Alone at sunrise . . .
The alarm today went off before 5am, over two hours before sunrise. The reason for the early alarm, just like my visit last September, was that the drive to Canyonlands National Park and the ensuing walk to Mesa Arch would take nearly an hour and I wanted to plant my tripod before everyone else arrived. Driving out of Moab the streets were again void of traffic and after turning onto the road leading to Canyonlands there weren’t any headlights in the rearview mirror or were there taillights visible ahead. Maybe this time I had departed at an appropriately early enough time.
After entering the National Park I was still the only vehicle moving! I parked, grabbed my kit, flicked my headlamp and headed on the path to Mesa Arch. The eastern horizon was just beginning to brighten as I arrived at the arch where I discovered I was the first to arrive!! On my September visit there were already 15 to 20 tripods with accompanying cameras and photographers set up waiting for sunrise . . . this time I was alone for the moment. I took my time and enjoyed leisurely setting up and then enjoyed waiting for the sunrise and the crowds. The sunrise did come as predicted, but the other photographers didn’t! I had Mesa Arch to myself for the sunrise.
The beauty of the sunrise here is something one truly needs to witness in person. As the sun broke the horizon the first sunburst occurs, but the best is yet to come. Initially there is a lack of reflected light on the underside of Mesa Arch. But as the sun continues to rise and begins to cross the underside of the arch a 2nd sunburst occurs while the reflected light illuminates the underbelly of the arch turning the sandstone a glowing red. My first images were taken closer to the arch. But as the sun rose behind the arch, I decided to move back and capture the entire arch since I had the location to myself and moving back would also get me lower to bring the sun from behind the arch for another sunburst.
Highlighted by the rising sun is the Washer Woman (derived from its resemblance of a tall and slender woman reaching her hands into a tub) and to its right is the taller Monster Tower. Washer Woman and Monster Tower are each over 600 feet tall. Behind the Washer Woman is the Sandcastle. On the horizon are the La Sal Mountains.
A fabulous sunrise at Mesa Arch alone to begin my day, followed by a short drive back to Moab and breakfast at the Jail House Cafe before heading south to Monument Valley.
Alone at sunrise . . .
The alarm today went off before 5am, over two hours before sunrise. The reason for the early alarm, just like my visit last September, was that the drive to Canyonlands National Park and the ensuing walk to Mesa Arch would take nearly an hour and I wanted to plant my tripod before everyone else arrived. Driving out of Moab the streets were again void of traffic and after turning onto the road leading to Canyonlands there weren’t any headlights in the rearview mirror or were there taillights visible ahead. Maybe this time I had departed at an appropriately early enough time.
After entering the National Park I was still the only vehicle moving! I parked, grabbed my kit, flicked my headlamp and headed on the path to Mesa Arch. The eastern horizon was just beginning to brighten as I arrived at the arch where I discovered I was the first to arrive!! On my September visit there were already 15 to 20 tripods with accompanying cameras and photographers set up waiting for sunrise . . . this time I was alone for the moment. I took my time and enjoyed leisurely setting up and then enjoyed waiting for the sunrise and the crowds. The sunrise did come as predicted, but the other photographers didn’t! I had Mesa Arch to myself for the sunrise.
The beauty of the sunrise here is something one truly needs to witness in person. As the sun broke the horizon the first sunburst occurs, but the best is yet to come. Initially there is a lack of reflected light on the underside of Mesa Arch. But as the sun continues to rise and begins to cross the underside of the arch a 2nd sunburst occurs while the reflected light illuminates the underbelly of the arch turning the sandstone a glowing red. My first images were taken closer to the arch. But as the sun rose behind the arch, I decided to move back and capture the entire arch since I had the location to myself and moving back would also get me lower to bring the sun from behind the arch for another sunburst.
Highlighted by the rising sun is the Washer Woman (derived from its resemblance of a tall and slender woman reaching her hands into a tub) and to its right is the taller Monster Tower. Washer Woman and Monster Tower are each over 600 feet tall. Behind the Washer Woman is the Sandcastle. On the horizon are the La Sal Mountains.
A fabulous sunrise at Mesa Arch alone to begin my day, followed by a short drive back to Moab and breakfast at the Jail House Cafe before heading south to Monument Valley.