America Utah Badlands Spire 0982

     In this region of Utah that's brimming with unique landscapes, this rock formation is easily one of the most impressive. It's hidden between towering cliffs in the middle of nowhere in the Utah badlands.  In isolation from the cliffs it juts up out of the ground dramatically and its shape points dramatically skyward. I refer to the formation here by the geological term of “spire” but common local lore has nicknamed it “Long Dong Silver”. A little weird but to each their own I guess.

     As it rains very infrequently, photographing the scene can be a challenge as clouds are rare. I wanted to shoot the scene during the sunset hour when I could include the two rock formations with light on the side facing me rather than backlite during sunrise. I am facing generally south. Before my arrival, I watched the forecast looking for a weather front that would herald clouds. The forecast proved true and I was fortunate enough to be graced with an epic sunset that day.