Any photographer who visits Arches National Park in Utah is sure to have the iconic Double Arch on their photo bucket list. But, the photographer who is willing to hang in there and "go the extra mile", will often be rewarded with something unique and sometimes compelling and impactful.
One of the best lessons I ever learned in my short career as a landscape photographer has very little to do with how you earn money as a photographer, and everything to do with how seriously you take your image creation process.
When you have a image you want to capture, don't cut corners and tell yourself that you will fix it later in photoshop, or put in half the effort just because it is less work. Photographers often ask me how did you get that shot? or what were your camera settings? I often reply "do your research and be willing to do what it takes to capture the photo that you visualized". For me that is what separates pros from the hobbyist. Of course, having the technical knowledge of your camera and post production techniques is first and foremost, but once this becomes second nature, it s all about willingness to put in the extra effort to realize your artistic vision.
I visited this site in the afternoon and although this venue is amazing any time of day, I had a vision that this site could produce something totally amazing at night. So, with camera and a simple adjustable low level LED light in tow, I drove the 3/4 hour from our comfortable campsite to the trailhead at Double Arch. It was 2:00am and I was amazed that I was the only photographer in attendance. Relieved, I was able to take my time setting up my lighting to illuminate the beautiful Double Arch.
The tail-end of the Milky way completed the shot. I was a happy camper and honored to bear witness to what I had experienced. What a rush!
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