Art In Nature

Balanced Rock in Arches National Park and its supporting cast looks much different in silhouette after a beautiful sunset. Some of the most colorful and outstanding photographs are available after the sun goes down or just before it rises.

Balanced Rock in Arches National Park in Utah is a very popular destination attracting more than 800,000 visitors each year. There used to be a much smaller version of this sandstone formation with the informal name "chip off the old block" that stood just a few feet away west of Balanced Rock. It fell during the winter of 1975/1976. So, even though these marvelous and picturesque jewels seem to be unchanged to human perception for hundreds of years, they do eventually collapse. That will surely be the fate of Balanced Rock someday, perhaps even in our lifetime.

In summer it is difficult to make a good image of Balanced Rock without people in it. In winter, however, the contrast between red rock and snow renders it even more striking, which makes for an outstanding image, worthy of publication or as a fine art print. Just behind Balanced Rock is Turret Arch and the Windows section of Arches, framed by the beautiful snow-capped LaSal Mountains.