Mesa Arch Sunburst

The Story:    This image captures a summer sunrise from Mesa Arch, Canyonlands National Park, outside of Moab, Utah. Located on the Island in the Sky Mesa, this scene was 15 million years in the making (uplift of the Colorado Plateau) where erosion of a small pothole in Navajo Sandstone lead to today’s rock arch. The image captures the moment where the rising sun briefly paints the underside of Mesa arch and warms Buck Canyon in amazing orange light while silhouetting the distant La Sal Mountains.  As you can see from the thin slit of clear air on the horizon, the moment was transitory, as a cloud bank quickly obscured the sun.

The Rest of the Story:  This canvas print is a favored among visitors to my gallery and exhibits.   In capturing this scene, I woke up at 0230 AM and wandered out into the night.  I first swung my Arches National Park for night sky photography before driving further west into the blackness.     I made my way to a parking spot in Canyonlands National Park to find I was the first one there for the near summer solstice sunrise.   I strapped on my camera backpack and headlamp and plodded along Mesa Arch Trail.  The eerie part of the short hike lies in knowing I am approaching the top of a 1,200-foot cliff that drops off into Buck Canyon.  Did I mention it gets really dark.  I found my spot and waited for dawn.

For me, this is a story in persistence.   The previous morning, I made the same trip into the night, only to find that at sunrise, clouds encroached onto the eastern horizon which spoiled the light.  As the sky brightened the second morning, I noted a repeat layer of clouds making the same approach.  It was a heavenly race.  Who would reach the eastern horizon first:  the sun rising up over the distant La Sal Mountains, or the clouds racing eastward.  Fortunately, the sun won the second day.  I enjoyed about five minutes of clear air before the clouds obscured the morning light.

The sunburst.  As people stare closer to the fine art print, they ponder how I made the sunburst.  In innocent words that stabs anyone’s pride, they ask about the Photoshop technique or the filter I used to capture such a sight.  Ouch…you are killing me!   In short, I produce the sunstar in camera through the use of light diffraction.  Now, many try to do the same with their camera, but their starburst doesn’t look as sharp.  I’ve messed this up enough to perfect my technique.  First, I use a Canon 11-24mm Ultra Wide Angle lens.  It costs a little under $3,000 and its heavy.  Unlike cheaper lenses that have six aperture blades, mine used nine.  Somewhere as the blade count increases, the number of light spikes doubles.  As a result, my sunstars have a pleasing 18 spikes.  I drive the light diffraction by employing a small aperture, like f/22.  The problem with f/22 lies in many lenses produce a softer focus.  Perhaps its the ultra wide optics, but I find I don’t fight that in my images.  Finally, you have to keep your optics clean.  A speck of dust will refract light in unfavorable ways.  As many were shooting next to me, I spent a few precious moments blowing air over my lens keeping it dust free.   On this second morning, it all came together!

If you’d like to see similar scenes check out my Canyonlands National Park Art Prints or my Arches National Park Art Prints.

Sublocation:  Canyonlands National Park

City, State:     Moab, Utah

Year:               2020

This room visualization depicts my original photography as displayed in an AI-generated room. The art print features a brilliant sunrise under Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park, near Moab Utah. This room visualization was generated through FreePick with their permission and license, while I retain the copyright of the displayed art print.