On Friday 11 October Kieran Murray from Banbridge Camera Club delighted members with a talk and display of photographs of The National Parks Of The USA .
Kieran commenced to talk about Yosemite National Park which he first visited when he took his family his family in 1985 . Subsequent visits occurred when it was his children who took him and accompanied by his son.
Yosemite lies on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California AND Kieran said it is a most fantastic place to visit and dominated by the rock formation Half Dome which it is possible to climb by a narrow path . Hikers need to book in advance as numbers are limited at any one time .Waterfalls are another significant feature of the park with Yosemite Falls being the grandest . During the winter months access is not possible and said Kieran in March /April when he visited snow and ice was still prevalent .
Autumn is the best time to visit as the display of that seasons colours is stunning and said Kieran this park is such a wonderful experience for photographers .
Kieran continued his odyssey with visits to Yellowstone , Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon ,Arches National Park,,Zion National Park, Monument Valley ,Death Valley where on arrival he had to stay indoors as a sand storm was gathering,Joshua Tree National Park and White Sands National Park.
At Yellowstone it was the volcanic geysers that were photographed by Kieran where Old Faithful is the most well know example .It is underlying volcanic activity that drives the many geysers in this park where it is essential to keep to the defined paths and boardwalks.
Visiting the Grand Canyon which is formed be a river cutting into the rock is a wonderful experience Said Kieran and while it is possible to walk down to the bottom of the canyon he did not accompany his son on this decent . Kieran revealed that helicopter and light aircraft hover and weave above the canyon and thought to photograph from the air would be such a wonderful experience ,that was until he learnt that a collision between a helicopter and a plane occurred killing all on board both aircraft .
The Arches National Park is a landscape of colourful rock formations hundreds of soaring pinnacles,massive fins and balanced rocks formed by the action of erosion, wind ,water and ice .The wide panoramic arch was for Kieran the most spectacular as he wondered how long it might exist before collapsing . Kieran also photographed an eclipse of the sun at this location .
Two distinct ecosystems ,the Mojave desert and the Colorado come together in The Joshua Tree National Park . This is a land sculpted by strong winds and occasional torrents of rain . Dark night skies. Here Kieran photographed this surreal landscape with wonderful vistas of sky and geological features.
Kieran enlisted his son to drive for seven hours to visit The White Sands National Park in New Mexico . This landscape of dunes is not composed of silica but is almost pure gypsum the crystals of which reflect sun's rays making them look white .Gypsum doesn't absorb heat from the sun making the dunes cool to walk on .
During this talk Kieran displayed some one hundred and thirty images captured in his several journeys to these locations and where achieving a pleasing composition and to photograph at the best time of day which would give him images that would depict these locations in the best possible manner
Members of the Bangor club would like to thank Kieran for sharing his work and note that this was not the first time he has visited ,previously having displayed images of The Far East and India . The club look forward to welcoming Kieran again some time in the future .
NEXT WEEK
Round two architecture judging will take place .
Finally the club will welcome new members who may wish to explore their interest in photography . Please feel free to contact the secretary Hazel Newell bndcc.secretary@gmail.com
Edward McCavana BNDCC Information Officer
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