Chasing Stormlight in Dinosaur Land

I absolutely love stormy weather in Canyon Country - the dramatic lighting, the deep rumble of thunder that I can feel in my chest and underfoot, the sharp, earthy scent of wet sandstone, the restless wind, the sudden drop in temperature - I love it all.

It’s undeniably the most dangerous time to be out exploring, but I can’t resist the pull. There’s something so raw, so soul-stirring about it, I feel compelled to witness it firsthand.

This landscape always humbles me with its vastness, but when a thunderstorm sweeps through, it becomes something even more powerful - elemental, almost otherworldly. In its presence, I feel small, insignificant even, yet profoundly alive. The storm doesn’t just transform the land - it magnifies it, intensifies it, until the experience becomes nearly too much to take in. And somehow, that’s exactly what makes it so exhilarating.

Yup, I’m a storm guy. 😀

These photos were taken in Dinosaur National Monument, near Vernal, Utah. I originally came to photograph the dinosaur fossils that define the park - but when an unexpected storm swept in, I couldn’t resist turning my lens to the sky.