Utah Desert Landscapes

Bridging the Gap

A cold winter's morning was spent at the iconic Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park outside Moab, Utah. This red rock natural arch is quite popular and several landscape photographers were in attendance on the first day of 2013.

Mesa Arch Morning

The warm glow from the sun's first light strikes the under side of a natural rock arch in Canyonlands National Park known as Mesa Arch.

Revealing Red Rocks

In Canyonlands National Park, a winter scene unfolds. A thin layer of snow slowly melts away in abstract patterns revealing the red rocks beneath.

Winter's Blanket at Canyonlands

Fresh snow covers the landscape at Green River Overlook in the Islands in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park outside Moab, Utah.

Canyonlands Sunset Panorama

The earth's shadow rises above the La Sal Mountains at sunset in Canyonlands National Park near Moab, Utah. This amazing landscape is made all the more stunning with a coating of snow to contrast with the red rocks.

Goblin Valley Sunset Panorama

Sunset over Goblin Valley State Park in southern Utah. This strange landscape contains mudstone formations in odd and unusual shapes. Winter's snow blankets the ground as the sky turns pink with color.

Star Gazing

During a cold, winter evening, I set up my camera to record the motion of the stars over Balanced Rock, one of the popular landscape features of Arches National Park, one of the many wonders of the state of Utah.

Sunset Over Balanced Rock

The iconic Balanced Rock between two pillars of stone beneath a sunset sky outside of Moab, Utah in Arches National Park. This red rock landscape is all the more striking with a fresh dusting of snow.

The Watchmen in Winter

A fresh dusting of snow in Zion National Park coats the trees and mountains, including the famous Watchmen in the distance. The Virgin River winds its way through as colorful sunset light illuminates the sky above.

Zion Winter #1

A winter storm coats the canyon walls in Zion National Park in southwestern Utah. The majestic nature of this national park is unparalleled. The trees at the top of the photograph lend a sense of scale as to the size of the massive rock wall.

Zion Winter #2

A winter storm coats the canyon walls in Zion National Park in southwestern Utah. The majestic nature of this national park is unparalleled. The trees at the top of the photograph lend a sense of scale as to the size of the massive rock wall.

Zion Winter #3

A winter storm coats the canyon walls in Zion National Park in southwestern Utah. The majestic nature of this national park is unparalleled. The trees at the top of the photograph lend a sense of scale as to the size of the massive rock wall.

Dusted Watchmen

A fresh dusting of snow in Zion National Park coats the trees and mountains, including the famous Watchmen in the distance. The Virgin River winds its way through this winter landscape as storm clouds roll past.

Frosted

A barren shrub covered in frost is back lit by the sun on a clear day in Arches National Park located outside Moab, Utah.

Balanced Rock and the Moon

One of the iconic locations for travelers to visit in Arches National Park, located outside Moab, Utah, is Balanced Rock. During the blue hour before sunrise, this landscape photograph was made while the near full moon was setting low in the sky.

Winter's Morning in Arches

Early morning strikes the east facing side of North Window. Turret Arch is seen in the distance as the blue sky and warm glow on the rocks contrast with the white snow of winter. A photographer takes a moment to appreciate the stunning beauty found in Arches National Park outside of Moab, Utah.

Winter Spires

The rock formations in Arches National Park create stunning landscapes in any season. Here, in winter, a fresh snow fall contrasts with the red rock of the Organ in the Courthouse Towers area.

Fresh snow on the La Sal Mountains and Arches National Park in Utah

The stunning landscapes of Arches National Park include the Windows section. Here, Turret Arch and the backdrop of the La Sal mountains illuminate with soft light at the end of the day. Located outside of Moab, Utah, this national treasure draws travelers and photographers from all over the world.

The Moon and Turret Arch

Before sunrise on a winter's morning, I visited Turret Arch in the Windows Section of Arches National Park. Just a short drive from Moab, Utah, this red rock landscape is filled with amazing scenery. Here, the moon is framed within the iconic Turret Arch.

Winter Spikes

The low winter sun passes behind a large crack in the Organ which is part of the Courthouse Towers region of Arches National Park just outside the town of Moab, a tourist hub for two of Utah's most scenic national parks.

Window Within a Window

A classic scene unfolds at sunrise as Turret Arch gets framed by North Window in Arches National Park near Moab, Utah. This landscape is filled with red rock natural arches and becomes even more stunning with a fresh snowfall. The crisp winter air leaves the sky crystal blue, the perfect contrast to the warm sunshine.

Morning Glow of Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon National Park is a beautiful place to visit, especially when winter snow contrasts with the red rock hoodos of this amazing landscape found in southwestern Utah.

Bryce Canyon Sunrise

A vivid sunrise illuminates the valley of Bryce Canyon National Park in winter. The glow of reds, pinks, and purples from the early morning is an amazing site to behold in this unique landscape located in southwestern Utah.

Windows at Arches Panorama Sunset

Sunset lights illuminated the red rocks landscape of the Windows section of Arches National Park. This wonderland of rocky landscapes is just outside Moab, Utah and is filled with numerous natural rock arches. This panorama at sunset shows many such arches with the La Sal mountains in the background with a fresh dusting of snow.

Layers of Bryce Canyon

Layers of red rock hoodoo formations and the white snow of winter mingle in Bryce Canyon National Park as part of the southwestern landscape of Utah.

Transitioning Light

The last moments of sun light creep up the walls of Bryce Canyon. Solitary trees soon will fade into shadow in the valley of Bryce Canyon National Park located in southwestern Utah.

Defining Lines of Bryce Canyon

Snow lines the red rock structures to create a stunning contrast of shapes and patterns in one of Utah's five national parks, Bryce Canyon.

Bryce Canyon Sunset

The last glow of sunset falls on the snow capped hoodoos of Bryce Canyon National Park located in southwestern Utah. The winter snow contrast beautifully with the orangeand red rock structures that fill the valley below.

First Light at Mesa Arch

One of Utah's beautiful National Parks is Canyonlands. Mesa Arch is an iconic location for landscape photos as the sunrise light strikes the underside of the rock archway.