Nature's Layer Cake

The most remarkable scenes often appear just after you pack up your gear. Such was the case with this photo, which I took after hiking the Northgate Peaks trail in the Kolob Terrace section of Zion National Park. Throughout the day, the weather had cycled unpredictably through sunshine, drizzle, and downpours—and everything in between. By late afternoon, the sky was filled with a wild panoply of clouds ranging from layered stratus to wispy cirrus. I took a few more shots on the trail, packed up, and headed back to my hotel in Springdale, about 30 miles away.

Five minutes after leaving the trailhead, I rounded a bend in the curvy road and hit the brakes at a pullover. So many elements of the unexpected scene compelled me to set up my gear. There was the profile view, afforded by the elevation, replete with tension between the thick band of soft clouds and the massive hard rock formations directly below…the drama in the sky created by the fast-moving clouds high in the sky…the curve of the foliage-studded land mass…and the subtle shafts of sunlight poking through the clouds as if they were spotlighting nature’s glory.

All in all, it was a delicious recipe that delighted the eyes and soul: nature’s layer cake.

Creator

Steve Bennett

stevebennett.eth

Steve Bennett is a lens-based visual artist, who resides in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He began taking photographs more than 50 years ago. Steve’s work has been shown in numerous juried exhibitions sponsored by galleries and art organizations, and it has been on display at major technology, biotech, and financial services companies. His practice includes traditional photographs (street, macro, and landscape) and abstract composites that blend images of infrastructure, technology, and natural elements into art that invites viewers to explore alternate realities. Since his early days in the darkroom, Steve has been in awe of the possibility of capturing scenes and moments that would otherwise have been lost to history.

Properties

Rights

Extended Editorial

Subject

Landscape

Location

Zion National Park, Utah

Genre

Fine Art

Camera

Nikon D850

Lens

Nikkor 70-200mm/f4

Artist

Steve Bennett

Dimensions

7953x4299

Filetype

JPG

License

Extended Editorial

Can be used to display privately, or in commercial and non-commercial settings, or in groups with an unlimited number of participants. The license includes unlimited use and display in virtual or physical galleries, documentaries, and essays by the NFT holder. Provides no rights to create commercial merchandise, commercial distribution, or derivative works.

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