Red Butte is an 1800 ft. pyramid shaped monolith just outside Zion National Park’s Kolob Canyons area. It is home to a natural arch, which is seldom seen except from the air. In this aerial photograph, you can see the arch on the left side of the mountain, opposite the hoodoos on the right.
So, when offered the opportunity to go up on a private flight with the doors off, the photographer in me won out over the acrophobe, and I said yes! I expected to be terrified the whole time.
Aerial view of a cliff face at the top of Kolob Terrace in Zion National Park, Utah. Spring rains have resulted in a lush green landscape in the southern Utah desert highlighted by sunlight breaking through a light cloud cover.
I still don’t know if being seated and strapped in dissipated my fear, or if I was just so awestruck that being scared had no emotional space, but I didn’t react as I expected to. I have to say, it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.
Aerial view of Zion Canyon in Zion National Park, Utah. From the ground, this place is hard to believe. From the air, it’s almost unfathomable.
The pilot, Nate, of Zion Helicopters, was extremely knowledgeable and did a great job of taking us to places where the best photos could be had. He also monitored the wind speed while in the air in order to take us lower when it was safe.
Smithsonian Butte is a 6632 ft. mountain situated just south of Zion National Park and just west of the Canaan Mountain Wilderness in southern Utah. In this aerial photograph, you see the top of Smithsonian Butte in the foreground and the cliffs of Zion Canyon in the background.
It was one of those things that you don’t even realize is on your bucket list until after you have done it. And I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I want to do it again!
The Canaan Mountain Wilderness is a remote wilderness area to the south of Zion National Park. The wilderness area consists of over 44,000 acres, dominated by Canaan Mountain. Pictured here is a portion of the mountain’s 2000 ft. Navajo sandstone cliffs. If you look closely at the highest point of the cliffs, you will see an American Flag planted by some hearty local explorers.
My advice to you is, if you ever get the chance to go on a helicopter tour–do it! Even if you are not a photographer, it’s an experience you will never forget.
The mouth of Zion Canyon in Zion National Park from the air. Mount Kinesava and the West Temple dominate the left of the image while the town of Springdale, Utah can be seen in the middle right of the scene below the East Temple.
Hi Loree,
Your photography is inspiring and is helping me improve my photography efforts. You have an eye for capturing the beauty in whatever landscape in which you find yourself.
Many photographers say the equipment doesn’t matter, perhaps they are correct, but I’m finding that the most successful do shoot with some substantial setups. Please, if I may, inquire about what you are shooting with – camera and lenses?
Currently I am shooting with a couple of Nikons, a D750 full frame and a D7500 with a Tamron 150-600mm telephoto as well as a Nikkor 24-120, 1.4G ED.
I’m slowly working my way from “spraying and praying” and am starting to look at a scene before I shoot to formulate what story it may tell. What a thrill it is to see the finish work.
Anyway, thank you for sharing your inspiring images.
Hi Carl,
I would never say that equipment doesn’t matter, but I would say that if you work hard and know the limits of your equipment, you can create beautiful images with lesser equipment. I’ve always just shot with what I could afford at the time. I started with a Nikon D60 and the 18-55 kit lens. There are photos in my portfolio shot with that combo that still sell today. This post and these images are from 2015. At that time I was shooting with a Nikon D800E, which I still use sometimes, and a Nikkor 24-70 2.8 which I’ve owned for about 8 years. It’s still my overall go-to zoom lens for landscape photography.
Thanks so much for stopping by and keep shooting!