My goal was to take a photograph of the sun setting through the opening of Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, Utah. If the Arch were located in the middle of an open desert and oriented with a north-south axis, the photograph would be more straightforward. The reality is that the orientation of Delicate Arch, is located on the edge of a steep cliff, and it is surrounded by rocks blocking the view to the west.
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I calculated some good dates and times to see the sunset through the window of the Arch. Delicate Arch is very popular and visited by many tourists each day. On this particular winter day, I was surprised to see about 50 visitors at the Arch. The hike in is not too hard; however it does require climbing a couple of steep rock inclines. The ice and snow on the last section of the trail did not seem to scare too many people away.
When I tried to set up my tripod at the exact spot to see the sunset through the Arch, two tourists were standing exactly where I needed to be. This couple had just as much right to be in this particular location as I did. They happened to be in that spot randomly. They did not know about the sunset view that was about to happen in 15 minutes.
I politely explained to them that I wanted to get a photograph from the spot where they were standing. I asked them if they could please move just a few feet to the side so I could set up my tripod. They joked with me and asked: “what does it mean to you?” Laughing, I reached in my pocket and gave them the $5 bill I had (all the cash I had on hand). They took the money and moved to the side, allowing me to place my tripod in the exact spot I needed to be.
When the sunset, the basin around Delicate Arch lit up spectacularly. Looking at the Arch with the rays of red sunlight coming through was magical and worth the efforts! The lovely couple watched next to me as we enjoyed the natural light show in awe of the great Arch looming in front of us. I sent them a copy of the photograph weeks later so they could enjoy that memory.
