God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning–the second day (Genesis 1:8).
If you’re not religious at all then please overlook my pondering of the theological implications of photographic inspirations in today’s post. I simply find it fascinating that the order of creation is stated as evening followed by morning. Perhaps God was already practicing the conscious use of metaphor in the very beginning. After the darkness, morning comes.
So when I visited the Island in the Sky section of Canyonlands National Park and had only the one night I figured I would do what I could to capture evening and then morning. Mesa Arch was place I decided to settle in for the night.
I like reading in Job about the voice from the whirlwind which asks if he knows why the rain falls in the wilderness, far from any human habitation. The reason for the desert may well be beyond our understanding. The earth, after all, was made first.
Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain, and a path for the thunderstorm, to water a land where no one lives, an uninhabited desert… (Job 38:25-26)
The next morning the rains came. I’ve lived in the Utah desert all summer and rain is such a rare occurrence that one can’t help but rejoice watching the rains fall. The light never fully broke through, but I decided that I’d do my best to make photos on a rainy day. I hope you like the results.
nomadruss in words and photos 
I am lost for words! The photos are stunning. You have made me want to go there too!
Thanks, I always like it when it makes people want to go see it themselves!
incredible!
Merci!
Fantastic images Russ and I love the biblical references here – there’s a lot of poetry, rhythm and mysticism captured by ‘the writers’ who surely must have had a closer connection to the land, and still perhaps a great sense of wonder, than most of us do now.
Appreciate that Chas, and I’m so grateful that some places of wilderness has been preserved so that future generations have some possibility of recognizing that sense of wonder. It’s imperative to the human soul.
Great photos 😀
Thanks Scot in Norway!
Stunning! Love each one individually, but especially love the flow and sequence. Thank you for reminding us of nature’s grandeur.
Thanks for the kind words!
Very beautiful 🙂
Many thanks!
Your pics and posts inspire me Russ! Keep it up!
Thanks, appreciate that!
Its amazing when you bunch up the beauty of nature with some inspiring verses
Scripture and the beauty of nature do go well together, huh? And one day we will be beyond nature as C.S. Lewis says.
That’s all various part of our earth.
High quality photograph !
Thanks!
gorgeous!
Thanks Sarah!