Sunrise At Valley Of The Gods

FreeLance Perceptions
Fine Art Photography by Lance Forney

Sunrise At Valley of the Gods
Valley of The Gods, Utah

I had the opportunity to do several workshops in 1998, including two with notable photographer, Lou Deserio, Author of “A Last Look”. It was through these workshops that I met and came to study briefly with Cole Weston. It was also at these workshops that my work first was recognized and all involved encouraged me to convert to a large format camera. I was just beginning to develop confidence in my ability and the favorable critique I received caused me to move forward with work and to get more public exposure of the images collected to date. This is how the first leg of my 1998 tour began. September found me in the Carmel Highlands at Cole and Paulette Weston’s, working the beautiful shoreline of central California and studying the life and works of Edward, Cole, and Brett Weston.

Mid September I left Carmel and headed into Utah for the second leg of the tour, having high hopes of adding to my ongoing collection of the red rock canyons and national parks. Photographing at Arches in Moab, working well after dusk, I was exhausted when I turned south on Highway 191, heading for northern Arizona. I had plans on being deep within Monument Valley before sunrise the next morning, so when I realized the road was starting to weave I pulled off on a dirt road and went to sleep.

I woke at 4:30 to rain and lightning. I was preparing to leave, when I realized my keys were nowhere to be found. I was hurriedly searching the coach from bumper to bumper, all the while eyeing the sky which was beginning to glow fluorescent on the eastern horizon. The rain passed by and I grew fearful that I would miss the light over the monument and here I was in the middle of the desert miles from anything.

I don’t remember what I said, more than likely something not very polite, when suddenly, a large pink band of light exploded horizon to horizon in the western sky. Adrenaline released in my blood as the low cloud cover came alive with purple, taupe and brilliant pastel blends that defy a name. Lightening was popping to the north end, as a rainbow materialized within the rain showers passing over the mesas directly in front of me. The sun topped the horizon blessing me as the earth and everything on it was engulfed in the red light of the morning. I paused for a moment, spellbound, but realized I had to act fast before it passed. I focused myself setting equipment, reading light and fumbling with the film backs. I was so excited, my hands were shaking yet managed to set up without incident and began the exposures. First with the 4x5 field camera- two, four, six frames, followed by a roll of 35 mm. The light was changing rapidly, every thirty seconds I was exposing frames on the view camera.... eight, ten, twelve. Despite cool temperatures, I was sweating profusely, praying all the while to the photogods I had learned all my lessons right. I finished the first roll on the 35 mm and stood watching again as the last of the dramatic red light passed. I went to the film cooler to reload, gave it a jerk from under storage and as though it were planned, my keys slid off the cooler and practically dropped in my hand.

These images clearly were a gift. Driving toward the highway this little wooden sign became visible that said simply, “Valley of the Gods”. I smiled as I turned south thankful that I understood the name. I suspected the images I had just collected were very special, but it wasn’t until they were processed I knew for sure the camera had indeed captured raw beauty dancing in bands of light above the mesas of southern Utah that morning.