Formed Of Time

Morning light cascaded generously over the colorful pinnacles and formations of The Needles District south of Moab. I was flying a Cessna low over the area but my vertical or oblique perspectives had become tiresome. I decided to try for some more horizontal shots and dropped into a valley with sufficient room for a low pass to the north, slowed the aircraft, and trimmed for level flight. With a close eye on the terrain ahead, I began shooting to the east out the open left side window, scanning for tighter shots across the slender ridges. I was thrilled with this fortunate capture with its vivid colors, classic white capped pinnacles, and distinct communication of depth. But what really makes the shot work is the clear horizontal flow of the composition conveyed in the structure of the foreground ridge, in the bold cracks, and in the distinct and contrasting lines of the gorgeous strata.