“iFotoGuide” has released the first and only iPhone app & digital guide to on-location nature photography. It is available through the Apple App Store.

“iFotoGuide: Arches” is the first in a series of digital guides for the iPhone providing nature photographers with a comprehensive resource for planning every aspect of a photography trip.  Use “iFotoguide: Arches” to locate the nearest airport, find lodging and a rental car, and determine what weather to expect during your visit.  Users of “iFotoGuide: Arches” can learn about park entrance fees, permits, flora and fauna, safety considerations and best times to visit for fall colors or wildflower blooms.

“iFotoGuide: Arches” goes beyond the ordinary photo guidebook by providing three innovative ways for iPhone users to find a dynamic location for photography.  An interactive park map allows users to zoom, pan and select photography locations by name.  Images in the photo gallery serve to inspire and are also interactive – one touch provides detailed instructions for getting to and photographing each location.  “iFotoGuide: Arches” even allows users to search for locations to photograph at sunrise, sunset or in mid-day light.

Unlike guidebooks and newsletters which may be several years out of date, “iFotoGuide: Arches” is easily updated to ensure accurate and fresh content.  “iFotoGuide: Arches” sells for $4.99 in the Apple App Store.  Updates will include additional locations within Arches National Park and will be available at no cost to “iFotoGuide: Arches” users.

Created by photographers for photographers “iFotoGuide: Arches” is designed to provide users with all the tools necessary for a successful and productive photo trip.  The developers of “iFotoGuide: Arches” are expanding park coverage, with Canyonlands and Yosemite National Parks available on iTunes in the first quarter of 2010.

“iFotoGuide” was founded in 2009 by photographers Dan Baumbach and Bret Edge to provide the only digital photo guides available on the Apple iPhone.

iFotoGuide: Arches National Park is now available in the Apple App Store.

Abstraction is everywhere in nature.  Even so, it isn’t always easy to extract a successful image from the chaos.  Patterns, lines, colors and textures can be difficult to arrange into a cohesive composition.  But every once in a while all the difficult work is done for you, leaving you to do little more than point the camera and press the shutter button.

Three summers ago I spent a week roaming the San Juan mountains of southwest Colorado on an alpine wildflower pilgrimage.  I’m fairly well traveled in the San Juans and was intent to seek out locations I’d not yet seen.  On a rainy afternoon I stopped at Mad Mamas Pies in Silverton for a momentary respite from the storm.  I broke out my topographic maps and began pouring over them while scarfing down a delicious slice of chocolate pie.  I located a nearby basin that appeared to have potential, finished my pie and headed out into the storm.  I passed the Silverton ski area and took a right on a rough dirt road.  Up, up, up I climbed toward towering peaks issuing streams that cascaded through wildflower filled meadows.  The road came to an abrupt end high in a basin ringed with peaks that dropped dramatically into an alpine lake.  The mountain slopes were littered with talus that precariously clung to slopes so steep they taunted gravity and challenged the angle of repose.  Patches of dirty snow lingered on the opposite side of the lake.

All of a sudden the rain abated.  There were no more flashes of lightning, no more thunder claps.  The wind slowed to a gentle breeze.  I seized the moment to jump from my truck and walk to the edge of the lake.  Wildflowers lined the shore in shades of red, purple, yellow and cream but I couldn’t take my eye off the Rorschach test on the opposite shore.  Uncertain of how long this break in the weather would last I set up my camera and composed an image of the talus and snow reflecting in the rippled waters of an alpine lake in a place known as Velocity Basin.

A few minutes later an uncomfortably close lightning strike signaled that it was time to retreat to the safety of my truck.  Rain began to fall and the wind whipped all around me.  I didn’t get to make any images of the wildflowers and peaks.  Instead, I came away with something much more unique.  Mother Nature offered me a gift.  She designed a beautiful abstract, presented it to me and graciously allowed me just enough time to photograph it.  For all the havoc she is capable of wreaking, it appears she has a soft side too.

Autumn Willows and Cottonwood

The Scott M. Matheson Wetlands Preserve is an oasis in the desert near Moab, Utah.  Owned by the Nature Conservancy and jointly managed with the Utah Department of Wildlife, the 200 acre preserve stands in stark contrast to the dry desert surrounding it.  Spring snowmelt swells the Colorado River, whose waters rise above the banks to flood the preserve.  A wooden walkpath loops for one mile through a lush forest of cottonwoods, willows, bulrush and cattails.  Beavers, mule deer, river otters, skunks and even the occasional mountain lion roam the wooded area in search of shade and nourishment.

Photographers who come to Moab are usually focused on bagging trophy photos of icons like Delicate Arch, Dead Horse Point or Green River Overlook.  Nothing wrong with that.  Icons become icons for good reason.  Big, bold landscapes create national parks and attract people from around the world.  But for those seeking an entirely different experience, one marked by solitude and croaking frogs rather than hordes of tourists, head off the beaten path.  Moab reveals an entirely different side to photographers willing to forego the icons for quiet, intimate moments in nature.

Boardwalk and Fallen Leaves

A walk through the Preserve on an overcast autumn day presents endless opportunities for intimate landscape photography.  Yellow leaves and grey/blue trunks can be used to create graphic semi-abstract images.  Thick foliage overhanging the weathered wooden boardwalk invites the viewer to go for a walk.  Use longer lenses to extract interesting scenes out of the bigger picture.  Think even smaller and photograph a collection of colorful leaves scattered about on the ground.  The Preserve includes a wildlife blind that affords views of mule deer and other wildlife easily photographed with a moderate telephoto lens.  As you stroll the boardwalk keep your mind open to all creative opportunities.  You may miss something on the way in only to be delighted by it on your way out.

Cottonwood Intimate

To make the most of your time at the Preserve bring a tripod, polarizing filter and a lens assortment ranging from 35mm to 400mm.  Super wide angle lenses won’t get much of a workout here.  You can’t go wrong with macro lenses and/or extension tubes.  Think small.  Think abstract.  Think creatively.  You will surely enjoy the respite from the hustle and bustle of the parks.  You might even create a one of a kind image to share with friends who will incredulously respond, “That’s Moab?!”

Todd Caudle and I wrapped up our Autumn Arches and Canyons workshop in Moab on Sunday.  We hosted the coolest group of photographers any workshop leaders could have asked for.  It was an absolute delight to meet and photograph with everyone, and I sincerely hope our paths will cross again.  Jim and Jillian arrived from Canmore and nearby Banff NP and Louise came all the way from Hazelton, Canada.  Arno and his sister Dottie represented the south as they left Florida and Arkansas to join us out west.  Kathryn from Boise, ID had the shortest commute, which isn’t all that short at roughly 8 hours.

Those who think of Moab as all blue skies, sunshine and warm weather might be a bit shocked after one look at the photos we all produced this weekend.  Dramatic skies, storm light and snow all combined to create the rare conditions coveted by nature photographers.  Our workshop participants awoke early for sunrises in Canyonlands where the temperature hovered in the teens.  After sunrise each morning we headed into town for breakfast at a local diner, the favorite of which was the Love Muffin.  Mmmmm…huevos rancheros!  Afternoons were spent photographing in Arches or Canyonlands, dodging intermittent rain showers and another large workshop group that seemed to be shadowing our every move.  Todd and I had a much more fun group of folks than those guys who were way too serious.  Someone needs to tell them that photography is fun!

On Saturday we spent several hours doing image critiques and discussing some basic digital darkroom techniques.  Without question, this was one of the most enjoyable aspects of the workshop for all of us.  I was humbled by the wealth of talent within our group.  We each showed several images and the group discussed each photo in depth; what works, what doesn’t and why.  Simply an awesome experience and I was truly inspired by all the amazing work that was shared.

I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Arno, Dottie, Kathryn, Louise, Jim and Jillian for joining Todd and me in Moab.  I had a blast with all of you!

Here’s a view of the White Rim from Green River Overlook at sunset on Friday, Nov. 13, 2009.