I finally got a chance to catch my breath on my trip through the Southwest U.S. and wanted to share a recent image with you.

This is Horseshoe Bend near Page, Arizona. It is probably one of the most photographed places in the Southwest United States…and for good reason. This bend in the Colorado River is truly a spectacle to see in person. If you have the nerve, you can walk right up to the edge and peer over the steep cliffs to view the river, 1,000 feet below.

I came to this spot a few times during my trip. The first couple of times, the weather was poor…so I did not get the image I was hoping for. However, on the third attempt, I was rewarded with one of the most colorful sunsets I have ever experienced. As the sun disappeared, it lit up the clouds with an intense red glow that reflected down to everything below.

There were probably a hundred or more people near me at this lookout point. Numerous audible “oohs” and “aahs” were heard as everyone watched this unfold. It seemed that every time I thought I had seen the best part of the sunset, it actually got better!

I took hundreds of photos…some before the color started, some with the signature “sun flare” as the sun descended below the land in the distance, and many more as the clouds caught fire. I hope to share some of those other images in future posts.

Unfortunately, the show had to end, but wow, what a performance!