Elaterite Butte

This shot was taken during a recent six-day backpacking trip in the Maze District of Canyonlands National Park. It was a fantastic trip . . . we saw only two other backpackers during our time there, and we were able to explore some rather remote areas since we (unlike most who visit the Maze) were not traveling by vehicle and thus relegated to established campsites.

The trip was really more about the hiking experience than photography, but I did come away with a few shots that I'll be sharing over coming weeks. This shot depicts Elaterite Butte, a prominent landmark, as the sun rises behind me over the Maze. I'd scouted this location the evening before and marked various waypoints with my GPS so that I could find it the following morning before dawn. To be honest, I was looking for something a bit different in terms of composition, but I was relatively tired from hiking and didn't have the energy to keep looking for the "perfect" spot. This worked well enough I suppose (unless you all tell me otherwise) and the effect of the light of the rising sun on the face of Elaterite Butte is exactly what I'd hoped for.

All comments and critiques are greatly appreciated.

Canon 5DII, 24-105L at 92mm, f/11, 1/5 second (ISO 100), no filters.