ocated in the heart of the Colorado Plateau, Arches National Park is home to natural stone arches, spires, fins and balanced rocks. Over two thousand of these natural spectacles are scattered among the 73,000-acre park. It is a place where you can see erosion on a scale that is both grand and delicate - it's a photographer's paradise.

Few places challenge a photographer's compositional skill like Arches. It's an environment of striking contrasts in color and texture. Red rocks set against the rich blue western sky with the snow-capped La Sal Mountains as a background. No wonder that it's described as "where God put the West."

What You'll See

Arches National Park hosts the world's largest concentration of natural stone arches. Over 2000 of these 'miracles of nature', and other unusual formations, grace the 73,000-acre area.

Many of these photogenic structures are visible from the roadway though most photography requires a short hike.  

The icon of Utah is Delicate Arch.  This stunning arch sits atop a massive Slick Rock sandstone, 500 feet above the park floor.  Sculpted, often grain by grain, by the erosive forces of nature it is a favorite for photographers. 

You'll stand in awe of Landscape Arch, a graceful 306 foot arch spanning two rock buttresses.  The center portion is now delicately thin and will probably be the next arch to fall.  

In addition to all the subjects in Arches National Park, you'll be a short drive from Dead Horse Point State Park, a favorite of mine for early morning photography. 

Light-Painting Project 

Participants at this year's Arches workshop will be fortunate to participate in what may the the largest light painting project ever as we ratchet up the excitement with a huge light-painting project.  Delicate Arch, above, was shot shortly after sunset and painted with a 1 Million candlepower flashlight - this technique gives the formation an ethereal look.  Imagine a huge rock formation painted with over 100 million candlepower. 

Everyone attending the Arches workshop will receive a 15 million candle power flashlight (free and yours to keep) to help light-paint some of the famous rock formations.  Sign up today and be a part of the largest light-painting project ever attempted.

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