To me, those videos from you are like ... Zen meditation !!! Beautiful landscapes, beautiful inspiration. You give me a feeling like I was in the spot, in the area by myself !!
Thanks Gavin! I sure was lucky with that one. As a bit more backstory, on my way to that location, I stopped for about 15 minutes where I had a cell signal and posted a few stories to Instagram. One of those IG stories was a picture of me holding up a bag full of peanuts in a snowy slot canyon. After that, I drove up the canyon to find that scene. As soon as I loaded the film holder in my camera, the conditions started to evaporate and the snow stopped. I knew that if I hadn't stopped to post the story about freezing my nuts in Zion, I would have made it there in time. That being said, that shot with the mist still turned out, so I'm happy about that.
Haha! Yeah, pulling out the long lens and aiming it around sure was a fun exercise. At a certain point though, it was nice to put it away and just enjoy the sights and sounds. Thanks as always for watching and commenting Brett!
Thanks so much Michael! It sure was a spectacular morning! I'll definitely be following the weather forecast next winter to see if I can get there again during those conditions.
Love the image of that large snow covered cottonwood set against the sandstone. The large freestanding rock formations off to the side added some nice interest to the scene as well. Your comment about letting go of expectations to improve vision is great advice, but I always find it challenging to put into practice. Dedicated photography trips always bring such lofty goals and excitement. Makes it difficult to take a deep breath and practice the patience needed to let nature through.
Thanks Larry! It is indeed a challenge to let go of expectations. Based on my own experience, that's something that happens once I'm 3 or 4 days into a trip. Often times there is something that draws me to a particular location, perhaps a shot I have returned for, but once that is out of the way, I find myself far more open to seeing what's really around me.
"Letting go of expectations" great advice. Happy for you to have that memory "your personal Zion for the day" and you earned that Mr. Ben Horne. This is the type of memory/feeling that will sustain us when we are in life’s valleys.
Thank you Dave! That is a fantastic way of putting it, and it's certainly a moment I'll look back on for many years to come! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thanks Russ! It sure was cool how that one tree made for two very different photos. Perhaps I'll have to shoot it during the spring and fall at some point.
OMG Ben! You were so blessed to be there to witness those mind blowing conditions. You have captured it so well on video and film. Never seen Zion like this before. I think I will be watching this video for many many years. Your horizontal image of the the snow covered tree with the rock structure on the right with some fog is easily in my top 3 fav images from your amazing collection. Please share all the images you have taken whether you consider them good or bad. Thanks for sharing this amazing experience.
Thank you so much Ash! While I was walking around the park that day, I was thinking to myself that I may never seen Zion quite like this again. Sure, I'll see snow there again, but to have it all to myself like that was perhaps once in a lifetime. After taking the vertical photo of the cottonwood, I felt at peace just walking around and looking at everything without feeling the need to take more photos.
It sure was a unique experience, that's for sure!!! After taking those photos, I just took some time to wander around in silence and try to take in the beauty all around me.
Thanks Bruce! That's one of the interesting things about shooting film. In my mind, the photo I shot the day couldn't have been any good, so I returned to that tree to see if I could do it justice. As a result, I got two really cool shots of that tree with different compositions. The conditions were truly spectacular.
Loved that version of the winter scene at the very end. Different feel than when there was fog behind it but it seemed more pristine and evenly coated with snow. Awesome trip!
What a special day in Zion, Ben! Thanks for taking us along. Not to mention the incredible portfolio moments you captured. I’m also excited to see those 100-400 shots. I’ve been going back and binging a lot of your previous trips, and seeing your journey over the years makes these days even more special to see. We need a campaign to get your account to a million subscribers!
Thanks Ricky! It sure was fun wandering around with the longer lens. I really hope to get back there again with similar conditions, though I have a feeling that will be tough to do. I'll keep my fingers crossed though. Thanks for watching and commenting Ricky!
It always agreat pleasure for me and it's always reassuring when I watch your videos Ben, the tree whether vertical or horizontal, it's an amazing image. This scenery in front of this majestic rock wall with this fantastic red. Wonderful!
Very well said Ben as always love your videos n photography!! i love nothing better then clean untouched snow especially on the trees one of my favorite seasons ..winter n fall i love them !! a pleasure watching your videos ..stey safe n GOD BLESS U ALWAYS !
Ben: Glad you got to spend some alone time. Being locked in a National Park is something that has to be rare so that helps make you special. So glad you enjoyed your time there. Looking forward to your digital work now.
It sure was special, that's for sure Danny. I doubt I'll ever have another chance like that. It was so incredibly calm and quiet that morning. Thanks as always for watching and commenting!
What a treat to have this amazing place to yourself, during these exceptional conditions. The snow covered trees against those cliffs, look great!! I think your last photo is even better than the landscape version from the previous video, maybe because you had more time to setup the composition. It will be hard to select only a few photos for your boxset, for now the first and last picture should be part of it. But we still have the digital files left to see, looking forward to that!!
Thank you as always Sander! Although I haven't started producing the prints for the box sets yet, I know I'll be including the first photo from the trip, and the two versions of the cottonwood covered in snow. I also have some shots from the Death Valley trip that should make the cut, and I have two spring trips rapidly approaching. The 2021 Box set is already taking shape, and much of that is due to the magical week in Zion in January. Thanks as always for watching and commenting!
Stunning conditions and beautifully caught. I love the tree with the rock pinnacle and mist at 13.24 but the peak you had the Sony out at looked like it had a million possibilities. A great series that is just getting better! Cheers.
Thanks so much Andrew! The great thing that morning was that there was so much potential in every direction, and even though I thought it might be intimidating, it was an incredibly peaceful experience.
It sure goes away quickly. There are times when it snows in the morning, and all traces of it are gone by the afternoon. That's one of the reasons why it sure is a magical experience there in the snow. It sure doesn't last long. Now of course it's in the 100's, but I look forward to returning in the fall to see what I can find, especially now that they've had at least one monsoonal storm.
Those precious few days where everything looks good. Props to you for putting in the work to be in the right spot at the right time. Incredible conditions and images! Well done!
It sure was very special, that's for sure. I was very lucky to be there that week and to experience those conditions. I hope I'm fortunate enough to experience conditions like those again. Thanks so much for watching and commenting Duncan!
Great vlog Ben. You certainly had some truly amazing conditions. Almost a little overwhelming I would imagine. I saw some great compositions that would worked well for me and wished I could have been there. What was interesting although I was willing you to stop and shoot them, I knew you wouldn’t as it they just didn’t fit your style. Looking forward to seeing your next video
Thanks Brian! It was really an eye opening experience to be in Zion during those conditions. On each nights before snow was in the forecast I had a tough time sleeping because I was worried I wouldn't be able to make good use of the conditions, but each and every time, I had no problem finding some great stuff to point my camera at. By the end of the trip, I was perfectly satisfied just walking around and experiencing the sights and sounds without even wanting to take any photos.
Thank you Andrew!! It sure was a beautiful day to be in Zion. That's one of the reasons why I love to revisit familiar locations. You learn to recognize when the conditions truly are unique.
Thanks Luís! It sure is a beautiful place in the snow. I love how it transforms so dramatically in such a brief window of time. Thanks as always for watching and commenting!
Your message of "expectations" at the end really hit home for me. It's something I've been personally trying to temper the last few years when going on trips. Thanks for sharing your trip. It looked like a blast in Zion this winter! Have a great weekend, Ben.
Thanks Marco! The issue of expectations is a tricky one. Those expectations are responsible for luring us to these locations, and also for finding subjects right away, but it's only when we release those expectations that we can get to know a location even better. For me at least, that happens around my 4th day or so. Thanks as always for watching and commenting!
Beautiful video as always Ben, and the captures you came home with are absolutely amazing. That moment of peace and calm, having the whole canyon for yourself, in the middle of such a wintry scene... it must've been just pure magic. Thank you for sharing your work and your thought process, it really is an inspiration! Take care :)
Thank you as always Kevin! It sure was a very special trip, and especially the day when I had the canyon all to myself. I remember taking a moment just to soak it all in because there is no photograph that will truly do a moment like that justice. Thanks as always for watching and commenting!
The park gates sounds like a similar experience I had at McKenzie Pass in Oregon one year. The transportation department decided to shut the highway for the season without notice while I was exploring around. It is nice to have the place all to yourself, though.
It sure does seem a bit strange when the cars stop driving past. Makes you wonder if they know something you don't. Once I realized what had happened, I tried my best to just absorb the sights and sounds. I don't think many people get to experience that same sort of sense of calm in Zion.
So beautiful Ben! What a wonderful experience. I’m thinking about how difficult it is to walk on some of the small rounded rock areas in some of the washes and wondering how much more difficult the snow covering everything might have made that? I kind of expected to see you with trekking poles for balance. Anyway, thanks for creating something so magical.
Thanks Scott! I had some metal grips on my boots when I was walking through the washes, and thanks to them, I had decent traction. Between that and the cushion of compressed snow, it was actually a bit easier than walking through the washes when they are dry. If the snow was any deeper, I would have put on my gaiters to keep my feet dry, but thankfully there wasn't too much.
@@BenHorne When I lived in Ohio and photographed in the snow a lot, I tried multiple types of grips. "Stabilicers" was one and I think Yak Traks is the one I have now. I always bring them on fall trips just in case. Although, I'm here in the Smokies right now and we had ice and snow yesterday. In fact, the Blue Ridge Parkway was closed yesterday due to ice and it was closed all day today as well. So, I probably should have brought my grips on this trip!
@@BenHorne If you had, you may have had a slightly better experiential visit but you would have denied all of us a by-proxy good time. Is your book likely to have a re-print? I was too slow last time....
Thanks Hugo! Zion in the winter sure is an amazing experience. The fall is also great, but along with the fall comes big crowds. Also, the fleeting nature of the fallen snow sure transforms the park in such a dramatic way over a very short window of time. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I just thought of Prius Man fuming at the closed gates, consoling himself with being home before you, the poor stiff! Looking forward to your image reviews, including the digital stuff. :-))
I can see why you go back to Zion over and over. A truly stunning place. And to have it all to yourself with fresh snow! Some saying about uck going to the prepared comes to mind. Question: when you talk about the "higher elevation portions" of the park, are you referring to the east side of the park beyond the tunnel?
Thanks Mike! It truly is a special place, and one that changes so much from season to season, so there is always something wonderful to find there. With regard to the higher elevation portions of the park, the East side is one of many areas. There's also the Kolob Canyon section, and the Plateau section on the west side. I never like to be very specific because those areas can't handle a lot of visitation.
@@BenHorne I can understand your desire not to be overrun by hordes of your adoring fans. But I think you're going to have to be more careful with your "B roll" then. The backgrounds often are enough to figure out generally where you're at. Maybe not how far up a river bed you're walking. But general quadrant of the park was all I was asking about anyway. I'm just a map fan, not a future stalker.
Really good, Ben! I'll look forward to seeing what you did with your digital kit as well. You must have felt like a kid in a candy store with a pocket full of nickels.
Thanks Ross!! It sure was great to be there. I thought I might feel intimidated by all the beauty all around me, but I didn't find that to be the case. It felt great to shoot a scene or two that I liked, then just wander around and take in the sights and the sounds. It was a truly amazing experience.
Wow, so beautiful !! curious, @9:00 when you park your car on the side of the road and walk off, any negatives to that? People messing with your vehicle or Johnny Law not particularly like where you parked, etc.... "Let go our expectations..." how applicable to many things in life.
Thanks Robert! With Zion, there are defined pullouts where you are allowed to park. Everything is very clearly marked, so thankfully there really isn't any confusion with that. Some of the areas can accommodate quite a few cars, and others will fit maybe one or two max. My experience with Zion for the past 12 years has been very positive. The only person that has broken into my vehicle has been me. Thankfully. :-)
Another wonderful video. I’m envious of your experiences and really appreciate your thoughts regarding lessons for life. I look forward to the next video. Keep up the good work.
This was breathing! .. and you shoot a lot of breathtaking photos but the fresh snow sticking everywhere was phenomenal. Has the Park Service ever contacted you? Your photography within the National Parks has, no doubt, increased visitors over the years. Also wondering, do you ever shoot 8x10 B&W in these locations? I’m thinking Ansel Adams really contrasty images. Perhaps a B&W large format series?
Thanks Robert! It sure was a very special morning, and seeing the snow stick to the trees and cliffs sure was an amazing experience. I have never been in direct contact with the National Park Service, but I know they have their hands busy already with crowds that are too large at times. I'm just the guy taking pictures of leaves and rocks and stuff. :-) I've hardly done any B&W work through the years. I just do so much better seeing subjects and light with color. I've mostly given up on B&W and will leave that for those who specialize in it. It's such a different mentality than working with color, and in my opinion, far more difficult than working in color.
Thank you Loren!! It sure was a wonderful week wasn't it? Now imagine being able to visit during the Fall back when the park was that quiet during the fall. Makes me wish I had a time machine.
Beautiful looking place, especially in the snow. Thanks for sharing the trip Ben, and your magnificent photographs. See you in the next one indeed. Can hardly wait.
Thank you as always Andrew! It sure was a fantastic trip, and a great way to start the year. In the meantime, my Death Valley series starts tomorrow. :-)
Thanks Gaius! I can confirm that the snow covered horizontal cottonwood with the atmospherics, and the vertical photo of that same tree the following morning will both be a part of the box set this year. Those sheets have already been drum scanned and tweaked for print. I also have some decent work from my Death Valley trip, and with several more trips this year, the 2021 box set should be quite good. :-)
Great video and photos once again, Ben. Especially the last two. Just a quick logistical question: Did the park have a tire chains requirement when it was snowing? I'm guessing your 4Runner did fine without.
Hi Daniel! In Zion, the snow doesn't last very long, and if it starts during the day, they usually have snow plows actively keeping the roads clear. I personally have never seen any chains requirements within the park, but that's mostly because they're usually able to clear the roads of overnight snow rather quickly. In some cases, such as the morning this was filmed, a highway with a big elevation gain and lots of switchbacks was closed in the morning so the snowplows could clear it, but the rest of the canyon was left open until later in the morning when it was closed so an individual snow plow could help clear the road. That being said, the road was a bit snowy with a bit of ice, but nothing that ever seemed all that bad in my 4Runner.
I use North Coast Photographic in Carlsbad, California. They happen to be my local lab, but they also do a lot of mail order processing. I've used them for over a decade now.
It's different, and I think that's the best way to describe it. I absolutely love the convenience of being able to shoot my digital kit without all the setup time or struggling over getting the perfect exposure. Also, having the long lens is great because it offers a whole range of new subjects that I am not able to shoot with my large format. I absolutely love working with the digital and see it as a very fun tool to work with. This is a good thing because I don't expect perfection from it, and in that same sense, I won't get caught up in feeling I have to have the latest and the greatest. That's a cycle I was trapped in before I went to film. With film though, I feel I have a greater sense of purpose and it's so much more intensional, which translates directly to a greater satisfaction with my own work.
@@BenHorne Do you think we’ll ever see your digital files or are you purely gonna stick with your film prints, I’m just curious to see if your style changes at all because you can shoot a higher dynamic range scene with similar structure where as you need a specific light for the large format.
My favorite part of snow when I'm in the forests near me is how quiet it makes everything.
It sure is wonderful when it's that quiet isn't it? Reminds me a bit of being up in the Redwoods.
To me, those videos from you are like ... Zen meditation !!!
Beautiful landscapes, beautiful inspiration.
You give me a feeling like I was in the spot, in the area by myself !!
That's so funny as my wife had said just that Ben's book/s should be called "Zen & The Art of Photography"
Thank you so much! That means so much to hear that!
I might have to steal that. :-) Thanks Ash!
I really liked that shot at 13:26 with the mist in the background. I'd like to see it for longer.
Thanks Gavin! I sure was lucky with that one. As a bit more backstory, on my way to that location, I stopped for about 15 minutes where I had a cell signal and posted a few stories to Instagram. One of those IG stories was a picture of me holding up a bag full of peanuts in a snowy slot canyon. After that, I drove up the canyon to find that scene. As soon as I loaded the film holder in my camera, the conditions started to evaporate and the snow stopped. I knew that if I hadn't stopped to post the story about freezing my nuts in Zion, I would have made it there in time. That being said, that shot with the mist still turned out, so I'm happy about that.
4:18 Glad to see you occasionally get out the spray-and-pray gear like the rest of us during these conditions! Haha.
Haha! Yeah, pulling out the long lens and aiming it around sure was a fun exercise. At a certain point though, it was nice to put it away and just enjoy the sights and sounds. Thanks as always for watching and commenting Brett!
Really great work as always Ben, that last image is gorgeous!
Thanks so much Michael! It sure was a spectacular morning! I'll definitely be following the weather forecast next winter to see if I can get there again during those conditions.
"...under a happy little pine tree."
Yep, you are officially the Bob Ross of photography
Immediately thought this too. 🤣
Yep. I had exactly the same thought 😀
Haha! I love it Chris!
Love the image of that large snow covered cottonwood set against the sandstone. The large freestanding rock formations off to the side added some nice interest to the scene as well. Your comment about letting go of expectations to improve vision is great advice, but I always find it challenging to put into practice. Dedicated photography trips always bring such lofty goals and excitement. Makes it difficult to take a deep breath and practice the patience needed to let nature through.
Thanks Larry! It is indeed a challenge to let go of expectations. Based on my own experience, that's something that happens once I'm 3 or 4 days into a trip. Often times there is something that draws me to a particular location, perhaps a shot I have returned for, but once that is out of the way, I find myself far more open to seeing what's really around me.
"Letting go of expectations" great advice. Happy for you to have that memory "your personal Zion for the day" and you earned that Mr. Ben Horne. This is the type of memory/feeling that will sustain us when we are in life’s valleys.
Thank you Dave! That is a fantastic way of putting it, and it's certainly a moment I'll look back on for many years to come! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Love the sound of crunching snow under foot.
It sure is a great sound isn't it? One of my favorites.
Beautiful last photo of the snow covered tree with the rock face behind, complements the last composition from the previous video of the same scene.
Thanks Russ! It sure was cool how that one tree made for two very different photos. Perhaps I'll have to shoot it during the spring and fall at some point.
OMG Ben! You were so blessed to be there to witness those mind blowing conditions. You have captured it so well on video and film. Never seen Zion like this before. I think I will be watching this video for many many years. Your horizontal image of the the snow covered tree with the rock structure on the right with some fog is easily in my top 3 fav images from your amazing collection. Please share all the images you have taken whether you consider them good or bad. Thanks for sharing this amazing experience.
Thank you so much Ash! While I was walking around the park that day, I was thinking to myself that I may never seen Zion quite like this again. Sure, I'll see snow there again, but to have it all to myself like that was perhaps once in a lifetime. After taking the vertical photo of the cottonwood, I felt at peace just walking around and looking at everything without feeling the need to take more photos.
it almost looks like a green screen blue skies, with snow dusted over red cliff faces, beautiful
It sure was an amazing day in Zion, that's for sure!! It was very surreal to be there and see so much beauty in every direction.
Geez. Someone lock the gates after me so I can have Zion to myself! Well done, Ben! You've earned it.
It sure was a unique experience, that's for sure!!! After taking those photos, I just took some time to wander around in silence and try to take in the beauty all around me.
It's nice to see Zion with snow.
It sure is, and it also doesn't last very long. Perhaps that's why it's so very special. Thanks for watching!
I knew you would go back to that last shot. I was rooting for you to return. Conditions look amazing.
Thanks Bruce! That's one of the interesting things about shooting film. In my mind, the photo I shot the day couldn't have been any good, so I returned to that tree to see if I could do it justice. As a result, I got two really cool shots of that tree with different compositions. The conditions were truly spectacular.
Loved that version of the winter scene at the very end. Different feel than when there was fog behind it but it seemed more pristine and evenly coated with snow. Awesome trip!
Thanks Brian! It sure was great to be able to shoot the same scene with such different conditions. It was such a magical week to spend in Zion.
wow! the snow and the orange sandstone looks like an IR image!
It sure has that look doesn't it? Might as well be a photo during the summer with dense foliage.
What a special day in Zion, Ben! Thanks for taking us along. Not to mention the incredible portfolio moments you captured. I’m also excited to see those 100-400 shots. I’ve been going back and binging a lot of your previous trips, and seeing your journey over the years makes these days even more special to see. We need a campaign to get your account to a million subscribers!
Thanks Ricky! It sure was fun wandering around with the longer lens. I really hope to get back there again with similar conditions, though I have a feeling that will be tough to do. I'll keep my fingers crossed though. Thanks for watching and commenting Ricky!
It always agreat pleasure for me and it's always reassuring when I watch your videos Ben, the tree whether vertical or horizontal, it's an amazing image. This scenery in front of this majestic rock wall with this fantastic red. Wonderful!
Thanks so much Mike! It sure was a fantastic day to be in Zion. In many ways, I think it's a bar that will be tough to beat on future trips.
One of your very best, Ben, Right person in the right place at the right time ...
Thanks Ken! I sure was lucky to be there. Early bird gets the worm. :-)
Wow I really like those 2 tree photos with the snow. Great as always.
Thanks Russell! It sure was a beautiful time to be in Zion!!!
Thanks for sharing these special conditions! What a treat to have it all to yourself.
Thanks Travis! It sure was a treat, that's for sure!! I don't know that I'll ever have an experience quite like that again, but I sure will try!
Very well said Ben as always love your videos n photography!! i love nothing better then clean untouched snow especially on the trees one of my favorite seasons ..winter n fall i love them !! a pleasure watching your videos ..stey safe n GOD BLESS U ALWAYS !
Thank you so much Juan! There sure is something very special about that pristine untouched snow isn't it? Thanks for watching and commenting!
Ben: Glad you got to spend some alone time. Being locked in a National Park is something that has to be rare so that helps make you special. So glad you enjoyed your time there. Looking forward to your digital work now.
It sure was special, that's for sure Danny. I doubt I'll ever have another chance like that. It was so incredibly calm and quiet that morning. Thanks as always for watching and commenting!
4:58 lovely!
It sure was a wonderful drive!
Well said at the end Ben. Stunning photographs. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Craig! It sure was a very special week!
Stunning! An absolute pleasure to watch, thank you Ben.
Thank you so much Peter!!! Much appreciated!
Magical scenery, thanks for sharing this beautiful experience
Thanks so much for watching Ozi!
What a treat to have this amazing place to yourself, during these exceptional conditions. The snow covered trees against those cliffs, look great!! I think your last photo is even better than the landscape version from the previous video, maybe because you had more time to setup the composition. It will be hard to select only a few photos for your boxset, for now the first and last picture should be part of it. But we still have the digital files left to see, looking forward to that!!
Thank you as always Sander! Although I haven't started producing the prints for the box sets yet, I know I'll be including the first photo from the trip, and the two versions of the cottonwood covered in snow. I also have some shots from the Death Valley trip that should make the cut, and I have two spring trips rapidly approaching. The 2021 Box set is already taking shape, and much of that is due to the magical week in Zion in January. Thanks as always for watching and commenting!
Another sublime vlog. Thank you so much for sharing your travels with everyone!
Thanks Thomas! So glad you loved it!
Stunning conditions and beautifully caught. I love the tree with the rock pinnacle and mist at 13.24 but the peak you had the Sony out at looked like it had a million possibilities.
A great series that is just getting better! Cheers.
Thanks so much Andrew! The great thing that morning was that there was so much potential in every direction, and even though I thought it might be intimidating, it was an incredibly peaceful experience.
My brother and family were just in Zion a few days ago. Looks like a few patches of snow left but not much.
It sure goes away quickly. There are times when it snows in the morning, and all traces of it are gone by the afternoon. That's one of the reasons why it sure is a magical experience there in the snow. It sure doesn't last long. Now of course it's in the 100's, but I look forward to returning in the fall to see what I can find, especially now that they've had at least one monsoonal storm.
Jaw dropping!!! Thanks for bringing us along...
Thanks Chris! It sure was a great time to be in Zion.
Those precious few days where everything looks good. Props to you for putting in the work to be in the right spot at the right time. Incredible conditions and images! Well done!
It sure was very special, that's for sure. I was very lucky to be there that week and to experience those conditions. I hope I'm fortunate enough to experience conditions like those again. Thanks so much for watching and commenting Duncan!
Great vlog Ben. You certainly had some truly amazing conditions. Almost a little overwhelming I would imagine. I saw some great compositions that would worked well for me and wished I could have been there. What was interesting although I was willing you to stop and shoot them, I knew you wouldn’t as it they just didn’t fit your style. Looking forward to seeing your next video
Thanks Brian! It was really an eye opening experience to be in Zion during those conditions. On each nights before snow was in the forecast I had a tough time sleeping because I was worried I wouldn't be able to make good use of the conditions, but each and every time, I had no problem finding some great stuff to point my camera at. By the end of the trip, I was perfectly satisfied just walking around and experiencing the sights and sounds without even wanting to take any photos.
Wow , absolutely stunning snowy images Ben
Thank you Andrew!! It sure was a beautiful day to be in Zion. That's one of the reasons why I love to revisit familiar locations. You learn to recognize when the conditions truly are unique.
An Amazing experience 😃
Hope your jaw has recovered from All the Smiling😅
The cottonwood tree images you made are a pair of your Best ever 👍😄
Thanks Stuart! It sure was a magical morning in Zion, that's for sure!
Zion truly is beautiful with snow. What a wonderful video, thank you Ben.
Thanks Luís! It sure is a beautiful place in the snow. I love how it transforms so dramatically in such a brief window of time. Thanks as always for watching and commenting!
Awed once again Mr. Horne, those last two shots! Glad you were able to get locked in all alone, you truly deserved that experience.
Thanks so much Jason! It sure was a unique opportunity that morning. It was so calm and quiet to have the canyon all to myself.
Best journal this trip. Beautiful
Thanks!!! It sure is nice when the best part of a trip is at the very end.
Oh wow! This was amazing, Ben! Incredible video, amazing photos!!
Thanks! It sure was a fantastic week to be in Zion!
Another awesome episode well worth waiting for, thanks for sharing these special moments.
Thanks Michael!! Much appreciated!
Your message of "expectations" at the end really hit home for me. It's something I've been personally trying to temper the last few years when going on trips. Thanks for sharing your trip. It looked like a blast in Zion this winter! Have a great weekend, Ben.
Thanks Marco! The issue of expectations is a tricky one. Those expectations are responsible for luring us to these locations, and also for finding subjects right away, but it's only when we release those expectations that we can get to know a location even better. For me at least, that happens around my 4th day or so. Thanks as always for watching and commenting!
Beautiful video as always Ben, and the captures you came home with are absolutely amazing. That moment of peace and calm, having the whole canyon for yourself, in the middle of such a wintry scene... it must've been just pure magic. Thank you for sharing your work and your thought process, it really is an inspiration! Take care :)
Thank you as always Kevin! It sure was a very special trip, and especially the day when I had the canyon all to myself. I remember taking a moment just to soak it all in because there is no photograph that will truly do a moment like that justice. Thanks as always for watching and commenting!
The park gates sounds like a similar experience I had at McKenzie Pass in Oregon one year. The transportation department decided to shut the highway for the season without notice while I was exploring around. It is nice to have the place all to yourself, though.
It sure does seem a bit strange when the cars stop driving past. Makes you wonder if they know something you don't. Once I realized what had happened, I tried my best to just absorb the sights and sounds. I don't think many people get to experience that same sort of sense of calm in Zion.
@@BenHorne Indeed. Seize the moment of solitude without the crowd and traffic.
So beautiful Ben! What a wonderful experience. I’m thinking about how difficult it is to walk on some of the small rounded rock areas in some of the washes and wondering how much more difficult the snow covering everything might have made that? I kind of expected to see you with trekking poles for balance. Anyway, thanks for creating something so magical.
Thanks Scott! I had some metal grips on my boots when I was walking through the washes, and thanks to them, I had decent traction. Between that and the cushion of compressed snow, it was actually a bit easier than walking through the washes when they are dry. If the snow was any deeper, I would have put on my gaiters to keep my feet dry, but thankfully there wasn't too much.
@@BenHorne When I lived in Ohio and photographed in the snow a lot, I tried multiple types of grips. "Stabilicers" was one and I think Yak Traks is the one I have now. I always bring them on fall trips just in case. Although, I'm here in the Smokies right now and we had ice and snow yesterday. In fact, the Blue Ridge Parkway was closed yesterday due to ice and it was closed all day today as well. So, I probably should have brought my grips on this trip!
Great driving lights
I think it's more a testament to the low light ability of the camera I use for video. Even subtle bits of light can look very bright with an A7sII.
Very calming as ever - 🙏
Thanks Mark! Zion was amazing that week. It almost felt wrong to try and photograph it rather than just enjoying the sights and sounds.
@@BenHorne If you had, you may have had a slightly better experiential visit but you would have denied all of us a by-proxy good time. Is your book likely to have a re-print? I was too slow last time....
Stunning photography Ben
Thank you so much!
Really looking forward for your next blog! Zion looking so amazing in the snow.
Thanks Hugo! Zion in the winter sure is an amazing experience. The fall is also great, but along with the fall comes big crowds. Also, the fleeting nature of the fallen snow sure transforms the park in such a dramatic way over a very short window of time. Thanks for watching and commenting!
"...general wintery stuff..." great stuff!
Some of the best sort of stuff. :-) Thanks Mitch!
I just thought of Prius Man fuming at the closed gates, consoling himself with being home before you, the poor stiff! Looking forward to your image reviews, including the digital stuff. :-))
Hahaha!!! That is hilarious!!!
Ben! You are living the dream - congratulations. Regards, Peter {Tasmania}
Thank you so much Peter! It sure was a fantastic time to be in Zion! A trip of a lifetime for sure.
Absolutely awesome photos.
Thank you so much Jeff! It sure was a fantastic trip.
Aaah just what I needed a meditation on life led by Ben. Thanks, I am inspired
It's hard to go wrong in Zion during the winter. Such a beautiful place! Thanks for watching and commenting!
I can see why you go back to Zion over and over. A truly stunning place. And to have it all to yourself with fresh snow! Some saying about uck going to the prepared comes to mind.
Question: when you talk about the "higher elevation portions" of the park, are you referring to the east side of the park beyond the tunnel?
Thanks Mike! It truly is a special place, and one that changes so much from season to season, so there is always something wonderful to find there. With regard to the higher elevation portions of the park, the East side is one of many areas. There's also the Kolob Canyon section, and the Plateau section on the west side. I never like to be very specific because those areas can't handle a lot of visitation.
@@BenHorne I can understand your desire not to be overrun by hordes of your adoring fans. But I think you're going to have to be more careful with your "B roll" then. The backgrounds often are enough to figure out generally where you're at. Maybe not how far up a river bed you're walking. But general quadrant of the park was all I was asking about anyway.
I'm just a map fan, not a future stalker.
Really good, Ben! I'll look forward to seeing what you did with your digital kit as well. You must have felt like a kid in a candy store with a pocket full of nickels.
Thanks Ross!! It sure was great to be there. I thought I might feel intimidated by all the beauty all around me, but I didn't find that to be the case. It felt great to shoot a scene or two that I liked, then just wander around and take in the sights and the sounds. It was a truly amazing experience.
Wow, so beautiful !! curious, @9:00 when you park your car on the side of the road and walk off, any negatives to that? People messing with your vehicle or Johnny Law not particularly like where you parked, etc.... "Let go our expectations..." how applicable to many things in life.
Thanks Robert! With Zion, there are defined pullouts where you are allowed to park. Everything is very clearly marked, so thankfully there really isn't any confusion with that. Some of the areas can accommodate quite a few cars, and others will fit maybe one or two max. My experience with Zion for the past 12 years has been very positive. The only person that has broken into my vehicle has been me. Thankfully. :-)
Very nicely done Ben.
Thank you Andrew! It sure was a wonderful morning!
Another wonderful video. I’m envious of your experiences and really appreciate your thoughts regarding lessons for life. I look forward to the next video. Keep up the good work.
Thank you as always for the very kind words Larry! I sure was fortunate to be there that morning. It's a moment I won't soon forget.
This was breathing! .. and you shoot a lot of breathtaking photos but the fresh snow sticking everywhere was phenomenal. Has the Park Service ever contacted you? Your photography within the National Parks has, no doubt, increased visitors over the years. Also wondering, do you ever shoot 8x10 B&W in these locations? I’m thinking Ansel Adams really contrasty images. Perhaps a B&W large format series?
Thanks Robert! It sure was a very special morning, and seeing the snow stick to the trees and cliffs sure was an amazing experience. I have never been in direct contact with the National Park Service, but I know they have their hands busy already with crowds that are too large at times. I'm just the guy taking pictures of leaves and rocks and stuff. :-) I've hardly done any B&W work through the years. I just do so much better seeing subjects and light with color. I've mostly given up on B&W and will leave that for those who specialize in it. It's such a different mentality than working with color, and in my opinion, far more difficult than working in color.
Beautiful work Ben!
Thanks so much!
Brilliant Ben.
Thank you Nev!
Beautiful work, as always. What a gift that week was
Thank you Loren!! It sure was a wonderful week wasn't it? Now imagine being able to visit during the Fall back when the park was that quiet during the fall. Makes me wish I had a time machine.
Lunch is overrated. 😂 Great Video again Ben.👍
Sure is! Thanks Guido!
Beautiful looking place, especially in the snow. Thanks for sharing the trip Ben, and your magnificent photographs. See you in the next one indeed. Can hardly wait.
Thank you as always Andrew! It sure was a fantastic trip, and a great way to start the year. In the meantime, my Death Valley series starts tomorrow. :-)
Zion is very pretty in the snow , if these are going in the box set , might have to make it 3 years on the run for Ben hornets box set :D
Thanks Gaius! I can confirm that the snow covered horizontal cottonwood with the atmospherics, and the vertical photo of that same tree the following morning will both be a part of the box set this year. Those sheets have already been drum scanned and tweaked for print. I also have some decent work from my Death Valley trip, and with several more trips this year, the 2021 box set should be quite good. :-)
Zion is such a magical place
Great Job
where are you getting your filmed developed now days
Thanks Tom! I use North Coast Photographic in Carlsbad California. Great lab.
Great video and photos once again, Ben. Especially the last two.
Just a quick logistical question: Did the park have a tire chains requirement when it was snowing? I'm guessing your 4Runner did fine without.
Hi Daniel! In Zion, the snow doesn't last very long, and if it starts during the day, they usually have snow plows actively keeping the roads clear. I personally have never seen any chains requirements within the park, but that's mostly because they're usually able to clear the roads of overnight snow rather quickly. In some cases, such as the morning this was filmed, a highway with a big elevation gain and lots of switchbacks was closed in the morning so the snowplows could clear it, but the rest of the canyon was left open until later in the morning when it was closed so an individual snow plow could help clear the road. That being said, the road was a bit snowy with a bit of ice, but nothing that ever seemed all that bad in my 4Runner.
Fantastic
So glad you enjoyed it! It sure was a special week!
Impressive photos, as always.
Thank you so much Norman! Much appreciated!
Awesome
Thanks as always for watching Phillip! It sure was a magical morning!
Do you process the negs yourself Ben, or send them off?
I use North Coast Photographic in Carlsbad, California. They happen to be my local lab, but they also do a lot of mail order processing. I've used them for over a decade now.
Are you enjoying the digital kit or is it just not the same?
It's different, and I think that's the best way to describe it. I absolutely love the convenience of being able to shoot my digital kit without all the setup time or struggling over getting the perfect exposure. Also, having the long lens is great because it offers a whole range of new subjects that I am not able to shoot with my large format. I absolutely love working with the digital and see it as a very fun tool to work with. This is a good thing because I don't expect perfection from it, and in that same sense, I won't get caught up in feeling I have to have the latest and the greatest. That's a cycle I was trapped in before I went to film. With film though, I feel I have a greater sense of purpose and it's so much more intensional, which translates directly to a greater satisfaction with my own work.
@@BenHorne Do you think we’ll ever see your digital files or are you purely gonna stick with your film prints, I’m just curious to see if your style changes at all because you can shoot a higher dynamic range scene with similar structure where as you need a specific light for the large format.
❤❤❤❤
Thanks Achintha!