The Dark Side of Photography

There are likely some sounds you really hate. The dental drill, for example. Our dog absolutely hates thunder. That's the only time she chooses to sit next to me instead of Momma.I hate the preset ring tone for the alarm on my iPhone. In fact, I have changed that selection from “Radar” to “Bulletin.” I fully expect to start hating “Bulletin” as waking up in the middle of dark just to have an outside opportunity to capture exceptional light becomes less and less fun after multiple unsuccessful wake up calls. 

 But one morning last week was not so bad…in fact, I would say it made up for at least half a dozen of those early alarms that make you want to set a record for the cell phone toss. I was spending the night at Desert View Campground on the east side of the south rim at the Grand Canyon. Bedtime research on my weather apps showed that taking the Red Route bus from The Village out to Pima Point held the most promise for the next morning. This meant setting the alarm for 3 am so I would have time to pack up my roof top tent and then drive the 45 minutes back to The Village at a speed that didn’t endanger myself or the elk that show up unexpectedly on the road. 

The prospect of sitting out in the cool morning was not all that appealing, so my early arrival for the bus allowed me skip the 4 AM in favor of a 15 minute catnap.That meant one more alarm, but it was going to be worth it. I had seen that the first bus was empty, except for he driver. The same was the case for the second one, which I took. The driver and I had a good conversation over the next half an hour as he gave me this private limo ride to my destination. He explained that most kids had just returned to school, so the busses would be pretty empty this week. It was still dark when I arrived at Pima Point. Surveying the sky, I could see a mix of clouds and stars. Sunrise wouldn’t be for another hour.

I set up my tripod thinking it would be good to reserve a preferred spot before a photo workshop leader who had done the same great research showed up with his charges at a more ideal 5:30 am time. After all, photographers can show up fast at the Grand Canyon where first in position has rights to choose and stay in a preferred spot. This advance planning was going to prove very helpful. Then it started sprinkling. One minute later the downpour began. I "unset up" (set down didn’t work here) my tripod and huddled under a two foot overhang of the sign that explained all the geology of the area, including how storms such as the one drenching half my clothing had shaped the canyon. As much as I didn’t enjoy getting wet, the weather was now promising. The storm would pass me just in time for morning light. Then it would be sitting over the canyon, hopefully in an ideal spot. Maybe even with lightning!

I stayed as comfortable as one can as the temperature dropped 15 degrees and rain flowed from the overhang to the top of my hooded jacket. Note that carrying an umbrella, otherwise known as a rain shedding lightning rod is not that appealing to me in the middle of a monsoon rain.

Another bus arrived. No companions. In fact, I had the whole point to myself for the next hour and one-half. This was unbelievable. I am in the second most visited national park at what I believed to be the best spot for morning light. It would be the kind of light that might get a girl to say “yes” when she meant “no”. Lady canyon was all mine! I could almost piss in my pants. Perhaps I did. My memory is not the same as it used to be.