Canyon Collection 2019-2021

Canyon thunderstorm

The Holy Grail of landscape photography. A thunderstorm in a fantastic location at sunset. This was probably one of the most beautiful storms I've ever witnessed in the Grand Canyon. Seen from Hopi Point on the south rim, this cell moved westward towards the sunset for about 30 minutes before breaking up. Nikon Z7 24mm 1/15s f/11 ISO64 Lightning Trigger IV

Pima Storm 2

This bolt appeared to move through the cloud and illuminate part of it before hitting the ground. Nikon D850, 50mm, 1/30s, f/8, ISO 400

Storm Maricopa

An evening sunset looking east from Maricopa Point on the South Rim. While there was nothing interesting in the western sky, this large thunderstorm cloud was slowly moving over the canyon and caught the last light of the setting sun. I barely had time to set up the lightning trigger and catch this solo strike. Nikon Z7, 33mm, 1/15s, f/10, ISO250, lightning trigger

Ring of Fire, monochrome

This lightning image was taken on a rather colorless day due to dense smoke in the west. The drama seems better appreciated in a black and white presentation.

Ring of Fire

A bright bolt of lightning strikes a bluff on the east side of North Bright Angel canyon. It hits the ground illuminating a circular bowl on the bluff. It was late in the day with a fair amount of smoke in the air. The colors were very pastel, and the image actually works better in black and white.

Hopi Sunset View

A favorite site for sunset just west of Hopi point. One of the few trees in the park that extends outward from the cliff.

Hopi Sunset Glow

When the sunset is bright, many of the canyon features become silhouettes. This tree is ideally situated for a beautiful sunset glow diffused through the canyon haze.

Hopi Sunset Bolts

Thunder storm along the North Rim while the sun was shining on the South Rim.

Sunrise Thunderstorm

This dramatic thunderstorm unfolded like a movie early one morning. It slowly moved from left to right just below the North Rim with frequent lightning strikes hitting the canyon. These two bolts were actually about 30 seconds apart, and composited into a single image.

Smoky sunset

The scattered wildfires in the western USA in 2020 produced multiple days of thick smoke over the canyon. So dense was the haze the the setting sun was visible as a glowing globe.

Another Smoky Sunset

Diffuse smoke over the western end of the park at sunset as seen from Yaki point.

Skeleton Point sunrise

A zig-zag trail descends from Skeleton Point and Oneil Butte on the South Kaibab trail. Nicely illuminated by the early morning sunrise.

Yaki Pillar

A classic Grand Canyon pillar is illuminated by early sunset light.

Powell Point Snow

A March 2020 snow storm hit the south rim of the canyon offering some nice contrast with morning colors of the canyon walls.

Yaki Point Winter

A south rim snow storm coats the rim with beautiful contrast. The clouds just broke enough to allow some light to brighten the vertical wall.

The Clearing Storm

As a spring snowstorm begins to clear, leaving a snowy bush on the south rim.

Hopi Sunset

A high cloud formation at sunset, seen from Hopi Point, Grand Canyon. An ultra wide angle view creates the out stretched arms of the clouds.

Smoky View, Navajo Point

Sometimes the canyon scene is better appreciated in black and white without the distraction of the dark late day colors. The wildfire smoke caught the late day light, offering multiple silhouettes of the canyon monuments.

Winter Storm Drama

Black and white version of the clearing winter snowstorm, March 2020. Seen from Mohave Point.