Of course it rains in Southern California, and it rains in the upper slickrock of Zion National Park, although not terribly often. But recently, as I was passing on my way from Las Vegas to Bryce Canyon, a sudden storm deposited a substantial downpour over the redrock of Zion just ahead of my journey.

It was the largest deluge I’ve had the privilege to witness in this special part of our public lands system; and it turned one of my most appealing washes, usually dry save for an occasional waterpocket, into a roaring creek. Nothing would do but that I stop and capture the rare moment of a storm in my favorite desert.

A focal length of 38mm, just into the “normal” range beyond wide-angleland, gave me the angle-of-view I wanted, to include both Kayenta sandstone sides of the wash and all of their strata, as well as the small Navajo sandstone butte in the background. An aperture of f/20 provided depth-of-field; and a shutter speed of 0.8 of a second at ISO 200 gave me an oveall slightly lighter-than-medium exposure.

It is a thrill to see a place with which I am fairly familiar in very unfamiliar circumstances.  The beauty of our public lands is always changing, even as it is remaining always the same.