Into The Light

On a walk along the rim of the Grand Canyon I came across this wonderfully twisted skeleton of a tree in a precarious position overlooking the river below. The sun was slowly sinking in the western sky behind a thick layer of clouds. I was fascinated by the gracefully curving limbs. The tree was in shadow as I tried in vain to find a composition that would show the mighty Colorado framed within the twisted wood. Twenty minutes passed when suddenly, the area was flooded with light sneaking through a gap in the clouds. I had left my camera on the tripod with this scene in the viewfinder. I quickly released the shutter, checked my exposure and attempted another composition. As quickly as it arrived, the light disappeared for the rest of the evening. We eventually made our way on the shuttle back to my waiting truck. I hopped in, turned the key and was surprised, and a little spooked, to hear "In the House of Stone and Light" playing on the radio. My good friend and the person who introduced me to backpacking in the Canyon would play that song over and over as we got our gear together for each trip. Sadly, he passed away a few years ago at the young age of 38. I can't help but think that he had a hand in creating this photo, one of my favorites from the trip. Thanks for having a look and leaving a comment.

1Ds MK II, 28-70mm lens, polarizer, cropped some off bottom