“Thor’s Hammer”

Location: Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah (2018)

The hoodoo formation known as Thor’s Hammer is silhouetted against a backdrop of color produced by the setting sun on an autumn evening in Bryce Canyon National Park.

Photographed moments before the coloration in the clouds dissipated, I wanted to kick myself for almost missing the moment.

Earlier, I had given up hope that the sunset would be spectacular. I didn’t stay put and wait for the sunset but had continued instead down the trail.

By the time the sky began to light up, I was at the bottom of a series of switchbacks.

With the vigor of youth on my side, I charged up the switchbacks to the place I had previsualized earlier.

With my tripod barely assembled, and shaking out of breath, I took several photographs and hoped none of them were blurry.