Celestial alignments that I can observe on Earth inspire me. Whether it is a rising moon aligned with a desert tower or sunlight illuminating a feature on a landscape, I enjoy doing the calculations and planning of how to photograph it.
Getting good photographs of these events is not entirely predictable, though. Clouds, weather, and other, more random factors keep things exciting. Many times I have worked hard to plan and travel to an “alignment” shot, only to find the sun or moon blocked by clouds. The uncertainty keeps things exciting!
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The weather and cloud layers in Monument Valley looked like they were clearing. After doing some calculations for photographing the shadow of the West Mitten Butte on its neighbor, East Mitten Butte. I took the chance and began the six-hour drive from Santa Fe. It was quite a commitment given that even a thin cloud layer on the western horizon could diffuse the sunlight enough to wash out the shadow.
Events like these do not wait for anyone. As I drove through the beautiful Navajo Lands of Northwest New Mexico and Arizona, it was hard to resist photographing the stunning landscape along the journey. My departure time would put me at the photography location about an hour before the shadow fell on East Mitten Butte. Any delays en route could ruin my shadow chasing endeavor.
When I arrived, the two majestic Mitten Buttes stood tall above the desert. The sun was getting close to the western horizon. A thin layer of clouds to the west concerned me. The shadow of West Mitten Butte was off to the side of East Mitten Butte; it moved closer and closer to East Mitten Butte as the sun sank to the horizon. The shadowed moved slowly, though, and I wondered if my calculations were off.
If the sun were too low, there would not be any direct light necessary to create a sharp shadow. The sunlight became redder with the low sun angle. As it illuminated the red sandstone, the landscape lit up with a deep scarlet hue.
As expected, like clockwork, the shadow of West Mitten Butte fell perfectly on its neighbor, East Mitten Butte. Watching this sacred moment made me wonder if ancient generations of humans had witnessed this?
Observing the solar alignment and resulting shadow, which agreed with my calculations and planning, was rewarding. The experience demonstrated to me that the laws of nature stand firm, independent of man.
