A Sunday Ride for a Grand Canyon Sunset

So I was looking at this photo taken last year when Viola-tor and I did the Grand Canyon.


When the decision was made that I needed to see the GC again. Sunset sounds like a plan.

I leave town pretty early on Sunday, just as the balloons are setting off.






It's gonna be over 100 degrees today in the desert.





I head north on the 89A to find some lean angle.









I spend time playing around with video for the first time and I may share some of it later.
I stop to stretch the legs in Jerome. This place attracts tourists, artists, and the bikers line up in front of the saloons.
I found a few interesting things in Jerome.




Liberty Theater









Porsche!









1898




Highway 89A runs down the mountain and across the Verde Valley towards the red rocks of Sedona.





My 2002 Aprilia RST1000 Futura















Porsche 2





Highway 89A in Oak Creek Canyon





..........




I forgot how much of the river is visible at Desert View.





I get to Desert View about 2.5 hours before sunset. It was warm so I change into shorts and t-shirt to wait.
It looked like I may get wet, but all of the showers moved away.




















Wait for it!






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After sunset I shot this HDR Panoramic comprised of 20 exposures. It makes the place look small.





I left the Grand Canyon at about 7:45 and made it back to Phoenix at 11:15. A Sunday Ride of 531 awesome miles in the Grand Canyon State.
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outstanding photography

Wow! Just f'n WOW! Thanks for the magnificent pics. Professional composition. Spent a week camping in the NF area on the north rim. Lots of great hiking and many memories. Thanks to you, I gotta back there sometime very soon....

Nice biek, BTW.

So I shot video mainly as a test to see if I would enjoy working in this medium. This is my first ever motorcycle movie. I used a Panasonic TS3, which really didn't do well on the bike. So, sorry for some of the quality issues here. I've ordered a POV cam to rectify the situation.


Dave6253 Film Studios Presents:
<iframe frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="425" height="240" src="https://api.smugmug.com/services/embed/1813766345_Gmk84GS?width=425&height=240"></iframe>

Terrific! Let me be the first to congratulate Dave6253 Film Studios. Great initial effort!

Looking forward to many sequels!

Great photographs.

I'll just have to pile on here, the photography is excellent and the subject matter breath-taking, thanks!

Glad You got out for a "short" ride and I got to enjoy the pics!

hey Dave - so, how do you like it?
Video is so time-consuming - but, obviously your gorgeous photos take a lot of time, too...
Are you working in lightroom first?



(Bob! you're everywhere! )

Thank you. That means a lot coming from you.

Thanks Badjuju. I prefer exploring the North Rim back country as well, but only had time for this quick run. I hope to get up there later this summer.

Thanks RRR! I think I'll dabble with video more.

Thanks Makalu!

Thanks. I'm pretty lucky to live out here.

Thanks Bob! It makes ME happy that YOU enjoyed it.

Hi Kelly! Yes, Bob is probably my most loyal follower, but I see you trying to steal him away. Better watch it girl!

Piecing together the video was easier than I thought it would be, and probably less time-consuming than my photos. I enjoyed filming all of the bike segments during the middle of the day, when I'm not usually as inspired by the light to shoot photographs anyway. I just used Windows Live Movie Maker and found it pretty easy to figure out and work with. It may suit my needs well enough. I downloaded a free trial of Sony Vegas Platinum Production Suite 11 last night. My initial reaction is that it is too complex for what I need. I didn't use Lightroom at all for the video since I haven't upgraded to 4 yet and doubt it would have improved the shaky and out of focus stuff I filmed here. I ordered a helmet camera. The Panasonic TS3 does NOT do video well from the bike as we both found out. It doesn't even do well for photos while moving. I had to throw out most of the stills. The Panasonic superzooms like the TZ5 and ZS5 do very well while moving. I don't think the TS3 will replace my ZS5 like I thought it would.





Here is the map of the 531 mile day.

haha, oh, I don't know - I see Bob all over these threads...
(I think he's kind of a whore)

Just kidding, Bob!! We love you!



So you found the same thing with the TS3?
I miss my old $150 canon A560 - it was so much better for on-the-fly photos and video.

I thought it was important to have a "tough" camera (shockproof, dustproof,waterproof, etc)
But to do it all again, I would get a regular Canon point and shoot and take my chances.
I even tried "sport" mode, but the photos are super grainy.

Also, the TS3 video - I can't use it without going through iMovie first. Maybe it's better if you have a PC?
Our Canon used to shoot in avi so I could take clips right from the camera and upload them to youtube.
Not with the TS3. Frustrating.

Anyway.
Thanks, Dave!
Great pics. Your map makes me want to go to Flagstaff and the deer farm.

P.S. did you get the GoPro Hero 2? That's the one that matt got.
Steep learning curve (reading the booklet helps ), but a great camera.

Williams, AZ is a neat town. I haven't been in the deer farm, but nearby Bearizona is really cool.






........

Bearizona?!
I'm putting it on my list...

Thoroughly enjoyed the pics and the video. There was one spot in the video where the camera was facing you from the side, then swung around the side to the front while you were riding. How'd you do that?

So I ride an Aprilia too; an RSVR Factory. I'm usually good for about 400 miles then my back is DUST.

RZ Rob

If you've seen the movie Chronicle, then you would know how that was done. Just kidding. I was holding the camera with my left hand. Disorienting, Huh? BTW that movie trailer doesn't really show the neat effect used to film that movie. The main character was controlling the camera with his mind.

I've always lusted after those RSVR Factory Aprilias, but the Futura fits me better. 500 miles is easy on the Futura, and I've done more than 900 miles in a single day.

Great photos Dave. I was in this very location for a sunset in September 1987. I've been thinking about going back there lately. Your post is an inspiration. Thanks!

Lion.
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Dave
Interesting ride report as usual along with fantastic photos.
Thanks for taking the time to post it.
But what happened to your sidekick Matthew?