A magical moment . . .
A dip into the archives for this one . . .
Who goes on holiday and sets their alarm for several hours before sunrise . . . well, I did! The purpose of the early rise was in the hope of selecting ‘my spot’ for my tripod to capture the sunrise at Mesa Arch before the throngs of photographers arrived. I was the only car on the road leaving Moab, everyone else was still sensibly in bed apparently. I didn’t even spot any headlights or taillights during the drive to Canyonlands National Park or even on the park roads leading to the parking area for Mesa Arch. Maybe this time I had departed at an appropriately early enough time.
I parked, grabbed my kit, flicked my headlamp on and headed on the path to Mesa Arch. Today 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 2016 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. It was a joy to be able to explore and select my location without having to rush before someone else took it. I even had time to enjoy waiting for the sunrise and the crowds. The sunrise did come as expected, 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. The fact I was enjoying this sunrise . . . at this location . . . alone . . . priceless!
In the distance 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.
Best viewed Large(L)
A magical moment . . .
A dip into the archives for this one . . .
Who goes on holiday and sets their alarm for several hours before sunrise . . . well, I did! The purpose of the early rise was in the hope of selecting ‘my spot’ for my tripod to capture the sunrise at Mesa Arch before the throngs of photographers arrived. I was the only car on the road leaving Moab, everyone else was still sensibly in bed apparently. I didn’t even spot any headlights or taillights during the drive to Canyonlands National Park or even on the park roads leading to the parking area for Mesa Arch. Maybe this time I had departed at an appropriately early enough time.
I parked, grabbed my kit, flicked my headlamp on and headed on the path to Mesa Arch. Today 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 2016 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. It was a joy to be able to explore and select my location without having to rush before someone else took it. I even had time to enjoy waiting for the sunrise and the crowds. The sunrise did come as expected, 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. The fact I was enjoying this sunrise . . . at this location . . . alone . . . priceless!
In the distance 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.
Best viewed Large(L)