The first time I visited Arches National Park I went with virtually no prior knowledge of the place. I had read about it in Edward Abbey’s “Desert Solitaire,” but I knew little more than that it is red rock country and a popular park. Such a lack of preparation could seem like a problem, but it also turned out to be a gift to myself. It is one thing to arrive at such a place knowing what to expect, but driving into the park and discovering its garden of towers and arches and fins was overwhelming. I had no idea!
This photograph comes from a morning shoot not too far from the some of the first formations you encounter after entering the park. We arrived before sunrise, found a panoramic vantage point, and photographed through the period just before and after sunrise. Here I turned my camera toward a series of four or more receding formations, stretching from the foreground tower to a very distant and high ridge.
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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. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email
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