I have spent many years wandering and photographing in the American Southwest, and I have marveled at this geological wonder near Mexican Hat, Utah, whenever I’ve been in the area. It is known as the Raplee Monocline.
I tried to photograph it several times, but it was very hard to find a good vantage point because I could never get high enough to see over the intervening foothills. If I got past these foothills, then I was too close. But my drone changed all that.
I photographed here a year ago with decent results, but I had no sun, and I knew the setting sun would be the best light, as during the day these colors fade into little more than darks and lights. When I was on my way home this November, I saw the weather forecast could be favorable here. I switched my travel plans around and timed it to be here for a couple of evenings, hoping it would be clear at sunset.
The light on the first evening wasn’t ideal, but I scouted a couple of good potential compositions while exploring. The next evening, conditions were just what I wanted, and for this composition I made sure to be in position well before, ready for the setting sun.
I was still surprised at how quickly this light was gone after I made this exposure. A minute later, all was in shadow. I made more evening exposures, but this dramatic light was my main objective, and it took preparation and planning to get just what I had in mind.
