White Pocket has it all- dark skies, amazing geology, seclusion, and often dramatic conditions for sunsets, sunrises, and stars. A somewhat rugged place that takes 4x4 to get to, it rewards those who take the pilgrimage.
The unique faulting of plates here has uplifted at an angle, displaying a series of ancient low tidal flats and changing saltwater swampy environments during chaotic volcanic periods of the earth hundreds of millions of years ago. As the layers at this fault line are uplifted, the bentonite layers oxidize and make a beautiful rainbow displaying millions of years of geology.
Navigating The Wave at night, Arizona.
The Milky Way rising over the otherworldly twisted sandstone formations at White Pocket, Arizona.
Twilight and Andromeda at White Pocket, Arizona.
Pleiades, california nebula, and airglow over the Toadstools.
The Galactic core burning through the night over the “Second” Wave, Arizona.
Overlooking The Wave and the Milky Way.
Maybe a sleeping dragon?
The Winter night skies at White Pocket.
Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness is one of the best places in the Southwest for landscape astrophotography!
Water pools up at White Pocket during monsoon season. There is very little water in the area, but tanks, protruding rock formations, often capture precious water for animals and cattle. They also make for interesting foreground compositions to work with!
the Chamber of Stars.
A seldom visited spot, especially at night, The Tepee rocks around the less famous South Coyote Buttes are one helluva constellation prize if you don’t win the famous “Wave” permits at North Coyote Buttes. This is a creative blend of sunrise, meteor shower, and Milky Way shot all taken on location during an overnight back country stay. Cowboy camping in this area is epic, just bring tons of water!
Air glow and the Milky Way over the “Brain Rock” of White Pocket, Utah.
Twilight. Do you see the skull?
