A Rare Sundog Photobomb at Balanced Rock

Featured Photos:

Rock formations are not a subject I photograph often, but I enjoyed experimenting with different settings and processing styles during this adventure. I found that a warm, clean edit suited these photos best. I used Photo Veils from the Botanical and Illumination Collections to create a cohesive look throughout this collection.

This first photo is from our climb up. I love the layers of diagonal lines that lead the eye up to the main subject, the Balanced Rock. Here is the in-progress shot (with foundation edits), and the final image with the addition of Photo Veils. They add a subtle warmth and depth to the photo, which I love!

Nikon D850 | 24-70mm lens at 32mm | f/11 | 1/250 sec | ISO 200

These layers of rock caught my eye. I chose to capture this image using a shallow depth-of-field to draw the viewer’s eye toward the delicate green grasses that are finding their way through the crevices. Move the slider to the right to reveal the in-progress photo with foundation edits, and then to the left you’ll see the final image with the addition of Photo Veils.

Nikon D850 | 24-70mm lens at 70mm | f/2.8 | 1/2000 sec | ISO 200

This image really captures the unforgettable experience I had while photographing this unique rock formation! The prism that can be seen to the right of the rock formation is what’s called a Sundog, a relatively rare occurrence. Sundogs can only be seen when the conditions are just right, a high sun angle, cold temperatures, and light clouds filled with millions of ice crystals. What an experience… a unique rock formation AND a rare atmospheric phenomenon! What more can a photographer ask for!

Nikon D850 | 24-70mm lens at 24mm | f/8 | 1/2000 sec | ISO 200

The golden light cast on these rocks, complimented by the bright blue sky behind them, was absolutely breathtaking! I decided to really lean into the bright vibrant punch of color in post-processing.

Nikon D850 | 24-70mm lens at 52mm | f/9 | 1/200 sec | ISO 500

Nikon D850 | 24-70mm lens at 24mm | f/11 | 1/160 sec | ISO 500

And lastly, on the drive out of the canyon, we had to stop and admire these unique rocks as well…

Nikon D850 | 14-24mm lens at 56mm | f/8 | 1/125 sec | ISO 1000

What’s Up Next?

Who’s up for another epic waterfall? Up next in the lineup, we take you to what is known as the “Niagara of the West!” …I can’t wait to share this one with you, so stay tuned!

In the meantime, make sure you head on over to Youtube and subscribe so you don’t miss any of the fun! You can also sign up for our newsletter, where you’ll be the first to know when we drop a new episode. Until next time, get out there, get clickin’, adventure awaits!

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