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Into the Vortex

posted in Rock Art

Into the Vortex

Since I posted a photo yesterday with ruins and star trails, I figured I would follow up today with a photo of rock art and star trails, which is something I’m hoping to do more of in the very near future.

After photographing sunset in Arches National Park, I set out to visit the Moab Maiden (Moab Princess) for a night photography session. Since I knew this petroglyph panel faced approximately north, I had envisioned making an image looking up past the Maiden to Polaris with the other stars circling around. I ended up taking this shot with the aperture wide open so that the very close foreground and the stars were out of focus. This is something that I have not seen done before, since most photographers prefer nice sharp star trails, but I think it looks good and adds a feeling of depth to the ‘vortex’ beyond the Maiden. I lit up the boulder and petroglyph by bouncing the light from my headlamp off of a nearby cliff. I’m very happy with the way this image came out.

The Moab Maiden is surely one of my favorite petroglyphs around, and I’ve enjoyed trying to create a unique image at this location.

>> RMNP Spring Fling 2011

Sun Carrier

posted in Rock Art

Sun Carrier

The Uinta Basin in Northeastern Utah features some of the finest rock art in Utah and a very distinct subdivision of the Fremont Style known as the Classic Vernal Style. The Sun Carrier panel, also known as The Three Kings panel has been called the greatest petroglyph panel in the world. While that description might be just a little over the top, it absolutely has to be up near the top of that list. This panel is in a very unique location on a sandstone pillar about two-thirds of the way up the cliff from the canyon floor. Not only are the human-like figures very large and lifelike, they are also highly detailed and decorated. It also appears that there is also some red pigment left on the panel, especially on the large sun-like figure and the central human figure. It makes one wonder just how much paint there may have been on this panel when it was created that has weathered away…

I would like to extend my thanks to the McConkie Ranch for allowing the public onto their property so that those of us who enjoy viewing rock art can experience the many fine petroglyphs located here. I encourage anyone who is interested in rock art to make the trip up there to view all the spectacular rock art…you won’t be disappointed!

>> Dry Fork – McConkie Ranch

Something Unique

posted in Rock Art

Something Unique

“You’ve found something unique, please preserve it”

I don’t think anything else needs to be said. This photo speaks for itself!

>> Dark Angel Petroglyphs

The Harvest Scene

posted in Rock Art

The Harvest Scene

For the last couple of years I have made a list of goals that I wanted to accomplish throughout the year which has helped motivate me to get things done. Near the top of my list for 2011 was to finally get to The Maze District of Canyonlands National Park so that I could visit The Harvest Scene pictographs. I was able to secure a campsite permit in April and spent four days and three nights in the Land of Standing Rocks with a couple good friends. Our first full day was spent hiking to The Harvest Scene and it was an incredible experience. This panel is pretty faded and very hard to see in direct sunlight, but fortunately while we were there a few clouds blocked the sun for us and I was able to admire and photograph this impressive panel. The photo above shows only part of the panel, but it’s the part where the name ‘Harvest Scene’ derives. I find the larger anthropomorphic figure on the left with white stripes to be very unique, but my favorite figure is the large one on the right with the outstretched arm. If you look closely at the middle finger on it’s hand, it appears there is ricegrass growing from the tip. On either side of the ricegrass this are small zoomorphs; the left one appears to be a bird and the right one a rabbit. I really enjoyed visiting this site and am planning on hopefully returning again sometime next year and hiking to it from The Maze Overlook.

You can click on this photo and view a larger size on Flickr if you want to see the finer details better.

>> Pictograph Fork & The Harvest Scene

Lonely Square Anthropomorph

posted in Rock Art

Lonely Square Anthropomorph

While exploring a small side canyon off of Indian Creek I came across this anthropomorphic petroglyph all by itself. The square and tapered body reminds me of the many Fremont figures I have seen further north, but the Fremont are not thought to have lived in this area. Perhaps the Anasazi copied the style or maybe the Fremont passed through or camped in this area while hunting? While we will never know the exact origin of this petroglyph, it’s still an interesting yet very simple figure.

>> Indian Creek Corridor Rock Art

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