CraigBILL

“Brimstone” is one of the very first images that I created when I first visited Antelope Canyon.  I made sure that I went during the time of day and year that the sun was high over head so that these mystical rays of sun penetrated through the narrow slot canyon.  I only had a couple minutes before groups of tourists nudged by.  If you ever notice, not often do you see photographs of Antelope Canyon with the walls AND ground because of this.

Blasted naturally out of Navajo sandstone, these slot canyons are made by thunderstorms.  It may seem strange that such a dry and beautiful place in the North Arizona desert was created this way.  In fact, the rushing flash flood waters from these thunderstorms can start many miles away before they carve through these canyons up to seventy miles per hour.  Meanwhile, the sky is totally cloud free and blue above.

Slot canyons like these were one of my top choices for creating images.  Because the light plays on the sandstone in ways that change wildly from hour to hour, it is easy to believe why the Navajo regarded these unusual natural areas to have spiritual significance.