Golden hour gets all the glory in desert photography, but blue hour is often where the real magic happens. In fact, I shot many of my favorite images in the hour before or after sunset, when the world is still and the sandstone appears to glow from within. While golden hour paints the landscape in rich, warm light, it can also create harsh shadows inside deep canyons. On the other hand, during blue hour the shadows are soft and full of detail, allowing you to easily record the entire dynamic range of a scene in a single exposure.

Next time you’re exploring the desert around Moab, plan for an additional half hour before sunrise and after sunset. Bring your tripod, though. Blue hour exposures are commonly several seconds, and you’ll need your camera stabilized on a tripod to ensure tack sharp images.

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