The Power of Water

It’s just been since 1999 that the dramatic landscape of Black Canyon of the Gunnison has held national park status, but the Gunnison River’s carving of the canyon began millions of years ago. The Black Canyon, so named because the walls are often shrouded in shadows making them appear black, has some of the world’s oldest exposed rock — Precambrian or “basement” rock that is nearly 2 billion years old. Big enough to be overwhelming, still intimate enough to feel the pulse of time, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park exposes you to some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rock, and craggiest spires in North America. With two million years to work, the Gunnison River, along with the forces of weathering, has sculpted this vertical wilderness of rock, water, and sky.

This is another site where you have to see it to believe it. The steepness of the cliffs are very impressive. The colors and shapes of rockfaces will leave you in awe. 

I had a vision when I arrived at the park of the sunset picture I wanted. I hoped for the sunlight to light up the sky and the canyon. I wanted it to showcase the powerful Gunnison River running through the bottom of the steep canyon. The river that caused this great canyon should be a focus of the shot.  I was lucky and the light was great. I was able to capture the detail and steepness of the canyon walls, and the river running through it.

Location: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado