Sunlight on Berry Butte, rising from the hazy blue ridges of the Grand Canyon at Grandview Point.

An Island of Light

Grandview Point, Grand Canyon, AZ

I was scouting a sunset composition at Grandview Point when streaks of light began falling across Berry Butte, while the ridges behind it dissolved into haze. The depth was already there - I just had to isolate it. I reached for 64mm to compress the layers and let the lit rock separate from the cool, hazy background. Sometimes the canyon hands you the shot; you just have to recognize it and frame it.

Nikon Z 7_2 · NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S · 64mm · f/11 · 1/400 · ISO 100

May 27, 2026

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More from Grandview Point, Grand Canyon, AZ

A wide golden-hour view of the Grand Canyon from Grandview Point, the low sun glowing through haze above a dead tree.

More from Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon seen from Pima Point, a shaft of sunlight on red buttes above the distant Colorado River.The Grand Canyon at blue hour from Mojave Point, last light on the red buttes fading into cool twilight.A lone juniper at the rim of the Grand Canyon at sunrise, first light striking the cliffs at Moran Point.Layered ridgelines of the Grand Canyon fading into morning haze, with O'Neill Butte seen from Hopi Point at sunrise.Warm morning light on a canyon wall seen from Coconino Overlook on the North Kaibab Trail