Metamorphosis by Peter Coskun Nature Photography

Metamorphosis by Peter Coskun Nature Photography

When at a location, I am often hoping to see varied conditions to make the most out of a photo shoot. Sometimes it doesn’t happen, but other times, it’s like the gift that keeps on giving. The light and atmosphere on this particular winter morning along the grand canyon was about as good as any I had seen out of any visit to this place over the years. The funny thing was this excursion was not planned in advance like many of my longer trips. It was a spur of the moment trip as the canyon had an inversion the day before. I was hoping that the conditions would hold up for sunrise, and my girlfriend and I headed up the night before trying to be there just in time for the show. We arrived early in the morning, hours before the sun would make it’s first light across the landscape. It was cold, freezing and it began snowing heavily as we approached the south rims entrance. After being turned away by a closed gate leading to the east rim, we ventured along hermit road and lost whatever snow we had just gone through. The east side was closed due to snow, though I can’t imagine it was anything harrowing to drive through. We pulled into one of the view point parking lots and just began to wait. We still had plenty of time before first light, so we tried to get a little rest. I kept peeking out at the rim seeing nothing but a thick cloud bank over the canyon. I was starting to lose a little hope that we came all this way for nothing. After getting too restless, we decided to get out and look around. I could see just hints of the north rim miles away, as the thick clouds started to part ways. Buttes and formations began to rise from the clouds and almost before the sun finally made it’s way over the horizon there was hardly a cloud left within the canyon. Fortunately for us, the sky went ablaze, and the left over haze and fog created some of the most magnificent conditions I’ve witnessed here. It was well worth standing in the freezing temps to watch this magic show.

Peter Coskun Nature Photography: Photos