Mesa Arch, in Canyonlands National Park, it easily the most visited sunrise location there. People hear that you need to be there before sunrise, for that first picture, and we always find 15-20 folks at that time (in the summer it would be over a hundred!). But the best pictures come about ten-minutes later, like this, after most folks have left. Nikon Z 8, Aperture Priority, Sunny white balance, ISO 125, 1/13 at f/16 in Matrix metering, -0.7 EV, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S lens at 14mm.

While it’s cold in November, that can be an advantage if you find leaves frozen in small pools of water. Nikon Z 8, Aperture Priority, Sunny white balance, ISO 400, 1/60 at f/14 in Matrix metering, -0.7 EV, Nikkor Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR lens at 165mm.

Green River Overlook is close to Mesa Arch, which makes it a natural spot to visit following sunrise. Nikon Z 8, Aperture Priority, Sunny white balance, ISO 160, 1/60 at f/9 in Matrix metering, -0.3 EV, Nikkor Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR lens at 28mm.

“The Windows” in Arches National Park includes both the North (this one) and the South Window, as well as Turret Arch. Great spots to visit late in the day. Nikon Z 8, Aperture Priority, Sunny white balance, ISO 320, 1/125 at f/8 in Matrix metering, 0.0 EV, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S lens at 14mm.

While the three arches get most of the attention, I remind my group that there are other photos to be found as well, like this. Nikon Z 8, Aperture Priority, Sunny white balance, ISO 200, 1/100 at f/9 inMatrix metering, -0.7 EV, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S lens at 15mm.

Closing out our first day is nearby Double Arch, where I used a pair of Lume Cubes on low power to light the arch. The moon, behind us to the right, provided natural illumination for the left wall. Nikon Z6 III, Manual exposure, Sunny white balance, ISO 1000, 15-seconds at f/4, Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens at 24mm.

I’ve photographed Dead Horse Point State Park at sunset, but prefer the early light after sunrise. That makes for a great start to the second day of the trip. Nikon Z 8, Aperture Priority, Sunny white balance, ISO 100, 1/40 at f/16 in Matrix metering, -1.0 EV, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S lens at 14mm.

Being mid-November means we also have a chance for fall color in the area, and take advantage of that when we find it. Nikon Z 8, Aperture Priority, white balance, ISO 160, 1/400 at f/11 in Matrix metering, -1.0 EV, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S lens at 16mm.

While this is definitely a landscape photography trip, We’re not going to ignore other possibilities. On the tiring hike up to Delicate Arch, any reason, like this Woodhouse’s scrub jay, is a good reason to take a break! Nikon Z 8, Aperture Priority, Sunny white balance, ISO 800, 1/160 at f/8 in Matrix metering, -0.7 EV, Nikkor Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR lens at 400mm.

A nice combination of light and shadow, and another break to catch my breath, near Delicate Arch. Nikon Z 8, Aperture Priority, Sunny white balance, ISO 160, 1/250 at f/8 in Matrix metering, -1.3 EV, Nikkor Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR lens at 140mm.

There’s usually nice light at sunset on Delicate Arch, which is why we make the climb to it. Adding a polarizing filter to the lens makes the photo even better. Nikon Z 8, Aperture Priority, Sunny white balance, ISO 200, 1/15 at f/11 in Matrix metering, -1.0 EV, Nikkor Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR lens at 62mm.

I include a night shoot every evening of this trip, and can even play the role of a model for the group! I’m holding up a Lume Cube in the North Window, and using the Intervalometer in my camera to shoot pictures while I do that. The moon is behind the arch, and lights up the fading contrails left by jets passing overhad. Nikon Z6 III, Manual exposure, Sunny white balance, ISO 2000, 2.5-seconds at f/2.8, Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens at 28mm.

I always take the group to Devil’s Garden later in the trip, after sunrise. It’s a nice opportunity to make some simpler photos, as opposed to the grand landscapes we’ve been shooting most of the time. Nikon Z 8, Aperture Priority, Sunny white balance, ISO 400, 1/640 at f/10 in Matrix metering, -0.7 EV, Nikkor Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR lens at 95mm.

Another photo from Devil’s Garden, switching to black-and-white once more to emphasize lines, shadow and light. Nikon Z 8, Aperture Priority, Sunny white balance, ISO 100, 1/320 at f/8 in Matrix metering, -0.7 EV, Nikkor Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR lens at 190mm.

Each year I look to add something new to the trip, which is why some of my clients attend a second time. Last year we discovered Cisco, a small ghost town about an hour north of Moab. Nikon Z 8, Aperture Priority, Sunny white balance, ISO 100, 1/60 at f/10 in Matrix metering, -1.0 EV, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S lens at 15mm.

Another scene from the ghost town. And another opportunity to take advantage of the simplicity of black-and-white. Nikon Z 8, Aperture Priority, Sunny white balance, ISO 160, 1/320 at f/9 in Matrix metering, -1.0 EV, Nikkor Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR lens at 28mm.

There’s even a tiny post office in Cisco, though I doubt it’s actually seen any mail in many years. Nikon Z 8, Aperture Priority, Sunny white balance, ISO 160, 1/1000 at f/9 in Matrix metering, -0.3 EV, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S lens at 16mm.

We came across Fisher Towers during last year’s trip, but didn’t have time to fully explore the area around it. That was rectified this year. Nikon Z 8, Aperture Priority, Sunny white balance, ISO 160, 1/60 at f/18 in Matrix metering, -1.0 EV, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S lens at 17mm.

And we stayed at Fisher Towers until after sunset, so we could do a night shoot there. I’m lighting this scene with two Lume Cubes (one behind the rock and one to the left), and adding some light from a powerful flashlight to the towers at rear right. Nikon Z6 III, Manual exposure, Sunny white balance, ISO 1000, 13-seconds at f/5, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S lens at 24mm.

For the final day we drove out to the Hanksville area, and started at Crack Canyon. It takes a high-clearance 4WD vehicle to get in, or a long walk (thanks for bringing your truck, Jim!). Nikon Z 8, Aperture Priority, Sunny white balance, ISO 200, 1/80 at f/14 in Matrix metering, -0.3 EV, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S lens at 15mm.

Crack Canyon offers yet another opportunity to make “different” pictures, as well as see more of the area outside Moab. Nikon Z 8, Aperture Priority, Sunny white balance, ISO 64, 1/80 at f/16 in Matrix metering, -1.3 EV, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S lens at 15mm.

I discovered Goblin Valley State Park on my second or third trip to Moab, and have been taking groups there ever since. It’s unusual rock formations make it clear how they came up with the name for the place, and where we spent the final afternoon. Nikon Z 8, Aperture Priority, Sunny white balance, ISO 100, 1/125 at f/14 in Matrix metering, -0.7 EV, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S lens at 17mm.

One of the things I love about Goblin Valley is that it’s in a constant state of erosion (like Badlands National Park), so you can walk almost anywhere and every year it’s a bit different. Nikon Z 8, Aperture Priority, Sunny white balance, ISO 100, 1/100 at f/10 in Matrix metering, -0.3 EV, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S lens at 14mm.

One of the challenges in taking groups to the same area year-after-year is finding new things to photograph. At Goblin Valley that meant doing a night shoot away from the goblines, at the Three Sisters, with the moon rising in the east. I’m lighting the rocks with one Lume Cube at far left, and two others about fifty yards to the right. Nikon Z6 III, Manual exposure, Sunny white balance, ISO 400, 5-seconds at f/4, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S lens at 18mm.