Ken Papaleo: X Marks the Shot: Eldorado Canyon State Park, Boulder County, Colorado.

"X Shot" information.

Camera - Canon EOS-5D Mark II

ISO - 250

Shutter - 1/160 sec.

F/stop - 16

Lens - 16/35 mm zoom

LOCATION.

1. Eldorado Canyon State park is located in Boulder County, off HWY 93.

2. About one hour drive from Denver.

3. Park is known for it's towering sandstone cliffs, above South Boulder Creek.

4. This location faces east, so morning is best light!

CHALLENGE.

Eldorado Canyon State Park's sandstone cliffs are step and narrow, not letting in a lot of sun light during the winter months. I don't think it hits much of the frozen South Boulder Creek below. This park would be the hardest to photograph, of the state parks so fare.

SOLUTION.

I arrived at Eldorado Canyon State Park at sunrise. It was rising from the south east, so while some of the cliffs would be in the sun, others would stay in shadow. This made a interesting image and I knew my shot would be coming from this situation. I stayed in this area, moving around some, getting different angles, with a couple of lenses. Once I went into the canyon, it was deep shadows with the cliff tops in the sun. Spent about another hour recording images before heading home.

MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS SHOOT.