Double Arch, Arches National Park - a photo on Flickriver

Double Arch is a natural sandstone formation in one of the best (in my opinion) parks in all of America, Arches National Park. This particular set of arches were formed differently from most of the arches in the park. It is what is known as a pothole arch, formed by water erosion from above rather the standard erosion for arches, which is normally from the side. The larger opening has a span of 148 feet (45 m) and a height of 104 feet (32 m). These dimensions give the arch the tallest opening and second-longest span in the park. For scale, the lower right of this shot contains a group of people sitting in shadow.

The arches are open for exploration, but you have to be pretty nimble to get up to the top of the “window”. This open permission to climb can make photographers have to wait quite a while to get a clear shot like this one as the area can be crawling with tourists. Normally I avoid crowds by going very early for sunrise or late for sunset, but this tactic doesn’t work with Double Arch as it lies in shadow and mostly along an East-West axis, so the light for sunrise and sunset is not optimum to catch that natural amphitheater effect you see here.

Arches National Park contains the highest density of arches in the world, more than 2000 natural sandstone arches. It also features a variety of unique geological formations such as Balanced Rock, The Three Gossips and The Tower of Babel. It borders the Colorado River on the Colorado Plateau and is 4 miles north of Moab, Utah. It’s truly high desert, receiving an average of less than 10 inches (250 mm) of rain annually. In spite of it’s relatively remote location the park received more than 1.6 million visitors in 2018 and the lines to get in can be long…so get there early!

The shot: Admittedly I have glaring vertical polarization here from the CPL. At the time there was a lot of stray light flooding into my viewfinder and I didn't catch the mistake. A 90 degree turn of the filter could have fixed it. I have since started using a large oval eyecup to prevent light pollution into the viewfinder, and I highly recommend this useful addition to your camera.

*Press L or left click on the photo for best viewing.

Link to ~My best photos~

*** All my photos are © All Rights Reserved. ***

Taken in: United States / Utah / Castle Valley (show map)

Taken on: September 21, 2018

Tags:

National Park

Utah

arches

archway

double arch

elevation

American West

desert

rocks

stone

formation

erosion

shadow

sky

nature

natural amphitheater

rock

natural

light

bushes

red rocks

landscape

paysage

paisaje

paesaggio

Landschaft

America

USA

United States

North America

geology

Nikon

D7200

Nikkor

elitegalleryaoi

bestcapturesaoi

aoi

GSB « less

Sets appears in: • 500 to 799 Favorites • USA more » • Landscapes and Waterscapes « less

Groups appears in: • Christian Photographer Fellowship • The Best Captures AOI~AOI L2~ Admin Invite) (P1-Award & Fave3) more » • Daarklands - Moderated & Curated • ✢~ Legacy Gallery ~✢ Moderated & Curated • The Landscape Majesty of God • The Elite Gallery AOI~AOI L3~(Admin Invite) (NEW RULES) • Best Images Ever (ADMIN Approval Only | Award 2 or More) • ~ Shining Pieces Of The World! ~ Admin. Invite ~ OPEN • LA VIE EN ROSE ( Admin Invite Only ) • dreams I'll dream.. by invitation ~ P1/C3 • give us this day.. by admin invitation (P1 - A2) • *~ Rock .. Paper - No Scissors: Moderated & Curated • Phoenix Gold (P1 A3 Sweeper) • Colore mio mondo .. by invitation.. P1/C2 • ***THE BEST WATERSCAPES & LANDSCAPES!!!*** By Invitation Only • .*♪• La mia Sonata ~ by invitation ~ P1/A2 • LE JARDIN DES DELICES*** Admin Invite only P1/C2.NO PORTRAITS**N • B_N *** BEAUTIFUL NATURE *** (P1 / A4) - COMMENT 4 PHOTOS • Un-enhanced American West • Prestige Photography (Admin invited image only) • **Optical Excellence Level 1 ~ Admin Moderated • **The New Masterclass** Level 1 *Admin Invite Only* P1- A3 • Prestige Photography - Masterpieces • Prestige Photography - The very best • COLL. par Impatience_1 * CIEL * PAYSAGE * Adm. Inv. • Digital SLR Photography (P1 A3) • Prestige Photography - Hall of Fame • Nikon D7200 Official Group • Best Photo of the Day! - No AI Images • DSLR GRANDMASTER OF PHOTOGRAPHY • NATURE by NIKON - Post 1 / Award 5 • ~The Magic of Colours~ (*Invitation Room!*) • DSLR Autofocus Level 4 • Carolina's farm friends - P1/C3 • DSLR Autofocus Level 2 • DSLR Autofocus Level 3 • DSLR Autofocus Level 5 • DSLR Autofocus Level 6 • DSLR Autofocus Level 7 • DSLR Autofocus Hall of Fame • Views: 20,000 • DSLR Autofocus Level 1 • ***Landscape World (High Quality only!) - 1 picture a week*** • La quête du "GRAAL" (P1 A2) Sweeper • DSLR Autofocus MASTER OF PHOTOGRAPHY • Show your best on Flickr ♛ Best selection • Best Photo of the Week (Invitation Membership Only) • !* Nature's Great & Pure Highlights Level 1 ☘50+ faves P1/A3 • !* Nature's Great & Pure Highlights Level 2 ☘100+ faves P1/A3 • !* Nature's Great & Pure Highlights Level 3 ☘150+ faves P1/A3 • !* Nature's Great & Pure Highlights Level 4 ☘200+ faves P1/A3 • ** La Boite à photos / The photo Box ** (Invite) • !* Nature's Great & Pure Highlights Level 5 ☘300+ faves P1/A3 « less

Camera: Nikon D7200, f/22.0, 1/15 sec, 10mm (=15mm), ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D7200
Lens:	AF-S DX Nikkor 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED
Aperture:	f/22.0
Exposure Time:	0.067 sec (1/15)
Focal Length:	10mm (35mm equivalent: 15mm)
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	GIMP 2.10.10
Show full info

Stats: 25,336 views / 1,136 comments