As usual I found myself running around crazily with my camera gear to capture the optimal light that fades so quickly.  In the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands, I was trying to capture the spirit of the park.  As I hiked over a hill, I kicked into high gear when I saw the break in the clouds just below where the sun was.  I ran to the edge of the cliff then climbed down one hundred feet to a sandstone ledge.  I set up my tripod low to the ground and laid down so I could see through my camera’s viewfinder.  There was no time to do any test exposures, so I just took the shot as soon as the brilliant light made its way through the break in the clouds and irradiated the sides of the canyon walls with an intense blaze.  Seconds later I tried to take another shot, but the light had already begun to diminish.  For me this shot certainly embodies the heart of Canyonlands.  This landscape carved by water and the other forces of nature is in a state of rapid change on the geologic timeline.  There is no doubt that it will never be the same.  I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to capture this moment – a true timeless wonder.