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Palo Duro Canyon,

© Joan E. Hoffman

Palo Duro Canyon,

Uploaded: March 19, 2009

Description

Palo Duro Canyon is a canyon system of the Caprock Escarpment in the Panhandle of Texas (USA). As the second largest canyon in the United States, it is roughly 120 miles long and has an average width of 6 miles, but reaches a width of 20 miles at places. Its maximum depth is 800 feet. Palo Duro Canyon has been called "The Grand Canyon of Texas," both for its size and for the dramatic geological features, including the multicolored layers of rock and steep mesa walls similar to those in the Grand Canyon.

The canyon was formed by the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River which winds along the relatively flat Caprock of West Texas. Water erosion over the millennia has been aided by wind erosion to shape the canyon's geological formations.

Notable canyon formations include caves and hoodoos.

The first evidence of human habitation of the canyon dates back approximately 10,000–15,000 years, and it is believed to have been continuously inhabited to the present day.

Exif: F Number: 10, Exposure Bias Value: -1.33, ExposureTime: 2/1000 seconds, Flash: did not fire., ISO: 200, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 55.00 mm, Model: NIKON D40

Comments

Aimee C. Eisaman March 20, 2009

Wow....great discription Joan! I find all of that very interesting! Now what the heck is a hoodoo? LOL! :~) As for the shot I love the bright colors in the middle of it and only wish they continued to the background rock, but I know how haze can nix that! Don't you have Topaz? That might look neat on this shot? Also I wish there was a tad bit more sky above that rock tip....it is dangerously close to the edge in my mind! :P #1101282

Jodi M. Walsh March 20, 2009

well, got my geology lesson for the day :-) very interesting. i'd love to see these sites in person someday.

a beautiful scene but I am finding the colors a bit washed out- a very cool brightness to it but those are just my thoughts. I seem to be in this intense color phase where I like things bright and rich. I like the comp. you really see the layers building up to the peak and all those different textures on top. #7308304

Joan E. Hoffman March 20, 2009

Hey Aimee... you have seen Hoodoo's in my Drumheller pictures, here's the link to a couple in my gallery.

I debated using topaz, but decided to "go natural"... The colours looked great in Nikon Capture NX, much brighter and contrasty... maybe I uploaded the wrong pic... do ya think ROLF!!!!


http://www.betterphoto.com/Premium/Default.phpx?id=193924&iPage=13&mp=V3

http://www.betterphoto.com/Premium/Gallery.phpx?id=193924&cat=0&photoID=6959701&mp=V3 #7308381

Joan E. Hoffman March 20, 2009

Hey Jodi, I love rocks, should have been a geologist (or computer programmer) or perhaps both LOL! As I mentioned to Aimee, I think I loaded the original version, rather than the one that had been "tweaked" to bring out the colours. The sky unfortunately, was that horrible blah greyish mess that is ALWAYS present when I pick up my camera!! #7308393

Aimee C. Eisaman March 20, 2009

A HA....I see they are a type of rock formation! Thanks! :~) #7308403

Dale Hardin March 20, 2009

Joan, I loved the info on this image also. One of my real problems is not knowing anything about my shots. I really enjoy it when some shares info like you do.

There are some interesting elements in this photo but they take second place in the composition. The foreground doesn't begin to have the interest of the rocks yet it takes up nearly 50% of the shot.

Would have liked to see the adjusted shot as I'm sure you did a good job increasing the contrast in the processed version.

We all are faced with those washed out skies but it's so easily fixed. I keep a folder full of interesting sky shots just for occasions such as this. #7308658

Joan E. Hoffman March 20, 2009

Yes Aimee... erosion, both wind and water create these most interesting rocks formations. Drumheller has some extemely good examples.

Dale... I guess its the "eye" of the beholder in this shot... I loved the silvery leafless trees, and that to me was more of my focus than the rather overpowering background... so all in all.. probably a BAD shot rather than a good one, cuz the red walls overpower the scene #7308790

Joan E. Hoffman March 20, 2009

Oh and Dale... I will prob need a lesson in SKY replacement therapy #7308862

Dale Hardin March 20, 2009

Joan, I guess I missed on this one. Sorry. If the trees were the focal point of the shot then I understand. Unfortunate that there was such a powerful background. Almost impossible to correct after the fact because of all the detail in the trees.

A re shoot with a open f-stop to decrease the DOF would be in order.

Also, would be happy to send a lesson in "sky replacement" therapy. :-)

I see you have PSE5. If that format is good for you let me know and I'll send you a tutorial. I can show you two ways. One is fairly standard but the other is perfect for an image that has lots of tree detail in the sky that is hard to select. #7309066

Anthony L. Mancuso March 20, 2009

Joan, I love the layered look to the image, I do think it needs a little more sky and better color in the sky as well..like you, I think Dales observation about the trees is more of a personal preference..i think its an overall excellent landscape.

Dale PLEASE send me the technique for editing skies behind trees, that has been a thorn in my photoshop side for a LONG TIME!!! #7309237

Esther R. Tinz March 20, 2009

Wow - Joan - what a well presented description. Love how the trees are like a 'lace border' for the rocks. Do you have more shots of this region to share? Please? #7309435

Dale Hardin March 20, 2009

I'll put one together tonight and send it out Tony. #7309591

Ellen H. Robertson level-classic March 21, 2009

I think some of the bottom can be cropped with out losing the beautiful silver trees. Love the description, it gives you a sense of knowing it without being there.
Dale if I am not too late I would also like the lesson on "sky replacement" #7310939

Aimee C. Eisaman March 21, 2009

To make it easier on you Dale why don't you post such lessons on the discussion thread of the club page? #7310963

Christie R. Bielss March 21, 2009

Yea!! A TX girl gets to see a photo of home! The Panhandle rock formations and color layers are really beautiful. I like what you were going after in this image, but I think this image could be cropped for 2 totally different looks. Since you were really after the trees, why not crop the peak and sky off and focus in on that deep orangey rock layer with the trees against it. Not sure if this would work, but it looks ok when I scoot the image up on my monitor and crop the top off. Also, you could crop about the bottom 1/4 off and have the focus be on the peak (though I do think you'll want Dale's sky replacement idea). This would have a totally different focus, but I think it might be equally interesting. I really love the colors and textures in this! #7311152

Dale Hardin March 21, 2009

Aimee, I'd love to post the tutorials for all to see, but as you know they are laden with attachment images which I cannot do in BP. #7311577

Aimee C. Eisaman March 21, 2009

Ahhhh yes....your screen shots wouldn't work! #7311822

Joan E. Hoffman March 23, 2009

Back on line again.. We are stuck just below the wyomming border waiting out a blizzard... wah... I want to go back to Texas!

Thanks all for your comments on this... will be uploading a couple of new ones shortly!

Christie... what part of Texas did you hail from? #7319093

Christie R. Bielss March 23, 2009

Born in Lubbock, raised mostly in the suburbs of Dallas/Ft. Worth, spent a bunch of weekends at my parent's lake house near the Tyler area, and spent 3 very long years in Wichita Falls dodging tornadoes. I really do miss the Texas winter vs. the Illinois winters I'm enduring now. #7319967

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