Turret Arch through North Window, Arches National Park.
After fighting the crowds at Delicate Arch, we decided to get to this location an hour before sunrise to be sure to have the what I thought was the ideal location.
We enjoyed a half hour of quiet darkeness, then a half hour of beautiful pre sunrise glow, and finally the first light of day, and never saw or heard another person. Only the sound of two ravens flying through the opening – when compared to silience, it is surprising how much noise thier wings can make. This was definitely the best morning of the trip!
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Beautiful Capture just like I told you it would be from the back side of south window. Great
Yeah, it is a beautiful location – thanks Dennis!
Ron
Ha! You still got lucky. When I was last there at sunrise there were already dozens of people — 2 busloads! — in the arch. At no time during the good light was the arch free of people even long enough to get a shot without them. I definitely need to get back in the off-season (even if it’s only relatively off). Amazing that people were fighting over photo spots on Delicate Arch. That is sad, indeed.
Wow! Never seen anything like this before.
Nice lighting. When I was there years ago, I was there with one other photographer. A nice quiet morning. Some casual chit-chat. All is well.
Then the tourist bus showed up.
To have such a place all to yourself, I think you are speaking to most photographers dreams Ron. The light here just can’t be beat.
Hi John,
Yikes, two bus loads! The whole time we stood there, I expected hordes of people would begin to appear over the edge of the arch – I did get lucky!
Thanks Gary – I figured it wouldn’t take long for being taken to task over such an iconic location! It was still worth it!
Thanks Mark!
Glad you got the shots without incident Ron. I think most people in general aren’t familiar with “icons” so they still have their place. What I wonder is who and where the “photographers” are coming from. I’m curious to know what percentage are the type that only brings the camera out while traveling versus the ones that shoot regularly regardless of how much name recognition the scene has.
Hey Ron,
I’m enjoying the photos from the desert – you have a knack for bringing something different home. Very cool.
Course, when you DO come home, it’ll be colder than it is down there. Alaska is still your home, right?
Cheers
Carl
Great image Ron, I like how the opening looks like an eye. It’s not like this kind of image hasn’t been done before, yet this one seems fresh to me.
Thanks Carl – yeah, we will be home pretty soon – it will feel cold!
Thanks Paul!
Ron
Excellent image, love the composition.
Thanks Ken!
Amazing lighting. It never ceases to amaze me how red the rock turns here with late light. I’m jealous of your alone time in this one location. Last time I was in Arches in 2004 I was blown away at how many people were waiting to photograph Delicate Arch at sunset. There was no yelling, but it seemed I was attending a rock concert rather than photographing a classic landmark. It seems you made the most of the situation.
Yeah the warm light on red is sure amazing!
I like your title “My Secret Spot”
It is too bad that place has turned to that – I don’t know why people have to be so loud.
Thanks,
Ron
More and more places are turning into that kind of atmosphere. Its both the the upside and downside of interest in photography. As long as people are respectful of each other and the environment I don’t mind, but it makes photographing such areas during the week all the more attractive. One way I got around the nutty nature of all the people was to take a multiple row panoramic. If done right you could include people for scale or exclude them for a straight view. The challenge for that approach is timing as the sunset lighting changes so rapidly.
Hi Jim,
Yeah, mid week is the only time to hit these popular sites. I did single row panoramic, but I haven’t tried multi-row.
Ron