Since about the time I started taking serious interest in Bryce Canyon as a landscape photography location for me, I’ve been trying to find a particular spot which seems to be very popular with other landscape photographers. Well, I had my “Eureka!” moment here a few days ago. I found my location and managed to capture a decent photo of it along with other spots I wanted to shoot. Check out what I captured that day.
For those who don’t already know, the term “Eureka” is Greek. It means “I have found it!”
This day on site started much like many others. I had a goal in mind which I wanted to try so I went to the portion of the park which would facilitate my desire. I parked and put on my warm winter clothing on as it was cold and windy. The wind was also biting which made things so much more unpleasant. My hands got so cold despite having gloves on. At the end, it was difficult for me to manipulate the camera controls because I couldn’t feel my fingers any more. I couldn’t be sure that I was pushing the right button or that I was even pushing a button at all.
Still, I decided to try something a bit risky. I decided to hike down the Navajo trail a bit to Thor’s Hammer hoodoo and try for a winter shot there. The trail is a bit steep and I could not guarantee good footing or a lack of ice. I do not recommend taking that trail with as much ice and snow as was present. It made the trail a bit more dangerous than I prefer.
While on my way down, I decided to stop off and see if I could get a winter shot of Wall Street. It’s part of the same trail and only a slight deviation from my destination. I was met with a chain blocking off the trail. It’s there for a good reason too. The trail was icy and dangerous. No one should be hiking those switchbacks right now. Still, I had an overlook to get a shot down into the canyon below so I used that rather than cross the chain barrier. The switchbacks didn’t end up working out as planned, but the view just above them sure did.
I made my way down to Thor’s Hammer afterwards. That was my destination so I wanted to try for a golden hour shot. Then I noticed that there were some people further along the trail than I was because I could hear their voices. I decided to investigate.
Since those voices were coming from a portion of the trail which I had not yet traversed, I figured I’d kill two birds with one stone. I would see where the tourists were and what was beyond the next curve. That’s when I had my Eureka moment.
I turned the corner and located the tourists. They were at the bottom of a very familiar looking set of switchbacks with some trees at the bottom. The view narrowed down as the trail descended. I found the view I was searching for for a couple of years now. I thought it was part of Wall Street. However, I was wrong.
This landscape scene is part of the Navajo trail but not a part of Wall Street. The most frustrating thing is that I had been so close to it several times but hadn’t bothered to go far enough to find it. Still, better late than never.
I was in for yet another surprise as I left the canyon. It was still golden hour, though towards the later end. The light was still at its best. I made my way to the canyon overlook on the highway and was in for a treat.
There were still some pink clouds over the snowy landscape scene below me. There was even time to make it to the turnout before I lost the light completely. I managed to capture one last photo for the day on the tail end of golden hour. It truly was a day of finds.
I hope you enjoyed my “Eureka!” moment. I know I sure did. Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
