Have you ever visited the National Parks at peak season?
The good news– including a well-placed person in your frame provides the needed perspective to appreciate the landscape.
Monument Valley is a spectacular place. I loved the touring trucks coming up from the valley at sunset giving a true sense of the massive size of the iconic “Mitten” Buttes.
Day Is Done, Monument Valley
Thanks to this hiker, the image has some scale.
A Perfect View, Bryce Canyon
The colors and formations are otherworldly in this scene. The small slice of road and the car help contribute to a sense of scale in this Badlands landscape.
Yellow Mounds and Road, Badlands
The Badlands National Park is one of the most interesting places I have ever photographed. I often push the human form toward the edges in landscapes creating visual tension and interest.
Two, Badlands
It’s an amazing experience photographing the Grand Canyon, however, the images often lack scale because the landscapes are immense. The people on the rocks across the canyon give a sense of the enormity of the scene. It’s a little bit scary, too.
Vast and Tiny, Grand Canyon
This image is an interesting combination of human form, man-made trails and the natural beauty of the hoodoos and pines.
Trails and Hoodoos. Bryce Canyon
“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.”
~ Gustave Flaubert
The Weekly Photo Challenge is Scale.
Jane Lurie Photography 
These are superb photos Jane, very iconic…this is one place I would love to visit 😊
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Thanks, James. Hope you get to these parks someday soon for a most memorable walk. 😉
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Spectacular !
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They always take my breath away. Glad you enjoyed this series, Guillaume. Thank you!
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Fabulous images ! One can hardly believe the beauty of these places but you’ve captured it all right here . I’ve been lucky enough to visit parts of Arizona / Colorado/ Utah but oh how I wish I’d known more about photography at the time … your message about *scale is so important in such scenes as these !
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Hi Poppytump- I’ve had the pleasure of driving across the states a few times visiting these beautiful parks. Glad the examples of scale appealed to you and you enjoyed the images. Thanks so much.
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Beautiful!!
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Simply, Perfect 🙂
What a difference it makes when we we include something in the frame to get a feel of scale!
Including people in a frame with mountains, well, it looks incredible and gives the viewers an opportunity to think and infer the image from different perspectives, too.
Being a huge fan of hills and mountains, these images are quite irresistible for me 🙂
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I’m glad that I was able to illustrate the point, Sreejith. Happy you enjoyed this set, thank you.
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Spectacular! Planning to visit Bryce this Spring so this has greatly wetted my appetite 🙂
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One of my favorites, Andrew. I know you will have a great time. Thank you!
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Thank you for sharing, Isaiah.
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Such gorgeous collage of images, Jane. These national parks are visual delight for any photographer. Thanks for sharing them 🙂
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I’m so glad you enjoyed these, Suyash. Thank you!
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🙂 🙂
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Great shots Jane! You really do need a point of reference to truly grasp the magnitude and vastness of scenery shots such as these & you’ve done a great job doing exactly that.
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Happy you like these, Mark and glad I managed to illustrate the concept… Thank you very much!
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You captured not only the beautiful landscape, Jane, but its greatness too . .
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Thank you very much, Chris. I feel great awe when I’m in the parks.
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Beautifull images Jane, the area looks great!
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Thank you, Ellen. The parks are a treasure.. Glad you like these landscapes.
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Wow! a great way of photography to challenge this theme 🙂
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Thanks very much, Jakesprinter.
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Jane, Great pictures. Hie yourself down to our newest National Park- Pinnacles. You will do it justice.
Jennifer
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Thanks, Jennifer. So glad you enjoyed these. Pinnacles is on my list– we’ve been near it many times and must go.
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You sure cheered me up with all those beautiful canyon shots. I have never been to Bryce or the Grand. I have to see that. By the way, the forecaster got one right – we finally warmed up to -2 today!
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All right, Dave…a heat wave! Happy you enjoyed some of my shots from the parks, thank you. I hope you get there someday. Enjoy your warming trend.
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These are pictures I wish I could take. Maybe one day I will graduate from my little point and shoot. They are really beautiful and they are a great representation of scale. I tried to pick a favorite, but that was really hard. Each one has something truly special.
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Hi Robin, Thanks so much for your kind words. I’m really glad you liked these and that you’re inspired. Some of my favorite images I’ve shot are with my point and shoot– it’s all about practicing the “art of seeing”. Keep on shooting and enjoy!
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Spectacular shots!
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Thank you very much, Maverick. Glad you enjoyed this set.
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Beautiful series Jane! I think including the people and the man made objects definitely gave a greater sense of scale in these images.
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Thanks very much, James. I’m glad you liked these and that it illustrated the theme well for you.
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You provided a spectacular demonstration of scale with your examples! The shot of the Grand Canyon with all the people you have is very similar to one shot I almost used in my challenge entry. We must have been standing in almost the same spot when the two photos were taken. 🙂
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Funny John! It is a famous lookout.
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John- And I meant to add a big thank you for your kind comment. 😀
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Truly spectacular Jane. These places certainly need people or vehicles to give them scale.
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Hi Pauline- It does help to add people or something in the foreground…a tree or house. Happy you enjoyed these. Enjoy shooting your beautiful Aussie landscapes.
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NZ is our next trip Jane, I’m looking forward to it.
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Spectacular absolutely, and the scale very clear the way you did the photography. The problem in Norway there hardly are any humans in the landscape, but the idea is very good.
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HI Bente- That made me smile. 😊 Hopefully someone will wander into your frame one day. Thanks for your kind comment.
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Unbeatable examples of Scale, Jane 🙂
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Thanks very much, Paula. Glad you enjoyed these.
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Beautiful vistas Jane, and great illustrations of scale
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Thanks, Tina. The parks define it. Glad you enjoyed these.
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Impresionantes vistas, gran trabajo
Un Saludo
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Muchas gracias, Pepe!
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Gosh–awesome vistas and some thoughtful observations as well. Good stuff, Jane.
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Thanks, Patricia. So glad you enjoyed this one.
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Nice series.
It seems we have visited the same places, though I visited them while growing up. Monument Valley, however, was (is) far from the highway – much in the same manner the Custer/Little Bighorn Battlefield in MT.
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Hi David– It is a drive– a beautiful one. Strangely, I didn’t shoot the classic scene with the road going to buttes… ah well, next time. It is one of my favorites (technically a Navajo Tribal Park) I’m glad they brought back some nice memories. Thank you!
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Gorgeous photos. I love NPs.
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Thank you so much, Nhu’ng. They are a treasure. Glad you enjoyed these. (sorry about my lack of correct letters in your name…)
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You should be teaching photography, Jane. Your images alone are a great course in seeing and capturing.
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That’s so nice of you to say, Leah. Thank you! You are very encouraging. There are a couple of organizations that teach photography to kids which would be fun. Adults are ok, too…
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Good reminder as I sometimes am trying to capture just the landscape and avoid the person in the distance.
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Me, too, Mike. Then I realize that they can enhance it. Glad you like these, thank you.
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Your welcome and thanks for the beautiful photos.
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Awesome shots Jane!
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Thanks, Mary. The parks are such a gift.
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I’ve visited all those places at some time in my life and enjoyed seeing them again through your lovely photos. The National Park system is a treasure.
janet
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The parks are treasures, sustainabilitea, and I hope everyone gets a chance to experience the natural beauty at some point in their lives. Thank you for enjoying these.
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These are absolutely fascinating….how the heck were u able to capture them???? I am blown away!!! Trails & Hoodoos is a favorite….WOW…just stunning!!!
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HI April, Thank you! Many visits to the parks over the years yield a few good ones. A telephoto lens helps isolate these scenes. Glad you like these.
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Oh my gosh. I found myself sitting here with sweaty palms…. The “little people” you sited were just way too close to the edge!! Thanks.. Wonderfully exciting post! Linda
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Hi Linda, The Grand Canyon really gives me the “willies” when I shoot there and this shot’s perspective does make it look like they are teetering on the edge. So happy you liked these park shots– thank you!
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Our National Parks are a true treasure and never cease to amaze — like your photography ❤️
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Thanks so much, Wendy. Your appreciation means a lot…nature girl.
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Awesome!
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Thank you, Sharon. Fun to put this set together.
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Stunning Jane. A few perfect example of scale.
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Thanks very much, Edith. Brought back nice memories of these great places.
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Beautiful photos and great way to show the immensity of our National Parks.
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Thank you, Jane. You will have great fun visiting them this summer. Glad you like these.
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Wow…amazing!
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Thanks so much, Jaap. Beautiful places.
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gosh I would’ve never noticed the road let alone the car in the first Badlands image if you hadn’t of pointed it out! Thats crazy! I really like the one of the grand canyon too, really does help to have people in the shots!
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Hi Chanelle, That’s a pretty subtle one. Glad you like it, thanks! I’m glad these examples illustrated the idea of scale for you.
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Reblogged this on Crash Course.
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Thanks for sharing my post Crash MacDuff.
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You are very welcome Jane! My pleasure!!! 😀
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