There’s a time and a season for dramatic skies.  Most of the time, the window appears in both springtime and autumn.  Sometimes that window extends out a little bit in either direction.  This year, the window of dramatic skies seems expanded as we’re into June with such skies.  Under the right conditions, the skies light up with the setting or rising sun.  Here’s my latest experience.

A couple hours proceeding this shoot, I had this feeling to go out to Bryce Canyon.  I even knew exactly where I wanted to go in the canyon.  I initially rejected the idea but it was persistent.  No matter what I tried, I couldn’t shake that feeling of urgency.  So, I eventually went with it and got myself ready and out to the canyon.

Once there, I had little time to make it down to where I planned on shooting.  Sunset was upon me and the skies promised a good light show.  I booked it down the switchbacks hoping to catch the perfect light.  Along the way, I ran into another photographer, new to the area, wanting to shoot some photos of the canyon.  I showed him where a couple famous Bryce Canyon landscape photography locations were.  He was grateful for the knowledge.

As we were descending down the cliff face, the skies suddenly lit up.  The setting sun illuminated the clouds in a way I wasn’t quite expecting.  I witnessed so much orange fire in the sky.  Thanks to my feeling earlier, I had a couple photo locations very close by which I used to my advantage.  With the skies alight with color, I spaced my shots out between both sites as much as I could capitalizing on the scene in front of me.

I tried a few regular compositions and different angles while I could.  Depending upon where you are in the canyon, your view can change drastically by walking several yards up or down the trail.  I situated myself in just such a location.

Eventually, all good things come to an end.  So it was with seeing the skies light up.  The color eventually faded with the sun setting even further.  Finally, I walked out with my memories of the skies lighting up and my camera full of photo evidence.