This weekend I went down to Moab, Utah for a bit of relaxation and to create some new art images of Southern Utah. It really stormed on the way down as well as the few days I was there which created some amazing lighting and some fabulous skies! Here’s some of the preliminary images I’ve been working on.
This first image I created on the way down there. I just loved the storm clouds and my inspiration on framing this was based on many of the paintings I’ve seen of my favorite painter…my cousin Antony Cox (AntonyCox.com).
If you look at his work, check out the paintings he did from 2000-2004 with his really low or really high horizons. I’ve always found that intriguing. So when I saw this scene, I thought of Antony’s paintings and framed it in a similar way. I also love the rain falling onto the mountains in the center and how all the lines in the clouds point to the rain. So cool!
This is one of my favorites! It is of an old church. I love the colors, the cool background and the warm foreground. Storms create amazing directional lighting that shines under the storm clouds and light up objects. I was very excited to see this and had to stop and photograph it. I love how there’s a touch of blue in the church too that ties it all in.
I’ve been a regular visitor to Moab, to visit Arches and the other National Parks looking for great images, and have rarely seen such a great sky for photography. Aside from exposing images just right, the weather is really key to great scenics in my opinion. Static images may seem amazing in real life, but pale in comparison after they are photographed.
I think all photographers have been disappointed when they’ve looked at images they tried to create of some magnificent scene — I know I have. My conclusion is that something else is needed other than a great scene, good composition, and a perfect exposure. But rather something has to make the inanimate objects seem more dynamic, and that comes from great directional light and interesting weather. These extra ingredients have to be there as well in order to add drama to the inanimate objects. That is what makes the image of the church as well as these other images so fun for me to look at — all of those elements are there!
So here are a few exposures from Arches National Park.
Again in Arches…
And here is me at Delicate Arch — one of the most famous arches!
And one of me under the arch. This particular area is usually packed with visitors because it is so famous, so people have to be creative in how you frame and cut the image to give the illusion of being there all alone.
When I narrow the images down to the final art prints, I’ll process them out separately for the best color and depth possible, and then add my unique touch of artwork to them, custom print them and offer them on my art site, BryCoxArt.com. Maybe I’ll put a post up here on the blog when they are ready.
So until next time, America!
— Bry
