A recent trip through Northern Arizona and Southern Utah gave me the chance to practice light painting using the wonderful rock formations as a canvas. The desert landscape is unbelievable during the day, but the night and colored lights give it another dimension.
The first stop was at the Cliff Dwellers site in Arizona. Here, huge mushroom rocks dwarf any human visitors.
The moon also helped that night in adding to the surreal atmosphere of the place... It was really quiet there after midnight, far from the constant hum of the city...
Next stop: Devil's Garden in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Utah. Even though it only covers a small area, this unique park has a variety of rock formations such as hoodoos, arches and spires.
And of course, I couldn't have missed one of the crown jewels of the US National Parks -- The Arches. Here is a different take on the Double Arch, looking up to the skies through its contorted arms of stone.
Also in the Arches National Park, the symbol of the State of Utah, the Delicate Arch is a majestic sight during the day, but at night it really shines under the stars (well, with a little help from my torchlight).
Last stop: Sedona, Arizona. A lesser known alcove sometimes known as "The Birthing Cave", provides a great frame for the evening sky and pink clouds, so often seen in the desert.
There's great beauty in the desert, day or night!