now we left her in the car for a couple of the short hikes. It's definitely more enjoyable when you don't have to worry about someone small doing something dangerous. The national parks really require some respect for the inherent dangers.

So I started reading your TR a couple months ago and am just now getting caught up. Your pic are amazing and stunning! Thanks for posting about your trip to Utah too. I am typically of the opinion that it really isn't a vacation unless the beach or Disney is involved, but I'm thinking a couple week road trip to explore the western states needs to be in store.

Hi! So glad you joined us!

Are you considering defecting to the west with us?

Thanks for the kind words. I felt the same way you did for some time, that it didn't feel like a vacation without Disney involved. I was really not sure how I'd feel about the long trek west this time, without a stop at Disney at the end of that rainbow. But it really was quite wonderful even without Disney involved. Of course, it helped to know we'd be heading there in December. But I do think everyone should make the western trek at least once in their life. Or maybe 5 times!

If I ever won the lotto I think I would tour America. Looking at your pics and a few other trip reports where people visited other places that aren't Disney it all looks so interesting.

I used to think people who sold everything and bought an RV to tour the country were nuts. Now I get it. Couldn't actually live like that.... but I do get it.

What gorgeous scenery you were able to photograph! Just WOW!

And y'all are quite adventurous going on the raft in the river, especially given how cold it was. I would've definitely been sitting that one out.

You'd be amazed at just how UNADVENTUROUS (is that a word?) I am. You'd also be amazed at what you'll do for your kids. And I mostly did it because Timmy wanted to go.

I apologize for getting so far behind, but I think I am caught up now and have really enjoyed all your pictures from your drive out west. That scenery is just so spectacular! There is another DISer who is also writing about some of the same amazing parks! I could view those pictures all day.

Looking forward to seeing more!

LOL, you're apologizing for getting behind? To the queen of the ever-behind trip report?

Not to worry. We're all here now. Ready to go again?

 

[mom2rtk]

June 6th, 2014: Back to Arches

We went back into Arches the next morning. I thought the lighting would be better than the evening before. Anything that was in shadows should now be well illuminated.

After a night of rest, I decided I wanted to hike the same 2 trails we had done the day before. Both provided some great views, but in less than optimal lighting.

IMG_6959 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_6977 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_6979 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_6987 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

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IMG_7016 by mom2rtk, on Flickr






Unfortunately we didn't get out as early as I wanted, so when we got to the end of the trail to see Delicate Arch, I was still a little disappointed. I probably needed to be there a couple hours earlier. Still, it was a sight worth seeing again, so no loss there.

IMG_7042 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_7044 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_7066 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_7088 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_7098 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

We found another couple on the trail willing to swap cameras and take photos along the way:

IMG_7110 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

One of the best parts of visiting the national parks is just watching the kids explore and find interesting things to point out along the way.

IMG_7114 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

A panoramic shot on the waterproof camera:

P1000267 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

After the trail at Delicate Arch, we got back in the car and headed back to Devil's Garden. We found out on our way to the park that day we were quite fortunate to even get out there again today. Later that day the trailhead was closing for a while. I think they were repaving the lot or something.

I was SO glad we decided to make the trek back out to landscape Arch again. The difference between seeing it in shadows the night before, and seeing it illuminated by the sunlight...... was worth every extra step.

The trails were fairly busy that morning.

IMG_7130 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

A friend along the trail:

IMG_7146 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

I was so excited when Landscape Arch came into view, I immediately stopped for photos:

IMG_7151 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

I had no idea how close we could get, so we kept moving closer to see if there was an even better view:

IMG_7155 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

The payoff was getting close enough to see that brilliant blue sky between the arch and the background.

IMG_7177 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

Landscape Arch by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_7186 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_7191 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

 

[mom2rtk]

June 6th, 2014 Continued:

Some more shots around Arches:

IMG_7123 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_7216 by mom2rtk, on Flickr


IMG_7226 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_7232 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_7245 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_7250 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_7255 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_7262 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_7266 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_7271 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_7282 by mom2rtk, on Flickr


P1000289 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

P1000292 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

 

[carissa1970]

Those are absolutely gorgeous photos. I need to go there!

 

[mom2rtk]

June 6th 2014: Heading to Zion:



We left Arches that afternoon and headed toward Zion National Park. We were staying right outside the gates to the park in Springdale that night. I don't remember how far it was. It really doesn't matter in that part of the country. There's typically so much to see along the way that the drive is always part of the attraction.

Not far out of Moab we hit one of my favorite places in the Southwest, the San Rafael Swell. I'm not really sure why it's one of my favorite places. It's not a national park. It's not a national monument. It's not even a state park. I just remember driving through that area for the first time in 2005 and having it sneak up on us out of nowhere. I commented to Drew that anywhere else in the country it would be a national park. Then when we stopped that night at a hotel along the way, we found literature on the San Rafael Swell that started off by saying "Anywhere else in the country, this would be a national park." I had it the nail on the head. It's just a stunning drive, and seemingly comes out of nowhere.

This is the front edge of the San Rafael Reef:

San Rafael Reef by mom2rtk, on Flickr

Fortunately I also had a panoramic camera for opportunities just like this:

P1000295 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

More of the swell along the interstate:

IMG_7310 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_7314 by mom2rtk, on Flickr


We got to the Zion area late afternoon. Since we came in on the north side, we were in the Kolob Canyon area. I'm not sure why, but we have never even seen that area. It wasn't amazing. But it was interesting, and I loved that we were practically the only people there.

Kolob Canyon - Zion National Park by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_7354 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_7360 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_7378 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

P1000305 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

P1000322 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

We stayed in Springdale right outside the entrance to Zion that night. We just caught a small glimpse on our way into town.


IMG_7412 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

 

[mvf-m11c]

Bret,

You are now officially a much more experienced expert on that lens than I am! I'm going to dig it out this evening for some photos at Katie's birthday party though, so hopefully I'll get some feel for it.

And I'm sorry for whetting your appetite for this lens. I do love spending other people's money on photography gear!

I agree it's a bit on the heavy side, but I'm also used to carrying some weight in my bag in the parks. My only issue is that I love my 17-55 so much I'm not sure I can leave it behind. And I'm not sure I want to carry both. We'll just have to see.

I did try it out at a couple volleyball games, but we were really too far away for me to get much of a feel for it.

More Utah shots to come. And never say never about something like rafting. I would have said I would never do it. But I really am glad I did.

I just read online at all these different websites (including Tom Bricker website) and talk to my local camera shop about the Sigma lens and they said that this is a great lens to use at the Disney parks. That will be a nice to use it during Katie's birthday party and get a feel for it before your trip.

No problem. After reading that you bought it and from reading it online, it would be nice to try it out and it turned out even better than I thought.

It is heavy but we are so used to carrying a lot of different stuff in our bags so the weight won't be an issue. I can understand that you do enjoy using the 17-55 lens and you don't want to leave it. I had to leave my Tamron lens behind when I was using the Sigma lens since I didn't have room to carry it in my bag.


Those are very nice shots at Arches National Park and Zion National Park.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Beautiful colours of Arches and Zion. I'm looking forward to seeing your shots inside Zion.

I would love a re-do of the Grand Circle at some stage. Its such pretty countryside; but then there are so many other gorgeous NP in America to go-see. So much to see; so little time.....so little money.

 

[mom2rtk]

I just read online at all these different websites (including Tom Bricker website) and talk to my local camera shop about the Sigma lens and they said that this is a great lens to use at the Disney parks. That will be a nice to use it during Katie's birthday party and get a feel for it before your trip.

No problem. After reading that you bought it and from reading it online, it would be nice to try it out and it turned out even better than I thought.

It is heavy but we are so used to carrying a lot of different stuff in our bags so the weight won't be an issue. I can understand that you do enjoy using the 17-55 lens and you don't want to leave it. I had to leave my Tamron lens behind when I was using the Sigma lens since I didn't have room to carry it in my bag.


Those are very nice shots at Arches National Park and Zion National Park.

Thanks Bret.

I really tried out the new lens last night. And so far I have mixed feelings. Not sure if I have a bad copy, or if it's just a bad match for me. But it seemed to miss focus several times. And some of the shots look up close look like I have some camera movement, even with shutter speeds that shouldn't have that problem.

I need to step outside with it today and find some more things to shoot and see what I think.

I have a hunch the problem might be specific to me, as I have fairly unsteady hands, and the lens does not have IS.

Hmmmmm........ not sure what I'm thinking at this point.

Beautiful colours of Arches and Zion. I'm looking forward to seeing your shots inside Zion.

I would love a re-do of the Grand Circle at some stage. Its such pretty countryside; but then there are so many other gorgeous NP in America to go-see. So much to see; so little time.....so little money.

Thanks PiO! Zion coming up in the next post. We really didn't do it justice on this trip though. It's such a hard park to capture photographically. My favorite opportunity was on our trip in 07 when we hiked up to a good overlook. Of course, that was the year my DSLR had died and all I had with me was a tiny point and shoot. Sigh. Unfortunately no time for a Zion hike this time, so I had to settle for some quick shots along the drive through.

I did enjoy this trip through more than our prior trips though since this was my first trip through with an UWA lens and a panoramic camera.