Hole in sandstone at peek-a-boo canyon in utah

Hole in Sandstone

Peek-a-boo Canyon, Utah

I don't judge a photograph by the amount of effort it took to create it. I know very well that some great, and (just as important) unique photographs can be found just off the highway. Some of my most popular photographs were in very accessible locations, even a parking lot in one case. However, there is an additional facet of reward when I venture off the beaten path and must overcome some obstacles to get a particular composition that turns out to be one that I like. Such is the case with "Hole in Sandstone".

Escalante Grand Staircase National Monument is an area deep in the heart of Utah that I had only driven through a few times before, but the geological features there aren't something you'll be aware of from any paved road. You won't see anything unless you drive for many miles down washboard roads, and in most cases, hike a significant distance through the desert. It's hot. It's dry. It's rugged, and even dangerous. And I love it. It may be my favorite park because when I visited there last summer, the features I saw were so unexpected. Slot canyons, hoodoos, huge sandstone bluffs, dramatic features... and very few people, unlike Arches, Monument Valley, or the Grand Canyon.

The slot canyon I was most interested in visiting was "Peek-a-boo" canyon, named for it's tight twists and turns, and holes such as this one that you have to crawl through. Navigating through the desert to find it is a bit of a challenge as there are only sparse rock cairns that mark the direction you should walk. There isn't really a trail for most of the way. To enter the canyon, you have to climb up a fifteen foot sandstone wall with shallow hand and footgrips carved into it. This wouldn't be too bad without 30 pounds of camera equipment and a tripod. I don't think I could have made it up without Keith there as we were able to hand things up and down at the halfway point. Even then, we needed the help of a guy at the top to get us past the final few feet. Getting down was worse as we couldn't see the handholds. A group of adventurous ladies helped pass us down our equipment.

Traveling through the canyon is just incredible. The light would come down, hit the floor, and bounce up and around back and forth between the walls. The color shifted subtly between hot oranges to pinks and deep blues. The lines and textures were so smooth, at times I couldn't quite believe my eyes. It was adventurous squeezing my torso around hair pin twists and tight areas. My moderate claustrophobia had me just a little on edge at certain points, adding to the excitement.

Hole in Sandstone, embodies the characteristics of the slot canyon... smooth sandstone texture, vivid warm and cool colors, light and dark interacting. What a strange and magical experience it was to be able to create this photograph. Photo © copyright by Tim Herschbach.

Matted Print

Matted Print

These elegant open-edition and limited-edition matted prints are my most popular format. I personally create each of these beautiful art pieces in my studio in Texas. The photograph is printed on Vibrance Metallic paper, by Breathing Color, a Texas-based paper company. The print is then dry mounted in an archival mat which I hand-cut to fit the image. These matted prints are ready to be inserted into a frame of the same size.

Please note that the size listed is the size of the mat, or frame size, not the photograph size. The mat edges are roughly 2" to 5" wide, depending on the mat size chosen. For example, a 16"x20" Matted Print will have a mat size of 16"x20" and a viewable image size of roughly 12"x16". A 56"x40" Matted Print will have a mat size of 56"x40" and a viewable image size of roughly 48"x32".

The mat is signed on the lower right and numbered on the lower left. The print is also signed and numbered underneath the mat in case you'd like to put the photograph into a different mat.

Each size of Matted Print has its own limited edition. Learn more about my Limited Editions.

Select a print size:

Matted & Framed Print

Matted & Framed Print

The matted print (description above) is inserted into the frame of your choice with museum-grade anti-reflective glass (or reduced-glare acrylic if shipping), and an acid-free 3/16" foam-core backing. Finally, the back is sealed with frame sealing tape to protect the artwork from its environment. Each frame includes soft "bumpers" in the bottom corners to protect your walls, the photograph's certificate of authenticity, and a cable making it ready-to-hang, straight out of the box.

After checkout, Contact me to let me know which moulding style you would like.

Select a print size:

Canvas Print

Canvas Print

Canvas prints are both beautiful, durable, and affordable. I create these canvas prints by hand in my home studio in Texas. The photograph is printed on thick and heavy Lyve canvas, by Breathing Color, a Texas-based company. I then spray-laminate the canvas to protect the inks from moisture and abrasions and to add a lovely satin finish. The canvas is then stretched on sturdy 1.5" stretcher bars and presents with a black edge. If you'd like a different edge color, please let me know.

The canvas will come with soft bumpers on the lower corners to protect your walls, a label of authenticity, and a cable that makes it ready-to-hang, straight out of the box.

Learn more about my Limited Editions.

Select a print size:

Canvas Print with Float Frame

Canvas Print with Float Frame

The Canvas (description above) is framed in a solid-wood, 3" deep float frame that I custom-build for your photograph.

The frame will come with soft bumpers on the lower corners to protect your walls, a label of authenticity, and a cable that makes it ready-to-hang, straight out of the box.

After checkout, Contact me to let me know which moulding style you would like.

Select a print size:

Great care is taken to ensure my fine art prints show the colors and tones that are intended. Due to variances of color and tone in displays, what you see on your monitor, tablet, or phone may be somewhat different than the colors and tones of the print.

Regular production time for a typical order is about a week. If I expect it to take longer, I will let you know.

While the above options will suit the majority of my collector's needs, please contact me if you need to customize your photograph further, whether it be size, frame, or mount.

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