Pa Grand Canyon

The Pa Grand Canyon is one of my favorite places to visit whether it is spring, summer, fall or winter. It takes me back in time and refreshes my memories of the outdoor lessons taught to me by my grand father and father. The above image is actually a composite of 25 individual photos taken at Leonard Harrison Lookout.  The shots were taken from a tripod and 5 shots were taken at each position due to the lighting that day.  The tripod head was rotated to overlap individual views so the panorama could be made.  The composite file is 396MB and the native print size is 20 inches by 60 inches and will print up to 40 inches by 120 inches.  We are going to print and frame one at 20x60.

 I look forward to going back in the fall and winter to repeat the process.

This view of the canyon is missed by many.  It is along the west rim looking north, but one has to leave the vehicle and walk to this look out.  It is my favorite view of the canyon as it shows the meandering Pine Creek and the rail trail as well as the structure of the mountains and leaden valleys.


Until next time


Jim Borden

Pa Grand Canyon in Winter

This week's blog entry departs from my normal comfort zone with photography (Wildlife) and ventures into scenery. Winter can be dull and dreary and yet so beautiful.  I traveled home to Holiday Pa last weekend to pick up my mother to have her spend a few days with us to celebrate her 80th birthday.  While there, she and I took a drive past her old homestead and went to Leonard Harrison Lookout that I have enjoyed so much over the years.  It was snowing and overcast and even though the parking lot was plowed, the actual lookout area was untouched and it gave it such a remote, beautiful look.  Even with overcast skies, the dynamic range of light was beyond the camera capability to capture it all-so I decided to apply HDR and took three shots of each scene-normal exposure and full stop under and over.  Some of the pictures I took at my usual spots and I decided to show the fall and winter versions here for contrast-each has its own beauty!

Canon MK IV 1D; Canon 24-105 F4 at F13 1/50 ISO200 EC +1,-1 and 0

Canon MK IV 1D; Canon 24-105 F4 at F13 1/50 ISO200 EC +1,-1 and 0

Canon MK IV 1D; Canon 24-105 F4 at F13 1/50 ISO200 EC +1,-1 and 0

Canon MK IV 1D; Canon 24-105 F4 at F13 1/50 ISO200 EC +1,-1 and 0

Canon MK IV 1D; Canon 24-105 F4 at F13 1/50 ISO200 EC +1,-1 and 0

Canon MK IV 1D; Canon 24-105 F4 at F13 1/50 ISO200 EC +1,-1 and 0

The Pa Grand Canyon is a wonderful place to visit in any season.  For me-it takes me back to my roots.  It also provides a philosophical lesson in understanding that things are as they are even when we have led ourselves to believe that things are as we would wish.  I had not posted these before now, due to a sadness in realizing due to events of last week that things in life are as they are and not as I have wanted to believe.  The ability to enjoy the outdoors and to capture some of its beauty in pictures brings a oeace and understanding to my life!

Until Next Time

Jim Borden