2019 Great Outdoors Photo Contest Finalists

Photographer: Klaus Priebe

Jo'hono'aa'ei' is Navajo for "The Sun," which has made this image of the wonderful rock formations at White Pocket in the Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness in Northern Arizona come to life. The stormy monsoon weather faded away in the last light of day and let the sun light the clouds and monument perfectly. The reds, yellows and oranges just popped to life with the sun just at the horizon. The swirls of the sandstone came to life and even the semi-brain rock with the ancient sea fossils rang out in a brilliant orchestration of light and color. The image speaks for itself on the beauty of the great outdoors. I’ve been to this location at least a dozen times but this was by far the best experience there I’ve ever had.

Nikon D810, Nikon 14-24mm lens at 16mm, Induro CT315 tripod, Arca Swiss ballhead, Really Right Stuff 60mm lever release clamp, Nikon remote trigger with mirror-up shooting. f/11, ISO 100.