Delicate Arch 2012

Location: Arches National Park is north of Moab, Utah on Highway 191. It is located in the southeastern part of the state. I believe those are the La Sal Mountains in the background. The trail is a moderatly strenuous 3 mile round trip. The last quarter mile of the trail before the arch is about 4 feet wide with a precipitous drop on one side. It is easy to navigate unless it is ice covered but still a little off-putting if you are uncomfortable with heights. That shouldn't hold you back though.

Find the location: Copy the coordinates below. Open Google Earth, paste the coordinates into "Fly To" and click on the magnifying glass.

38° 44 37.50" N
109° 29' 57.45" W

Equipment: EOS 1ds Mark III with 28-300 mm lens (40mm) with polarizer at f8.0 for 1/60 sec.

Digital imaging/manipulation: HDR image with Photomatrix 4.0

Notes: This is a beautiful desert park with easy access to much of the photographic icons. Still lots of space for hiking. Snow in the winter gives additional depth to the opportunities. Delicate Arch is a highly visited place. This was taken in March at 6:18 PM. Unfortunately, some people feel compelled to stand under the arch to have their picture taken making it difficult to get an unpopulated view during the high season. That is less likely in the off seasons. There are several views from other places around the arch, even at a distance. So use your imagination.

Be sure to check out surrounding sites such as Canyonlands NP, Dead Horse and Goblin Valley State Parks, as well as Fisher Towers. There are many more.