Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Lens Sample Pictures

Old pilings frame the sun as it sets over the bay at Chincoteague, VA.

Sunrises don't get much better than this! Beautiful orange clouds are contrasted by dark blue sky and framed by Oak and Hickory Trees in this brilliant sunrise picture.

Rock Run, located in Loyalsock State Forest, is considered one of the most beautiful creeks in Pennsylvania. I didn't find much photography-related information about Rock Run, so I am creating this Rock Photo Gallery to help anyone considering a run to Rock Run.
 
For this shot, I was setup in the creek. Rock Run, in this area, runs deep in a very steep valley. This means that the stream itself is often in full shade - perfect for long exposure water motion blurs. This also means that wading in the always very cold (even though the air temperature was near 90 degrees above the valley on this day) creek, over very slippery rocks, is often the best way to navigate this area.

A barefooter (me actually) skis one-arm one-leg off the barefoot boom. A beautiful lake sunset provides the backdrop and the back-lighting.

While Lower Antelope Slot Canyon is not quite as spectacular as Upper Antelope Slot Canyon, it is definitely worth visiting (photographing) - and it offeres some advantages of its own. The first major advantage is the lack of people.
 
Perhaps the second advantage to this slot canyon is the 4 hours of unattended exploration provided by the photographer pass. Simply drive up to the entrance to the slot canyon and ask for this pass. You will be escorted to the slot entrance and then have up to 4 hours to shoot as desired. The slower pace of shooting in this canyon was especially appreciated. And the landscape down there is incredible.

A rock structure resembling some kind of bird or other animal looms out over the slot in Lower Antelope Canyon. Shooting upward can be a good method of avoiding people in your frame.

A young girl enjoys her slalom waterski training. A Circular Polarizer filter was used in this shot.

One step closer and I'll lick you to death!

Everything near Niagara Falls is covered in a thick coat of ice in the Winter season.

This eagle-shaped rock formation hangs out over the Lower Antelope Canyon slot. Careful composition is required when shooting in slot canyons - primarily to avoid any directly-lit rock - which results in hot spots.

Sunlit trees reflect in the completely shaded Rock Run water. When shooting in the shade, take care to avoid hot spots (directly sunlit areas) in your photo. Reflections can work.
 
If the kids (or you of course) are cold-water-tolerant, there are some great swimming holes in Rock Run - you are looking at a nice one here.

The night sky is lit up by lightning in this picture.

This is the characteristically-swirled red sandstone wall of Rattlesnake Slot Canyon, Arizona.

Long icecycles hang from this street light in Niagra Falls, Canada. Mist from the falls beautifully covers everything in the area during the winter.

Dual air-ground lightning bolts light up the night sky.

This waterfall is the highlight of the most photogenic Rock Run location I found in my 1 mile creek hike. This hike began at a small Rock Run Road pull-off at .8 miles past the bridge in Ralston (by a great swimming hole). This falls is located about 1 mile upstream from the .8 mile pull-off. Another small Rock Run Road pull-off area is supposed to be located at about 1.8 miles after the bridge - it would be much easier to access this falls from the 1.8 mi parking spot.

Navajo sandstone - red rock - swirls upward through Lower Antelope Canyon, becoming brighter as it approaches the ground surface.

A 1/2 second shutter speed creates a smooth motion blur of the falls on this cold Winter day.

Again, a 1/2 second shutter speed creates a smooth motion blur of the falls on this cold Winter day.

Carved rock walls lead to brighter light in Lower Antelope Slot Canyon.

Rock run has lots of loose round rocks and lots of slick rock. And both types are slick. The Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L USM Lens on a full frame body was a great choice for this trip.

The walls of the Lower Antelope Canyon characteristically curve through this photo.

Looking for a waterfall swimming hole in north-central PA? Don't mind cold water? Or just want to photograph the same? Rock Run, near Ralston, might be your spot.
 
The dark valley bottom makes long, water-motion-blurring, shutter speeds easy to get without a neutral density filter. But make sure you have a solid tripod with you.