4 Jan
2012

Posted in: Inspiration, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
By George Stocking    2 Comments

The Most Incredible Day OF Shooting Ever..

Following up my last post in which I celebrated the good times, I would like to relate my finest personal shooting experience. It was in the sandstone and brainrock of N Arizona. That is what I still call - The Most Incredible Day of Shooting Ever, or as I will refer to it in the future - TMIDOSE . We started shooting around 1:00 PM, and didn’t stop until the rainbows faded at sunset. In the final accounting there were at least 8 images that I felt were significant, with some of the best being taken in the MOD (middle of the day). The Evil Eye is obviously one of those.

The Evil Eye took about three and a half years to make. It started the first time I saw the swirl. I have no doubt that every photographer thats had the pleasure of seeing it has felt the same way. The scene was ultra-fabulous; I just didn’t know what to do with it. Every time I would return to this location, sooner or later I’d go out and stare at the swirl, my head processing the possibilities – time of year; what would it look like with the sun further north or south.  Or maybe it might be atmospherics. What if I had a monsoon storm, with a black sky, hmm..  How about a Bald Eagle landing in the middle of the swirl clutching the tattered remnants of a Revolutionary War Era American flag in its talons with lightning crashing all around it. (Thats my motto; if you’re gonna dream; dream big.)

For more than 3 years I pondered the possibilities. Then one fine afternoon I was struggling up the near vertical slope below the swirl with my very good friend, Steven Noyes. The sun had been playing hide and seek, and we had just spent an amazing hour shooting in the adjacent brainrock. Steve was enamored with the wonderful detail on the opposing rock face, so we stopped. Truth be told, this was pre-knee replacement, and I was in a good deal of pain. I stopped and was reaching into my bag for more ibuprofen, when I happened to look up.

Canon 1DS MII, 17-35 Tamron @ 20 mm, !/30 second @ f 13

My heart nearly leapt from my chest when I saw the cloud just beginning to emerge from behind the cliff face, mimicking the cliff and leading into the swirl. Three plus years of waiting, and I couldn’t have asked for better. There were still some issues. I had full sunlight on the swirl, and as I struggled with my oh-so-wonderful Gitzo tripod leg locks, I realized I needed a cloud to shade the foreground (the swirl) for it all to come together compositionally. A quick glance at the sun told me to HURRY.

As you can see, it happened like Mother Nature was reading my mind. I cursed at my tripod just enough to get 2 frames before the sun returned to my foreground and the cloud moved through the frame to the right. And yes, I think I like this better than that thing with the eagle landing. I mean, what are the chances that a bald eagle will find the remains of a Revolutionary War flag anyway?

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About George Stocking  (17 Posts)

George Stocking is a professional freelance photographer, residing in Phoenix, AZ. He works regularly as a contract photographer for Arizona Highways, and his work often graces the pages of Arizona Highways Magazine, Calendars and Books. In addition to capturing the natural beauty of the Arizona Landscape, George also photographs the western United States and Canada. His work has appeared in numerous national publications, such as: Backpacker, Outdoor Photographer, USGA Golf Journal, Country Magazine, Audubon Calendars, Adventure West, America West Airlines Magazine, Portal Publications (posters), Impact, Towery Publications (books) and Smith Southwestern. Other publications include: Oregon Outside, Arizona Foothills, Arizona Adventure, and Plateau Magazine