Second post of images from my Southwest trip this year.  This set of images is from the Lower Antelope Slot Canyon near Page Arizona. I went to the upper canyon years ago and I really enjoyed the slot canyon but did not really care for the tourism trap it has become, so it kinda left a bad taste in my mouth which then all my planned Southwest trips afterwards I stuck going to the more remote slot canyons in the area.

This years trip we were in Page and a couple of buddies of mine talked me in going to the lower section of Antelope Canyon and I am very glad that they did.  Unlike the upper canyon you can purchase a photographers pass and that pass allows you to go in the canyon without  a guide and you can stay and photograph the slot for a maximum of four hours. In the upper canyon you must go with a guide and you get no where near the four hours of time that you can get in the lower canyon, plus its much less crowded then the upper.

I had a couple of goals and ideas in my head before I headed into the canyon. I wanted to isolate and chase the colors where the shadowed purples and blues mixed in with the highlighted reds/yellows/oranges.  I love the contrast of the opposite colors and wanted some compositions that highlighted these colors together in the canyon.

Looking through the window at Lower Antelope Slot Canyon.

Just another reminder on just how high the flooding water can get in these slot canyons.

The Yin-Yang

The sandstone waves of Lower Antelope Canyon Arizona.

Gold Dust

Other view of the window at Lower Antelope Canyon Arizona.

Video I filmed in the slot canyon below:

Navajo man performing in Lower Antelope Canyon from Mark Karpinski on Vimeo.

On Thursday July 8th was the Open Space Council for the St. Louis Region presentation on the LaBarque Creek Watershed Land Legacy “A vision of the future” at the Spink Gallery inside the Ridgeway Center of Missouri Botanical Gardens.

Special speakers of the event were Dr. Peter Raven, President, Missouri Botanical Gardens, Kevin Meneau, Missouri Department of Conservation, and Jefferson County Missouri Officials.

Topic of discussion of the luncheon was the future of the LaBarque Creek Watershed and the community involved with the watershed.  Also on topic was the special places located in the watershed and on display were four of my framed images of the LaBarque Creek Watershed which with eight other pieces will be auctioned off at an event in the watershed in the near future.  Exact date will be announced soon and 100% of the sales proceeds will go to the Friends of LaBarque Creek Watershed and Open Space Council to help preserve this special place in Missouri.

Kevin Meneau of Missouri Department of Conservation speaking at the LaBarque luncheon.

With the recent intense humidity that is no stranger to Missouri every summer I find myself exploring in the late evenings to take advantage of the great sunsets sometimes produced by the buildup of anvil clouds during the afternoon and hope that some stick around until sunset.  A couple weeks ago on one of those sticky evenings I went to nearby Shaw’s Nature Reserve in Gray Summit Missouri.  I love going to Shaw’s for sunsets because you can find some great wide open spaces to compose some interesting sunset shots.

All images captured with Canon 5D mkll

Nikon 55mm Ais used with a three stop Singh-Ray reverse grad filter

Nikon 55mm Ais used with a three stop Singh-Ray reverse grad filter

Directions to Shaw’s Nature Reserve: SNR is on I-44 in Gray Summit, MO, approximately 32 miles southwest of the Missouri Botanical Garden (in St. Louis) and 22 miles west of the I-44/I-270 interchange.  The Gray Summit I-44 exit is # 253, just two exits west of Six Flags (Allenton/Eureka). Westbound I-44 from exit ramp, turn left, crossing over I-44. Turn right at the intersection (at the Phillips 66) and go 50 yards to the large iron gates on the left side of the road. Eastbound I-44, from exit ramp #253, turn right at top of ramp and then another right at at intersection (at the Phillips 66) and go 50 yards to the large iron gates on the left side of the road.

Ok I’m going to let everyone in on one of my favorite secret spots in the Missouri Ozarks, a place I call the Black Mountain Cascades located southwest of Fredericktown Missouri in the Mark Twain National Forest. If you take state highway E west the road will reach the base of Black Mountain when you see the St. Francis River run right along the road on the left hand side and on your right hand side you will the vertical elevation gains of Black Mountain. When you see a small gravel pull out on the right hand side of the road stop and park on this gravel parking spot and you will be able to see a waterfall from the road and what you are seeing is the bottom and final section of the cascades before the water flow goes under the road and dumps into the St. Francis River.

The cascades tumble all the way down from the top of Black Mountain some 400+ feet in elevation which dwarfs the size of nearby Mina Sauk Falls the state of Missouri’s tallest waterfall but we can’t count these cascades as a taller waterfall because they do not flow all year around and contain some sections where the cascades flatten out for about 10 or 15 yards before cascading back down hill. So technically this cascading waterfall is not continuos like the cascades at Mina Sauk Falls but otherwise during the wet season the Black Mountain Cascades is the tallest seasonal waterfall I have encountered so far in Missouri.

To explore this place all you have to do is park at the pull out and simply start heading up the cascades and follow them all the way to the top. There are no designated trails, you just have to find your own way and scramble the rock sections to the top so be prepared to get wet and use extreme caution on the wet slick rocks. When you reach the top you will have a nice opening for a stunning view over the St. Francis River.

All images captured with Canon 5D Mark II

Canon 24mm TS-E lens. The Cascades at Black Mountain contain some very vibrant colors in the rocks especially when they get wet!

Nikon 55mm AIS lens. About three quarters on the way up Black Mountain Cascades you will come across Diamond Rock Falls.

Canon 24mm TS-E lens. A choked stoned waterfall section of the Black Mountain Cascades during the spring rains.

Canon 24mm TS-E lens. I tilted my TS-E lens about 8 degrees at f/4.5 to achieve this dreamy look of the cascading falls of Black Mountain.

Olympus Zuiko 35mm shift lens. Enchanting scenery is everywhere at Black Mountain Cascades.

Also some images from the Black Mountain Cascades during last fall.

Canon 24mm TS-E lens. Black Mountain Cascades during fall colors.

Canon 24mm TS-E lens. Black Mountain Cascades during fall colors.

After your done exploring Black Mountain you can drive down state highway E for a couple miles down to Marble Creek Campground and check out the Rock Creek Shut-Ins. This is the section on the right hand side of the road right BEFORE you cross the bridge over to Marble Creek Campground.

Canon 24mm TS-E lens. Rock Creek Shut-Ins during fall colors.

Canon 24mm TS-E lens. Rock Creek Shut-Ins during fall colors.

Directions to Black Mountain Cascades, from Fredericktown take highway 67 south to the next exit and then take state highway E west for 11 miles until you reach this gravel pullout on the right hand side of the road:

View Larger Map

Make sure to park the car as far from the road as possible and be very careful and use caution when your getting out of the car because drivers fly at very high speeds around those blind curves near the cascade parking pull out.

The first set of images from this months photo trip from the Southwest is the stunning views of Lake Powell from Alstrom Point Utah. This is my second return trip back to Alstrom point and I was very excited to get back to this location and decided to head there a couple days earlier than planned because a strong storm system was moving through southern Utah and I knew it would bring some excellent light and clouds. Alstrom point is one of the best locations I could think of in the area that would take full advantage of some big sky photography.

All images captured with Canon 5D mkll

Nikon 18mm Ais used with a three stop Singh-Ray reverse grad filter. The strong cold front starts to make its way through southern Utah and provides some excellent mixed lighting at Alstrom Point.

Nikon 18mm Ais used with a three stop Singh-Ray reverse grad filter. Cliff view looking over the outskirts of Gunsight Bay and Arizona section of Lake Powell. The winds from the incoming storm really started to pick up and we were experiencing wind gusts up to 60 mph! Sand hurts at 60 mph and made photography extremely difficult but the light was just too good to stop shooting!!

Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8. A slim section of sun light falls on the butte viewed from Alstrom Point Utah.

Nikon 18mm Ais lens with a Singh-Ray 3 stop reverse grad. As the storm reaches Gunsight Bay rain and sunlight begin to mix forming a stunning rainbow over the bay.

Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8. View of a sandstorm kicking up dust and sand that is highlighted by a small crack of sunlight at Glenn Canyon Rec Area Utah.

Nikon 18mm Ais lens with a Singh-Ray 3 stop reverse grad. Sun and clouds play together across the desert landscape.

Directions for exploring Gunsight area/ Alstrom Point. To get here… Start at Big Water on HWY 89. Go through town and follow the signs to Smoky Mtn Rd aks Rec Rd 230. Take RR230, it is only paved a short way and turns into dirt, til you reach Rec Rd 264 aka Alstrom Point Rd. Turn R on Alstrom Point Rd, follow it to for around 7 miles when you start reaching the outskirts of the bay.  You will find 4×4 trails all around this area that will lead you to other sections and views of Gunsight Bay.  Make a careful note of your route because it can get very easy to be confused on your location because it all looks very similar.  Keep an eye out for cairn rocks as they were very helpful for us to navigate the area when the trail disappeared.

Rocky Falls located in National Scenic Riverways Area Missouri and is a classic scene to experience the landscape of the Ozarks.
Rocky Falls is one of the larger waterfalls in Missouri and was great to come back and see it… but the last time I was here it was about six years ago and I accidently dunked my Canon 10D in the water 

This time at Rocky Falls was bit of a better experience for me then last and I had the whole place to myself which is a very rare thing to experience on a Saturday at this popular destination in the Ozarks

Directions to Rocky Falls, from Eminence, take RT 106 east then turn south (right) on RT H. From H, turn east (left) onto RT NN and turn right on the second gravel road on the right – then follow signs.

Canon 5D mkll with Nikon 18mm Ais lens. Rocky Falls Missouri located the Ozark National Scenic Riverways near Eminence Missouri.

Canon 5D mkll with Nikon 55mm f3.5 Ais lens. Details of Rocky Falls Missouri.

Canon 5D mkll with Canon 70-200mm f/4 lens. The fresh spring greens arrive at Rocky Falls Missouri.

Canon 5D mkll with Canon 70-200mm f/4 lens. Upper detail of Rocky Falls Missouri.

Canon 5D mkll with Nikon 55mm f/3.5 Ais lens. The fantastic swimming hole at the base of Rocky Falls Missouri.

Images from Saturday at Prairie Hollow Gorge Missouri, the weather forecast finally called for some spring rain as it has been dry for the past two weeks here in Missouri and I really needed some fresh rain to be able to get the spring runoff in some of  the box canyons here in the Ozarks so I decided to head down to the National Scenic River Ways near Eminence Missouri because I have been wanting to check out Prairie Hollow Gorge for some time now so Saturday was the time to go.

Prairie Hollow Gorge is a very narrow box canyon with 100+ foot vertical walls and you either have to take the overlook trail at the top or hike up through the stream which means you have to walk through the water the whole time because the gorge is so narrow, therefore it has no banks to walk on and then you have to traverse a couple technical rock scrambles to get up stream. So I opted for the up stream trail just for the advantage of better close of photography of the hollow and I wanted to go the fun way.

For the up creek hike you park where Prairie Hollow Creek crosses the road way, just before the stream crossing there is place to the left where you can park a couple of cars (driving directions to here have been posted below the images). Park here and the trail head is across the road on the right side of the creek and goes upstream about an eighth of mile and then you reach the narrow shut-in section which then there is no more trail and you must traverse straight up the creek to continue on. The dangerous part of it is that the rocks were some of the slickest I have ever seen and I have seen some slick rocks in my day so you must be very careful in this hollow!

Wish I encountered a little bit more water flow but it was just starting to catch up from the two weeks of previous dry weather.

Click here for my Spot Adventure Page on Prairie Hollow Gorge Missouri

Canon 5D mkll with Olympus Zuiko 35mm Shift lens. This is the view looking down the first narrow section of Prairie Hollow Gorge, you have complete vertical walls on either side of you. The only way up is straight through the creek.

Canon 5D mkll with Canon 24mm TS-E lens. Some of the first cascades you encounter entering Prairie Hollow Gorge.

Canon 5D mkll with Nikon 18mm Ais lens. One of the many great cascading waterfalls that you will find in Prairie Hollow Gorge Missouri.

Canon 5D mkll with Olympus Zuiko 35mm shift lens. The large boulders create a really neat cascading waterfall, this would be an excellent sight to see during extreme high water!

If you ever decide to check out Prairie Hollow after a good rain be very careful if you decide to do the up creek hike but have fun and enjoy this great Missouri gem 

Directions to Prairie Hollow Gorge Missouri: From Eminence Missouri take Hwy 106 East until your reach State Hwy V which is will be one your left.  Take Hwy V north for a mile or two until you pass the National Scenic Rivers sign and make a right on the gravel country road just after the sign.  Note you will sill a sign on this road that says “Private” but you can continued down this country road for about an eighth of mile to the confirmed national park access parking on the left hand side right before the stream crossing.

Completed Fine Art in Dec of 07 by Liquiddrift located in a beautiful home nestled on top of the hills of the northeast corner of the Ozark Region in Missouri.  Near by Ozark photography was chosen to match the local natural materials used to furnish the home. Five large sized photographs were chosen to be printed by a Lightjet 5000 printer and then float mounted.

The float mounted Lightjets are delivered to the home and are ready to be hung. Float mounts are made by taking the Lightjet print and mounting it to 6ml black sintra.  The frame is custom made utilizing a 1″ deep “open-box frame” and is centered 3″ inward on the back of the sintra. This makes the print stand off the wall, which creates a floating effect. Custom made french cleats are attached to the back of the print for hanging.

A hand made french cleat for properly mounting the 43″X93 Lightjet print in the kitchen.

Detail of the back of the Lightjet print mounted to black sintra.

43″X93″ float mount mounted on the kitchen wall. Image was photographed in the northwest corner of Arkansas.

48″X96″ float mount mounted in the atrium. Art work image is Indian Creek located in the northwest corner of Arkansas.

43″X83″ float mount mounted in the atrium. Art work image is Copperhead Falls in Indian Creek located in the northwest corner of Arkansas.

37″X91″ float mount mounted in the fireside reading lounge. Art work image is a moonrise at Zion National Park Utah.

Family and product history wall project completed in June of 07 by Liquiddrift Media. Project consisted of a total of 8 float mounted Lightjet prints to be displayed in the eight artwork nooks placed in the corridor of College City Beverage.  The artwork displays the history of College City Beverage and historical Anheuser Busch artwork.

Please scroll down for details.

College City Beverage

Northfield Minnesota

Original photographs of College City Beverage history were sent to Liquiddrift by the family of College City.  The images were scanned at high resolution to retain crisp and sharp detail for the large prints that will be float mounted for the facilities corridor.  Original duplicate negatives of the Anheuser Busch artwork were sent from the Anheuser Busch archives to Liquiddrift and also scanned in at high resolution.

Completed artwork of eight 43″X60″ float mounted Lightjets.  Float mounts are made by taking the Lightjet print and mounting it to 6ml black sintra.  The frame is custom made utilizing a 1″ deep “open-box frame” and is centered 3″ inward on the back of the sintra. This makes the print stand off the wall, which creates a floating effect.  Custom made french cleats are attached to the back of the print for hanging.

Fine artwork project completed in November 09 by Liquiddrift Media. Project consisted of a total of 24 fine art photography pieces to be displayed in the new Dave Mungenast Lexus of St. Louis Missouri.

Please scroll down for details.

Production and packaging for delivery to Dave Mungenast Lexus.

Framed Fine Art arrives to the location and is carefully unloaded.

Box mounted Lightjets, float mounted Lightjets, and canvas mounts also arrive to the location.

Liquiddrift’s professional installer arrives and installs mounting hardware on the canvas mount pieces and prepares them for hanging.

Hanging three canvas mount pieces along the first floor stone wall.

Final measurements and fit.

Three 40″x60″ Canvas Mounted Fine Art Photography Pieces. Images photographed by Mark Karpinski and the location is Black Mountain Missouri.  Canvas print mounts are printed on a canvas paper and stretched on a custom made open wooden frame with the edges wrapped around the back.  These prints come “Ready to Hang” right out of the box.  This option is very popular and looks exceptional.

Hanging three canvas mounted pieces along the second floor stone wall.

Three 40″x60″ Canvas Mounted Fine Art Photography Pieces. Images photographed by Mark Karpinski and the location is the LaBarque Watershed Missouri.

Measuring and mounting french cleats for placement of the float mounted Lightjets.

Mounting the float mount series at the cafe in Dave Mungenast Lexus.

Three 18″X35″ float mounted Lightjets. Images photographed by Mark Karpinski and located at the Richland Creek Wilderness. Float mounts are made by taking the Lightjet print and mounting it to 6ml black sintra.  The frame is custom made utilizing a 1″ deep “open-box frame” and is centered 3″ inward on the back of the sintra. This makes the print stand off the wall, which creates a floating effect. Custom made french cleats are attached to the back of the print for hanging.

Completion on hanging the framed art pieces. This is a 23″x68″ Lightjet print matted and framed for the fireside lounge at Dave Mungenast Lexus of St. Louis.

Two 24″X48″ Lightjet print matted and framed for the fireside lounge at Dave Mungenast Lexus of St. Louis.

Managers office fitted with a 30″X70″ Lightjet print mounted box mount of Lake Ashley Missouri.

The mens and womens restrooms each receive a 32″X54″ Lightjet print matted and framed.

The west side of the second floor corridor receives a 43″X66″ box mounted Lightjet print.

The east side of the second floor corridor receives a 43″X66″ box mounted Lightjet print.

Box mounts are made by mounting Lightjet prints flush to the edge of a fiberboard and mica box.  Black laminate is adhered to the sides.  The client can request different depths.  You have a chance of selecting the 1″ or 3″ box mount.  Custom made french cleats are attached to the back of the box mount for hanging.

The executive conference room receives two 28″X48″ framed and matted Lightjet prints.

The executive waiting room receives a very large 43″X90″ framed and matted Lightjet print.

The executive office receives a 20″X40″ canvas mounted print.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diRw29z-0rU

Link posted above is the video of the new Dave Mungenast Lexus commercial which features some of the artwork in the new space. Architecture photos of the space used in the video are also photographed by Mark Karpinski.