Moab Cabin: Monte Stiles castle valley overlook

Moab Cabin: Monte Stiles castle valley overlook
http://www.montestilesphotography.com/Home/

Monte Stiles castle valley overlook

Monte Stiles in a rare moment of rest. I was constantly worried that he would not be able to put the brakes on fast enough when he approached overhangs like this. I am convinced that someday his body will be found at the bottom of some beautiful overlook. When his camera film will be checked, shots from his fall will no doubt be there, looking up, sideways and down recording some incredible views moments before he checks out of this life.

Monte Stiles on overlook to castle valley

Monte Stiles of http://www.montestilesphotography.com/Home/ lept every crevice, jumped on every overhang, scaled every vertical cliff, and exhausted everyone with him but one. Me. I enjoyed keeping up with him minus the extreme climbs and speed with which he gets to where he is going. He literally sprints to get as many shots of "the light" as he can from a variety of vantage points. I would catch up with him only to see him sprint to the next challenge. His energy is amazing and all done with a lot of weight in camera equipment. He is a federal prosecutor by trade and has seen so much negative in life that he turned to photography years ago in an attempt to capture the positive side. He has succeeded in changing his own life and the lives of many others with the power and redemptive influence of his camera. As a prosecutor he is inundated with the consequences of crime and the dysfunctional lives of criminals. Monte has seen the seedy underbelly of our society up close. His search for something good and worthwhile to counterbalance the daily toll of dealing with reprobates led him to photography. The week he spent in Moab Utah was filled with the wonder and beauty that God allows all of us to experience if not in person then through Monte's lens. He captures vistas that expand the soul and details that increase the appreciation of nature. I am a total amateur but followed him around for the week and learned many tricks of the trade regarding cameras and equipment etc.. He is a willing instructor only on the condition that you keep up with him. I doubt he has the patience to be a good teacher of photography as he would rather spend the time getting the shot than teaching someone how to get it. Now having said that, he is helpful in between shots, but most don't have the staying power to hike with him. We hiked to a lot of different points as a group and for every step the group took, I am sure he took 4 or 5. He explores every nook and cranny along the trail and still arrives first. A good friend. Everybody should be so lucky to have one such as he.

cliff at canyonlands utah

Taken by Monte Stiles, this view of a spot near Deadhorse point shows the dramatic proportions seen from the sides of cliffs looking into the canyons below. There are hundreds of miles of jeep trails inside canyonlands thanks to old time miners, and whether in a jeep or on a dirt bike, the visitor will never feel the same after traveling the roads seen in this photo.

sunset at canyonlands

Another photo of a sunset near the Moab Cabin. This one taken by Monte Stiles of http://www.montestilesphotography.com/Home/
After a day of activities, I recommend that in the mid to late afternoon a visitor make the trip to canyon lands and watch the light and shadows change the view minute by minute. Canyonlands is so impressive that photos and words fall way short of capturing the true experience of personally visiting it.

Moon rise over the LaSals near Moab Utah

This is a moon rise at sunset over the LaSal mountain range taken by Monte Stiles
http://www.montestilesphotography.com/Home/ Taken in April of 2009 from the Castle Valley overlook this photo reflects the larger than life atmosphere all around Moab. Early mornings and evenings never fail to present beautiful photos opps regardless of the weather. This moon was so bright that all during the night, it was possible to hike underneath it without the aid of flashlights.

Hiking a slot canyon in Moab Utah

Susie and I hiking Pole canyon near Moab Utah. In April of 2009. The weather is beautiful and the hiking great. Later up this canyon we saw cougar sign marked clearly in the middle of the trail as they like to do. This photo was taken by Photographer Monte Stiles http://www.montestilesphotography.com/Home/ as he hiked above us on the rim of the canyon. His dedication to, as they say, "chasing the light" is world class as he does not settle for anything other than the most unique in color and visual style. This causes him to take risks that many of us refuse to do. His results are most impressive however and the story behind his pursuit of beautiful photos is a chronicle of a life changing perspective that he shares on speaking engagements around the USA.

Susie and I hiked this canyon to it's end and the change in scenery is most impressive. Scrubbed red rock here but verdant vegetation higher up the hike.

Alexandra Lundberg on dirtbike at Moab

It would be logical to assume this is Alexandra Lundberg at the end of a long dirt bike ride at the cabin but it is actually the beginning. She wore herself out putting on the safety equipment. Some great riding trails all around the cabin.