Despite it being on the opposite side of the state, Rhonda and I have camped at Kodachrome Basin many times, and it remains one of those places we never seem to tire of. It’s usually far less visited than the nearby national parks, yet it offers spectacular high-elevation night skies that rival anything you’ll see at Bryce Canyon.
And then there’s the landscape. Kodachrome Basin is, quite literally, a photographer’s playground - which seems appropriate given its name. In 1948, photographers with a National Geographic Society expedition were struck by the intense colors and dramatic contrast of the landscape. They called it “Kodachrome Flat,” after Kodak’s famous Kodachrome color film. It’s hard to imagine a more perfect name.
Even with a name like that, Kodachrome Basin is still like just about every other beautiful place in Utah: it’s all about the light.
When the sun gets low, the landscape comes alive. Shadows deepen, colors warm, and those odd sandstone formations suddenly become something much more interesting. That’s when it’s time to chase the light - on foot, in a vehicle, or by whatever other means you have available.
For me, that means looking beyond the obvious views and concentrating on the forms, textures, patterns, and little details that catch my eye. Forget the tired Instagram viewpoints. Photograph whatever inspires you.
Those brief bursts of perfect natural light are worth all the effort it took to get there - the camping gear that had to be dragged out, the hundreds of miles of driving, the campsite to set up, and all the other little hassles that come with getting somewhere beautiful.
Then, for twenty minutes or so, the landscape puts on a show. And suddenly, it was all worth it.
Those moments are what keep me chasing the light - and why, despite all the work involved, I’m always ready to do it all over again.
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| I'd just as happily call it Tri-X Basin... 😉 |
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