Desert canyon light is remarkable. A canyon like this one is a huge contrast with the world outside — the intense, harsh desert light gives way to soft, gentle light and shade. The temperature drops. The color of the ight changes, too. Deep in the canyon it often shifts to ward blue, especially when the canyon walls are black or gray. There are also changes and contrasts where different softs of light come together — as in this photograph where the deeply shaded blue tones contrast with the warmer tones of the higher walls.
I walked quickly to get to these narrows, but once I arrived I stopped, took out my tripod, attached my camera, and ambled slowly while searching for photographs. New possibilities appeared at every bend in the canyon, and my progress stalled to a near standstill as I stopped every few feet to look at a new composition.
G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him.
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