This morning I arrived at Point Imperial on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon more than an hour and a half before sunrise. My plan was to photograph the rising moon in the early dawn light. It was the last day before new moon.

It was a beautiful morning with not a cloud in the sky. Smoke from the nearby wild fires added a little atmosphere. The moon shots didn't work out as planned but the haze in the sky made for an image with a great deal of drama and depth. I photographed basically this same scene from early dawn to first light, varying the composition a little and playing with the placement of Mount Hayden, the peak that others have called it a castle or a temple.

There were some very moody and exciting images before the sun rose and I'm still excited about them. But this image is so joyful that I had to choose it for the September Print of the Month.

The composition uses the rule of thirds for the placement of Mount Hayden. But the line of ridges receding into the haze not only provide a sense of depth but also the suggestion of a strong diagonal line that extends back from the peak. I'm very pleased with how everything fits together to give a sense of quite harmony.

The post processing was relatively straightforward. I balanced the color to emphasize the golden glow which helps create the mood if the image. A few local adjustments were applied to emphasize Mount Hayden and make it the focal point of the image while toning down the ridges in the background.

A person is awfully fortunate to be out experiencing our beautiful Mother Earth this way. It gives meaning to the Navajo refrain, "Walk in beauty."