We all know that the setting sunlight directly on the arch looks awesome but stick around after the sun has gone down to capture that beautiful ‘salmon’ coloured light that you only seem to get in Utah. I’m not saying you shouldn’t get the cliche shot of the arch as it frames the La Sal mountain range in the distance, by all means go for it, but you’ve come a long way so why not experiment with some lesser known angles, play with the light you get on the day and aim for something a little different.
Use a wide angle lens to capture the arch and the surround area for a big field of view.
Hike over to the valley at the bottom of the bowl and get some new angles from the East facing side.Straddle the domes to the left of the arch and shoot towards the bowl and crowd of arch worshipers.Climb down the cliff directly under the arch (at your peril) to shoot the arch from the opposite side.Get down into the basin and shoot up to the arch.This would give them the classic postcard shot you’ve seen ‘ad nauseam’ but you want to be more original right? The first thing I noticed when I arrived at Delicate Arch was that 95% of the people there were all camped out at the opposite side of the basin to the arch. Walk around and look for a composition that isn’t obvious. If you plan for this you’ll find it easier to deal with when waiting for your shot. I was there in early May and the crowd wasn’t as large as you’ll see in the summer but still it’s a waiting game while you patiently wait for families to have their picture taken under the arch itself. I’ll tell you right now to expect a crowd. There’s so much to see you won’t know where to start. When you get near the plateau where Delicate Arch sits be sure to look around the area for some stunning scenery. There’ll usually be plenty of other people ascending and descending so it’s unlikely you’ll get lost. The trail is sand and rock terrain and pretty easy to follow. Delicate Arch is at an altitude of 4,800′ so if you’re used to sea level like myself you may feel the altitude takes some getting used to. The hike from the car park is mostly uphill and takes just under an hour if you are reasonably fit. The staff on the gate are friendly and the visitor centre is top notch. The entry fee is a mere $10 per vehicle, per week. It’s well sign posted so if you miss it your driving too fast. Leave Moab on Main St North which becomes the 191 North and after you’ve passed the turn for Castle Valley take the next right just a few miles up the road for Arches. The car park for Delicate Arch is about a 30 minute drive from Moab, 20 minutes of that is inside Arches National Park. Here are my Delicate Arch photo tips to ensure you get great results on your visit to this landscape photography icon. I’d almost decided to pass on Delicate Arch because I struggle with crowds and thought I’d try and photograph some of the less famous areas of Arches National Park. Delicate Arch is one of the most iconic natural sandstone arches in Utah and although it’s been photographed a million times it’s totally worth the drive and the 50 minute hike out to the plateau.
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