Photographing Mesa Arch at Sunrise: What You Need to Know

As it turned out, photographing Mesa Arch at sunrise was not only a shot of a lifetime, but a life-lesson as well. 

Full disclosure: Before we arrived on the scene, I had no idea that photographing Mesa Arch at sunrise was such a big deal. Our photog-daughter, who organized our trip, simply told us that we were going to a really cool place to take sunrise pictures. Since she had been to this location a number of times before, I didn’t do my routine pre-trip research. Luckily, it all worked out great and I’m excited to share our adventure and tips for photographing Mesa Arch with you. But before I do that, I want to share a little story.

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Photography Lesson: The Shot of a Lifetime

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Photographing Mesa Arch at Sunrise: What You Need to Know

Arrive Early

Set your alarm so that you can arrive at the trailhead at least an hour before sunrise. This will allow you to catch the first glow on the horizon. It also gives you plenty of time to adjust your camera settings, and figure out where you want to be when that much-anticipated sunstar pops through the arch.

Note that the trail into Mesa Arch, which will take you about ten minutes, is very dark before sunrise, so take something to light your way. A headlamp or flashlight are both good choices. Sure, you can use your phone, but don’t blame me if you run out of juice in the process.

Stake Your Claim, But Be Flexible

Crowds are inevitable. Arriving early will help you get ahead of them and allow you to find “your spot.” However, be flexible; if you manage to secure a prime location, be compassionate to those who didn’t. (Karma, my friends.)

Take a Tripod 

A tripod is helpful for photographing Mesa Arch in two ways: first, it allows you to stabilize your camera in the low light conditions and take awesome pictures. Second, it helps you stake your claim.

There is something magical about a tripod placed. I can’t offer any guarantees here, but for the most part, people seem to respect the space a tripod takes up and won’t move it, even if you aren’t hovering over it every second. With your tripod securing your little square of Mesa Arch real estate, you can move around a bit without feeling like someone is going to “steal your spot.”

Change Up Your Space

If you watch the light when you are photographing Mesa Arch, it’s difficult to take a bad picture. Doing so, however, will require you to move occasionally.

Look Around

There are so many amazing shots at this location, and many do not include the Arch at all. If I had only been paying attention to the Arch itself, I would have missed this one entirely:

And this one.

And this one. (Those are two of our kids in profile on the left.)

Stay Late

If you don’t heed any other information here, do this. The biggest surprise I got while photographing Mesa Arch was the number of people who snapped the money-shot – that sunstar coming through the arch – and then immediately packed up and left. It’s literally like watching the first pop of fireworks on the 4th of July and leaving before the rest of the show.

Why would you take all the time and effort to get up early and drive out into the desert, just to snap one or two good shots and walk away? I don’t get it. My best advice: stay at least 45 minutes after you see that sunstar.

Be Alert

It just so happened that our visit to Canyonlands fell on the morning of July 4^th. Just as we were heading back on the trail to return to our car, I turned back one last time to take in larger scene behind us.

At that moment, someone standing on the rise next to the Arch rose up and stretched out, revealing the American flag they’d had wrapped around them. They then turned and hopped down to join their friends on the ground below. The whole movement took less than five seconds, but somehow I managed to capture it. The image is below, and is one of my favorites from this trip.

Finally, Put the Camera Down

There are two maxims I strive daily to follow. (I’m not always successful, but I try.) The first is, Be Kind. The second, Be Present. That means putting everything down and just being there in the place with the people. Take some time to put your camera down, and take in the spectacular show that the universe is putting on for you.

More information on photographing Mesa Arch:

• Mesa Arch Photo Tips [Fototripper] – This post has some good technical info, including recommended equipment and panorama tips.
• Mesa Arch Sunrise Photography Tips for Boomer Travelers [My Itchy Travel Feet]
• Mesa Arch: The Southwest’s Best Photo Op? [Firefall Photography] – Great info on camera settings.

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