Posted by John Mumaw on December 30, 2010 at 1:29 PM
It took me nearly 15 years of driving by Chimney Rock in the early morning on the way to work to figure out that during one week or so on either side of the Solstice, the first light of the rising sun shone upon the exposed sandstone through a small gap in Mesa Verde. It only lasts about three minutes and then fades away as the sun angles upward and back behind the mesa, to be replaced later by much weaker overall sunrise light.
Then it only took five more years to get near perfect conditions in which to photograph this event.
Posted by Jack Garrett on December 30, 2010 at 1:54 PM
Wow, this is great...perfect exposure and great color John!! Patience pays for sure.
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on December 30, 2010 at 1:55 PM
Just perfect, John! Your persistence certainly paid off.
Posted by Howard Cihak on December 30, 2010 at 2:02 PM
Hey amigo, did your patient wait include waiting for a three-quarter moon to put in an appearance, or was that just the icing on the cake? Great color, John.
Posted by John Mumaw on December 30, 2010 at 2:19 PM
Thanks!
Icing on the cake, Howard. How sweet it was!
Posted by Bob Dent on December 30, 2010 at 2:27 PM
Posted by Koveh Tavakkol on December 30, 2010 at 6:26 PM
Stellar John. Love this crop even more! Print..enjoy....
Posted by Joshua Hardin on December 30, 2010 at 6:46 PM
Persistence definitely pays off. Beautiful in every way!
Posted by Grant Collier on December 30, 2010 at 6:56 PM
Only 20 years? I think you were a bit too hasty and impatient with this shot. Perhaps in sixty years you'll get something worth keeping.
Okay, very nice shot! I've don't think I've ever seen a good shot of this...in fact I'm not sure I've seen a shot of it, even though I've driven by it quite a few times myself.
Posted by Nate Zeman on December 30, 2010 at 8:04 PM
amazing
Posted by Rick Schafer on December 30, 2010 at 11:02 PM
Here is a photo and story that inspires all photographers.
This is fantastic, John. That little moon contributes so much to the mood of the scene. Beautiful.
Guy
Posted by Jeff Hackett on December 31, 2010 at 8:43 AM
15 Years?!?!?!?!? Patience grasshopper.... Man, that is a long time to sit in one spot! Awesome image, the moon and light cloud cover add another dimension. Careful observation while out and about sans camera can really pay off. I'm always looking around and the lovely mrs. is always telling me to keep my eyes on the road.
Posted by Anil Rao on December 31, 2010 at 11:40 AM
Very unique and interesting. Love the spotlight effect and the mood added by the moon.
Happy New Year!
Posted by Jimmy Gekas on January 1, 2011 at 2:28 PM
Awesome!
Posted by Bob Falcone on January 1, 2011 at 4:09 PM
Man, oh man, that is VERY nice. I just wish you weren't always in a hurry!
Posted by Doug Koepsel on January 1, 2011 at 4:33 PM
Job, you caught some really nice glow on the chimney to time with the moon's presence.
Posted by Kurt Bowman on January 1, 2011 at 9:23 PM
Completely awesome John! Absolutely LOVE the light on this.
Discussion
30 repliesThen it only took five more years to get near perfect conditions in which to photograph this event.
Icing on the cake, Howard. How sweet it was!
Joe Rogers
Okay, very nice shot! I've don't think I've ever seen a good shot of this...in fact I'm not sure I've seen a shot of it, even though I've driven by it quite a few times myself.
Guy
Happy New Year!