Pictures Taken By you...

Ok. I haven't posted in a while. In July we spent a little over a week in Santa Barbara, California. Here are some photos.

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...5/Image109.jpg

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...Image088-1.jpg

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...5/Image215.jpg

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...5/Image124.jpg

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...5/Image111.jpg

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...5/Image110.jpg

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...Image099-1.jpg

I love those trees, Virgil.

And Niamh, your pictures really make me want to visit the Midlands. I'm just so fascinated the history and age of those buildings, there's just nothing like that here.

Some really good additions! :D And the baby is very cute, Niamh! How old is she? :)

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Originally Posted by Idril

I love those trees, Virgil.

And Niamh, your pictures really make me want to visit the Midlands. I'm just so fascinated the history and age of those buildings, there's just nothing like that here.

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We have a lot of lovely castles, churches and cathedrals in Ireland but we just dont have those beautiful wooden framed houses that they have in britain.

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Originally Posted by Pensive

Some really good additions! :D And the baby is very cute, Niamh! How old is she? :)

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I think shes one next month. Shes a beautiful baby. Only cries when shes sleepy.

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Originally Posted by Janine

Niamh, what incredible photos. I just love them all! Very nice photos of you and your friends. I like that last one of you in particular. Now we know what our Niamh really looks like and she is quite pretty indeed. Keep these cool photos coming.

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Thanks Janine! I've popped myself into a few photos i've posted onlitnet but i think the best one of me is the one with my friends. I'm not pulling a wierd goofy face in it!:p

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Originally Posted by Virgil

Beautiful pictures Naimh. Such a charming looking place. And photos of you and your friends. :)

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Thanks Virgil. You pics of Santa Barbara are lovely Virg! Very spanish.!

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Originally Posted by Niamh

:lol: There are parts of Scotland that are like the pics. Also some really nice parts of the east Midlands.

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just my luck to have lived in the West Midlands then. grrrrrrrrrr :lol:

very nice pics Uncle Virgil. i love the first and third one. another place in the U.S. I'll have to visit if/when I go there in 2009

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Originally Posted by SleepyWitch

just my luck to have lived in the West Midlands then. grrrrrrrrrr :lol:

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:lol: :brow: also the peak district is pretty. Not to mention Wales.:p
(these photos from photo bucket. Not mine)
wales
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x...2007/Wales.jpg
Scotland
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...rip8-07359.jpg
East midlands
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...fromMelton.jpg
Peak district
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...007/3b72-1.jpg

yep, I've been to Scotland and Wales, not to the Peak District, though

I've never been to the peak either. The only part of wales i've been to was a pub in holyhead!:p day trip from dublin.

Niamh--Wanted to say how much I've been enjoying seeing all your fine pictures of your beautiful country. These latest of Wales and Scotland are gorgeous to. Makes me want to take a long trip traveling around all the green isles.

Virg.--Your pics made me so nostalgic for my undergraduate years at UC Santa Barbara. I know and love all the places in those shots.

the most recent pics i've posted are from my trips to England.:) As soon as i get around to it i'll post more of Ireland for you.

Niamh those are fabulous pictures. The remind me of the American west. Where is the Peak district? I have never heard of it.

Yes Santa Barbara, as most of California, has a deep Spanish history. There was a church and old Spanish fort that went back to the 15th century, and that is very old for America.

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Originally Posted by Virgil

Ok. I haven't posted in a while. In July we spent a little over a week in Santa Barbara, California. Here are some photos.

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...5/Image109.jpg

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...Image088-1.jpg

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...5/Image215.jpg

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...5/Image124.jpg

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...5/Image111.jpg

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...5/Image110.jpg

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...Image099-1.jpg

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I live a half an hour south of Santa Barbara. :D Gorgeous, isn't it? That's definitely it. I know where you were. We go there for special occassions and walk on the pier and stuff. We like shopping on Main Street, too. I think it's Main Street...or State Street or something like that. We actually visit Santa Barbara quite a bit. You know that big area of houses on that hill overlooking the harbor? I like to look at it and think that all the rich, famous people live there. I'm sure some do. But I pay more attention to the ocean. :D Very gorgeous city qith beautiful Spanish influences.

I was actually there on the Fourth, so maybe we ran into each other and didn't know it? XD

And I love all your photos, Niamh, whether you took them or not. The U.K. is the first foreign country I want to visit. So gorgeous and emotional. Old and charming.

Virgil, I love your Santa Barbara Photos - lets give them double exposure here, because they are so lovely! This really takes me back to my brief visit there some 20 or more years ago. I see the place has not changed a hair - beautiful beyond description, as usual. Is that the mission on the hill? I went and toured the mission - loved it and the view from up there. One of the buildings down below across from the beach looks just like one I had lunch in. Oh how I long to go back there. I just loved Santa Barbara so much. Those palm trees are amazing and I like the way your photo is sort of misty in that one - very atmospheric. Your camera takes great pictures....and of course, so do you, behind the shutter do, too!:thumbs_up

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Originally Posted by Virgil

Ok. I haven't posted in a while. In July we spent a little over a week in Santa Barbara, California. Here are some photos.


http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...5/Image109.jpg

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...Image088-1.jpg

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...5/Image215.jpg

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...5/Image124.jpg

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...5/Image111.jpg

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...5/Image110.jpg

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...Image099-1.jpg

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Originally Posted by Janine

Virgil, I love your Santa Barbara Photos - lets give them double exposure here, because they are so lovely! This really takes me back to my brief visit there some 20 or more years ago. I see the place has not changed a hair - beautiful beyond description, as usual. Is that the mission on the hill? I went and toured the mission - loved it and the view from up there. One of the buildings down below across from the beach looks just like one I had lunch in. Oh how I long to go back there. I just loved Santa Barbara so much. Those palm trees are amazing and I like the way your photo is sort of misty in that one - very atmospheric. Your camera takes great pictures....and of course, so do you, behind the shutter do, too!:thumbs_up

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Thanks Janine. I don't remember if that is the mission. I want to say yes, but I'm not sure. I took that picture from the tower in the last picture I posted, that fancy building with the tower and courtyard. That fancy building is a court building but tourists are allowed to tour the murials in the rooms (which were OK but rather Hollywoodish) and go to the tower. The tower is the highest structure in town and snapped the picture of the church from up there.

If you liked the picture of the trees, here are a few more taken in early morning sunshine with the fog breaking up.

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...5/Image113.jpg

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...5/Image112.jpg

And here's a picture of me with the mountains in the background.

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...5/Image159.jpg

Idril, I love those hazy windmill pictures; they look so dreamy.

SleepyWitch, your pictures make me hungry for some kalua pork!

Niamh, that cathedral in Lincoln looks magnificent. The cars in the foreground make an interesting juxtaposition.

Virgil, great pictures of Santa Barbara. I love the California coast.

I thought I'd contribute some more pictures from Yosemite National Park:

Here's one of the very photogenic Cathedral Peak:
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l1.../cathedral.jpg
(I posted another shot of this peak before)

Here is a shot of Yosemite Valley from Half Dome at sunrise:
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l1...leysunrise.jpg

I hope you enjoy!

Hi There,

Either you guys are great photographers or you are just darn lucky to be visiting very beautiful places.

Cactus

Blue Victim you pics of yosemine are awesome!

Lily: doncha wanna come to Ireland First?:( :p

Virgil the Peak District is in England. Its practically a national park its so beautiful. I think its located in and around Derbshire. I've never been.

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Originally Posted by bluevictim

Idril, I love those hazy windmill pictures; they look so dreamy.

SleepyWitch, your pictures make me hungry for some kalua pork!

Niamh, that cathedral in Lincoln looks magnificent. The cars in the foreground make an interesting juxtaposition.

Virgil, great pictures of Santa Barbara. I love the California coast.

I thought I'd contribute some more pictures from Yosemite National Park:

Here's one of the very photogenic Cathedral Peak:
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l1.../cathedral.jpg
(I posted another shot of this peak before)

Here is a shot of Yosemite Valley from Half Dome at sunrise:
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l1...leysunrise.jpg

I hope you enjoy!

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Fabulous! Thanks.

Manny, those new photos are stunning! I love the tree one and that is a very nice photo of you. Did you wife take that one? Good job - I like the way you have captured that early morning California coastal fog. Those trees are amazing looking. I want to go back there and these photos make me long for it.

Wow,Bluevictim, I can't stand it - I want to go back to Yosemite so badly, too. These picture furture convince and are truly inviting. I adore that second shot...the shadow of Halfdome is unbelievable. Wow, you were there just the right moment of the day. That lake looks inviting, but it is probably quite cold. I love both - they could be picture postcards!

Hey, everyone ~ all of you could make up a nice calender with your great photos. You should consider doing it, no kidding. Some wonderful shots on this thread.

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Originally Posted by bluevictim

Here's one of the very photogenic Cathedral Peak:
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l1.../cathedral.jpg
(I posted another shot of this peak before)

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WOw!!!! America is so beautiful!

I have heard of Yosemite park i think. When i was doing my dissertation..does it have weird and extraordinary rock formations?

Beautiful pics of Yosemite, Bluevictim. My family vacations there every year, so I thought I'd post a few more pictures of the place.

Since Manolia asked about rock formations, this is Yosemite's most famous formation, Half Dome:
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...D/100_0293.jpg

Half Dome again around sunset:
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...D/100_1040.jpg

This is North Dome and Washington's column at sunset. This gives you an idea of the immensity of the cliffs, since that green stuff at the top of the cliff are hundred foot high pines.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...D/100_1021.jpg

Some of the local wildlife:
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...D/100_1003.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...100_0986-1.jpg

Great photos, Petrarch. Esp. the sunset ones.

Thanx Petrarch :) Yes i remember now..the Half Dome ;)
What an extraordinary place..

*faints dead away* Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!

thats a really beautiful place!

Petrarch, I have been to Yosemite, too. One friend of mine told me years ago, before I went there, that he thought he was in 'heaven' when he was in Yosemite. I had to agree - the place is pure magic.
I love these Half Dome shots you took. The one with the sun glowing on Half Dome is amazing and vibrant - you captured it right at the exact moment it hit the dome and made it glow - wow! These photo of yours and Bluevictim's are true gems. I like your other ones very much as well. Good job on all, P. Thanks for sharing with us.

Petrarch's Love, thanks for those great shots of Half Dome and Washington Column / North Dome! I think the first one really captures what it feels like to visit Yosemite Valley -- you're going about your business (like those rafters) surrounded by these enormous granite formations; you feel like a tiny speck.

Yosemite is definitely one of California's finest treasures. Hopefully it's interesting enough to warrant a few more pictures, which I can't resist posting (thanks to all of your compliments :) ).

Half Dome is probably the most recognizable peak in California. In fact, it's on California's quarter. Here's a picture of Half Dome from North Dome, with some nice looking clouds (thanks to Petrarch's Love, you know what North Dome looks like!):
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l1...mnorthdome.jpg

Here's a view of Half Dome in the distance, taken from Mariuolumne Dome:
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l1...ariuolumne.jpg

In case anyone is wondering, the height of the face of Half Dome (measured as in the figure below) is approximately 2000 ft (600 m).
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l1...ightlitnet.jpg


Here's another shot of Yosemite Valley, with Higher, Middle, and Lower Cathedral Rocks clearly in view (they are the three big rocks just to the left of the middle of the picture). For scale, that bushy stuff on the bottom is a forest of trees like those in the first picture Petrarch's Love posted (which has a raft and a bridge for scale).
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l1...lleyfromra.jpg

Approximately the same scene, in the winter:
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l1...eyfromsons.jpg

Wow. Petrarch and Blue. Those are breath taking.

Thanks for the comments everyone. I'm glad you liked the pictures.

And thanks Bluevictim for posting some more. I've never seen Half Dome from North Dome. Were you rock climbing up there?

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I love these Half Dome shots you took. The one with the sun glowing on Half Dome is amazing and vibrant - you captured it right at the exact moment it hit the dome and made it glow - wow!

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Half Dome faces west so you can watch the whole sunset take place by the change of light across its face. There are few things more beautiful. The shot I posted is part of a series of shots I took every ten minutes or so to try to capture the changing light on the rock. I did a similar thing at the Grand Canyon capturing the sunrise last year. A friend of mine thinks I've spent too much time looking at Monet's Rouen Cathedral series and it's addled my brain. :D

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Originally Posted by Petrarch's Love

Thanks for the comments everyone. I'm glad you liked the pictures.

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You are welcome but really these photos are stunning!

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And thanks Bluevictim for posting some more. I've never seen Half Dome from North Dome. Were you rock climbing up there?

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Yes, I was thinking the same thing. So what is the deal, Blue?

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Half Dome faces west so you can watch the whole sunset take place by the change of light across its face. There are few things more beautiful. The shot I posted is part of a series of shots I took every ten minutes or so to try to capture the changing light on the rock. I did a similar thing at the Grand Canyon capturing the sunrise last year. A friend of mine thinks I've spent too much time looking at Monet's Rouen Cathedral series and it's addled my brain. :D

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Well, all I can say is if it addled your brain, Petrarch, then I am glad for it since it obviously made you a superb photographer!

I am breathless looking at both your and Bluevictims outstanding photos. It make me want to go pack my bags and be on the first plane there. Keep them coming. Wonderful!

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Well, all I can say is if it addled your brain, Petrarch, then I am glad for it since it obviously made you a superb photographer!

I am breathless looking at both your and Bluevictims outstanding photos. It make me want to go pack my bags and be on the first plane there. Keep them coming. Wonderful!

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:blush: Thanks Janine. I've never considered myself much of a photographer, but I do love my digital camera, since it's made me feel much freer about taking tons and tons of pictures for that one good shot. I agree that Bluevictim's shots are amazing. I want to go back to Yosemite this instant!

Since we're on the topic of National Parks, thought I'd post some of those shots of the Grand Canyon at sunrise I mentioned. Here are two groups of pics, each showing a particular rock formation over about a 15 or twenty minute interval. I've put the time of each picture at the top of the shot:
8:14
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...rdoD/81402.jpg
8:18
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...rdoD/81818.jpg
8:28
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...rdoD/82806.jpg
8:44
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...rdoD/84444.jpg

8:17
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...rdoD/81703.jpg
8:19
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...rdoD/81918.jpg
8:28
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...rdoD/82842.jpg

Petrarch,
I am breathless again...seriously. I love the way you took these sequencually; what a great idea. I had not really thought of doing that before, so this is a good tip. I will pass it onto my son, who has a great love of photography. He has all types of cameras. In fact, he was just in Arizona and took other pictures in the Sedona (think that is the name) area.
I know what you mean about digital cameras - they really free a person to become a good photographer. However, one has to have an eye (like you) for composition, as well. You did a fine job on this last set - I like the way the light changes everything - they look like entirely different rock formations in each shot. Good idea to post the times - that makes it more special and interesting. Thanks for taking the time to share these great photos with us.

Petrarch your pictures are amazing!
(I had those too in my dissertation by the way :) ). You have many interesting rock formations in US. Keep on posting :)

Nothing compared to Petras but i took these yesterday morning at work.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q...alstuff001.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q...alstuff002.jpg

And heres a crazy Kiwi!:p (some street theatre in dublin at top of grafton st beside stephens green.:) )

http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q...alstuff006.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q...alstuff007.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q...alstuff008.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q...alstuff009.jpg

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Originally Posted by Petrarch's Love

Were you rock climbing up there?

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Originally Posted by Janine

Yes, I was thinking the same thing. So what is the deal, Blue?

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Yes, a lot of my pictures of Yosemite were taken while climbing (and I should note that many were taken by some friend I was climbing with rather than by myself). Yosemite is kind of a Mecca for rock climbers because of the great weather, convenient infrastructure, and of course the spectacular rock formations. Usually, though, a very similar angle can be accessed without any technical rock climbing; for example, both the summit and the base of North Dome are accessible by hiking, so that view of Half Dome from North Dome that I posted (or something very similar to it) can be reached by anyone who is adequately healthy.

Petrarch's Love, those sunrise pictures of the Grand Canyon are gorgeous!

Niamh, thanks for sharing those pictures of your workplace. I guess after every trip outdoors we all have to come back to work :). That street performer looks very impressive, too.

Thanks Petrarch and Niamh.

Petrarch is that the north rim or the south?

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Petrarch,
I am breathless again...seriously. I love the way you took these sequencually; what a great idea. I had not really thought of doing that before, so this is a good tip. I will pass it onto my son, who has a great love of photography. He has all types of cameras. In fact, he was just in Arizona and took other pictures in the Sedona (think that is the name) area.
I know what you mean about digital cameras - they really free a person to become a good photographer.

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Thanks again Janine. For the Grand Canyon pics I took 76 shots between 8:10 and 8:46 (more than two a minute). That is something I never would have been brave enough to do with precious film that I needed to develop in its entirety. I love having all those pictures though, because it helps me remember the once in a lifetime experience of watching that sunrise over that amazing place. Hope your son got some great pictures in Sedona. I've never been to that part of Arizona, but I hear it's beautiful.

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Petrarch your pictures are amazing!
(I had those too in my dissertation by the way ). You have many interesting rock formations in US. Keep on posting

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Manolia--Glad you enjoyed the pics. So do you study geology and that's why you were looking at all these big rocks for your dissertation?

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Yes, a lot of my pictures of Yosemite were taken while climbing (and I should note that many were taken by some friend I was climbing with rather than by myself).

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Blue--It must be amazing to do rock climbing in Yosemite. I've never done it before, and not sure I have the upper body strength to try, but that must be the ultimate place to do it. Ever tried your hand at El Cap?

Niamh--Great pictures, especially the ones of the street performer. That guy really is crazy!

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Petrarch is that the north rim or the south?

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South rim. Right near the El Tovar, where we stayed the night. It was a detour off route 66 en route from CA to Chicago.

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Originally Posted by Petrarch's Love

South rim. Right near the El Tovar, where we stayed the night. It was a detour off route 66 en route from CA to Chicago.

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I don't recall what El Tovar is. Is that on the north rim, looking across? I was never on the north rim.

No, it's the big hotel on the south rim. Here's a pic of the front of the hotel and one that shows where it's located right near the edge, though you can mainly just see the roof in the picture.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...D/100_0470.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...D/100_0384.jpg

I just don't remember the name. It was maybe 13 or 14 years ago. My wife and I went down the canyon with the Bright Angel Ranch mule ride down. Oh wait we stayed at the Bright Angel. That must be right there too. Camped over night at the river (Phantom Ranch) and mule ride back up the next day. Here's a little something on the mule ride:

http://www.grandcanyon.com/gcnmule.html
And this one has a real good write up of the experience:
http://www.opentravelinfo.com/north_...ule_experience

I have some great pictures, only this was before digital cameras. Canyon looks completely different as you go up and down and from the bottom.