Desert canyon · 18 April 2026 · 1 min read
Red Rock at Golden Hour
Chasing the last light across a desert canyon — and almost missing it.
Deserts are deceptive. They look empty, until the sun gets low and every rock starts to glow.
Reading the light
I had scouted the rim at midday, when everything looked flat and washed out. I marked a spot facing east, knowing the low western sun would set the cliffs on fire.
Five minutes
The best light lasted five minutes. I spent the first two fumbling with a filter. Lesson learned: set everything up before the show begins.
Bring more water than you think you need, and a headlamp for the walk back.
- landscape
- desert
- golden hour