Across the Southwest » Artist-in-Residence Grand Canyon

Soda…I gave it up

Adam Schallau — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 03:41:43 +0000

Exactly one year ago today, I gave up soda. I don’t smoke, drink (alcoholic beverages), or do drugs, but I had a serious soda habit. Near the end I was drinking a 32 or 44 ounce fountain drink at lunch, a 20 ounce drink at dinner and a couple 12 ounce cans in the evening. Yuck! I lived in a perpetual state of feeling like crap.

You might ask, what made me stop? Two things. The first was that I had just been selected to be an Artist-in-Residence at Grand Canyon National Park and I wanted to be in better shape so that I could spend more time hiking the canyon. The second, and most important reason was my wife, Sally.

It was tough to give up, but I sure do feel better for doing it and I’ve saved a ton of money to boot!

Artist-in-Residence ~ Grand Canyon National Park

Desert View at Twilight ~ Grand Canyon

Adam Schallau — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 04:45:18 +0000

The sun has set on another day at Grand Canyon National Park, but a bit of light remains. It is twilight and the watchtower at Desert View soaks up the remaining light as the night sky approaches. In the distance at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, the Colorado River reflects the blue sky above.

Twilight ~ Desert View Watchtower, Grand Canyon National Park

This image of the Desert View Watchtower at Grand Canyon National Park and others like it are available for purchase at my website AdamSchallau.com.

~Tech details~

Camera & Lens: Canon EOS 5D Mark II and EF17-40mm f/4L USM lens

Exposure: 6 seconds, f/8 and ISO 100

Filters: none

Featured Picture at FrameDestination.com

Adam Schallau — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 04:39:51 +0000

The Frame Destination (FrameDestination.com) is featuring one of my photos created during my time as Artist-in-Residence at Grand Canyon National Park. This image was captured after backpacking to the bottom of the canyon. It represents the confluence of Bright Angel Creek and the Colorado River near Phantom Ranch. If you look closely you can see the “Silver Bridge” over the Colorado River.

I have been using FrameDestination.com for the past two years for my framing and presentation needs including clear bags, mount board, mats and frames. My work that is currently on display at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve was assembled using materials from Frame Destination. I would like to thank Mark and the rest of the team at Frame Destination for their excellent service, great products, and for selecting my image as the Featured Picture. Thank you!

Grand Canyon Presentations ~ A recap and thanks

Adam Schallau — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:24:14 +0000

Those of you that know me, you know that I like to talk. I like to talk about photography with other photographers whether they are beginners or a seasoned pro. I also enjoy speaking to groups, and although I’m not exactly great at it (I get very nervous in-front of a crowd), I appreciate the feedback I receive and the interaction that takes place.

Participants in a presentation

During my time as Artist-in-Residence at Grand Canyon National Park, I had several opportunities to chat with other photographers and those that are interested in photography. Some of my best experiences came from the presentations I gave at the Verkamps’ Visitor Center and at the Grand Canyon School. I gave two separate presentations to park visitors at Verkamps that also included time spent working one-on-one sharing photography tips and ideas.

Working with the students at the Grand Canyon School was an extra special treat. It was incredibly rewarding to be surrounded by their enthusiasm and to watch them work because they see the world in a very different way than adults. Their creative process has not yet been influenced by the rules or defined styles of the art and as a result they will often create images that most adults would never consider or visualize.

Tristin working on his photos

The students were given a photographic “assignment” that had to be completed within a limited time frame. Thanks to the contributions of several other photographers and the readers of this site, each student had a camera to use and was able to participate without having to share cameras. Final images were presented to me for review and constructive feedback was provided. Their photography, to say the least, was impressive. One student did standout amongst his peers and that was Tristin. Tristin’s photos were excellent, but most importantly his passion for photography was obvious and it left me with a great feeling to know that there are still young people that are excited by art.

I’d like to thank everyone that made these opportunities available to me including the Grand Canyon National Park staff including Judy Bryan, Chief of Interpretation, who was my primary point-of-contact at the park. Amy McBroom, Art Instructor at the Grand Canyon School. Amy’s enthusiasm is intoxicating and I’m sure is huge reason why the student at the school are so fired-up over art. FYI, Amy was the 2008 teacher of the year in Arizona and she is a founding member of a committee that created Arts for our Park, a juried art show for students in the Grand Canyon Unified School District. Amy is very humble and a dedicated teacher who would never brag about herself, so I’ll do it for her.

Presenting a Slingshot 200AW to Tristin

I would also like to thank Lowepro who has supported me and my photographic endeavours through sponsorship. When I informed the team at Lowepro that I was to be the Artist-in-Residence, they graciously donated several Slingshot 200AW camera bags for me to award to one lucky participant in each of my presentations. The criteria for deciding who would get the bag included the questions they asked and who traveled the farthest to reach the Grand Canyon. I also presented a Slingshot 200AW to one deserving student, and that student was Tristin.

Thanks again to Judy, Amy and Lowepro!

It has been too long…

Adam Schallau — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 03:47:54 +0000

…since my last entry here on Across the Southwest, and for that, I’m sorry.

What can I say? There are no excuses other than I’ve been busy developing the images I created last month while I was at the Grand Canyon. I’ve been waiting on a new laptop to arrive after the first one arrived damaged and I’m not willing to expose my workstation (i.e., my Photoshop machine) to the internet. And lastly, I’ve migrated my work to a new website, one that is better setup to serve you, my faithful viewers, readers and appreciators of my work. O.K., enough excuses.

I would like to thank everyone for your patience. Oh yeah! Please visit my website, AdamSchallau.com where you can now explore my Grand Canyon photographs and other new work.

Artist-in-Residence ~ Grand Canyon National Park

I’m back from the Grand Canyon

Adam Schallau — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:37:01 +0000

I’ve actually been back since late Saturday night. It will take me a few days to get settled in, but once I do, I will start to post new images.

I appreicate the overwhelming response I have received from friends, family and all my new friends that I met at Grand Canyon. I look forward to sharing my images with you!

Guy on the Edge at Grand Canyon

Adam Schallau — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:54:31 +0000

Guy on the edge, Grand Canyon National Park.

I was shooting from Yavapai Point a couple of nights ago when this guy climbs over the railing and steps down onto an incredibly tiny outcropping of rock. Crazy! His name is Vofka and he is from the Ukraine. Really great guy and has tons of confidence. He is also incredibly patient. I asked to wait while I got a shot of him on the ledge and he was kind enough to oblige.

Vofka, it was great meeting you. I hope you enjoy the photograph.

Happy Birthday, Dad

Adam Schallau — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:28:44 +0000

Grand Canyon Sunrise

Dad, here is a sunrise shot from Mather Point here at the Grand Canyon. It was captured this morning in your honor. I hope you enjoy. Happy Birthday!

Me at Moran Point

Now I know that what parents really want are pictures of their kids. So Dad, here are a few of me here at Grand Canyon National Park.

The first image is at Moran Point which is east of Grand Canyon Village on the road to Desert View. And yes, the drop-off behind me, next to me, and in-front of me is as steep and deep as it looks. And yes, I did jump the gap to get out to that point. I’ll be careful, I promise.

Plateau Point

This next picture was taken at Plateau Point which is down in the canyon past Indian Garden off of the Bright Angel Trail and can be seen from the rim above. It’s a little over 6-miles of hiking to get there with over 3,000 feet in elevation change. It’s an amazing experience to be down in the canyon with 3,000 feet of it above you and still another 1,000 feet down to the Colorado River below you. One of the more interesting aspects of the hike is that while I’m in a t-shirt in the picture (and getting awfully warm, I would have been happy in shorts and sandals), by the time I got back to the canyon’s rim I was in a light-weight winter jacket and walking on an icy trail.

On the truck

In the last image I was taking pictures from the back of my truck. I needed a little extra height and shooting from the tailgate happened to be the perfect height for my shot.

I’m sure I’ll have a couple more pictures to add sometime later next week, especially since I’m heading down to Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the canyon on Monday. I’ll be there for two nights, returning to the rim on Wednesday.

Please click on any image for an expanded view.

Feathered Spirits, Ravens of the Southwest

Adam Schallau — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:32:10 +0000

Raven soaring over the Grand Canyon

My constant companion, the Common Raven (Corvus corax) is a common sight in the southwest U.S.A. Typically seen in pairs, often playful and displaying amazingly spirited acrobatic feats, they are a joy to watch.

I happen to believe that they are curious about photographers as I have had several up close and personal encounters with ravens lately. The photo to the right illustrates one example at the Grand Canyon where this raven made several passes in-front of me and my camera.

Raven and Grand Falls

Another example would be this image from Grand Falls on the Little Colorado River. Again, a raven made several passes by me and my camera. His (or her) final pass was just below my perch on a cliff with the chocolate brown falls of the Little Colorado River in the background and with a bit of a rainbow in the mist.

In my travels across the southwest I always look forward to seeing ravens and enjoying their antics. Next time you’re out among the ravens, I suggest taking a moment (or two) to observe these incredibly intelligent and amusing feathered spirits of the southwest.

Please click on any image for an expanded view.

Sunset from Desert View, Grand Canyon National Park

Adam Schallau — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 05:08:29 +0000

Sunset from Desert View.

One of my favorite spots on the rim of the Grand Canyon is Desert View. Located on the South Rim at the east end of the park, Desert View offers vistas to the north looking up the Colorado River and also to the west, looking back towards Grand Canyon Village. There are excellent opportunities for photography at both sunrise and sunset from Desert View.

This particular image, captured a few nights ago, is looking west at sunset with a Ponderosa Pine in the foreground. Beyond the tree are the numerous temples and buttes of the Grand Canyon.

Please click on the image for an expanded view.