What if the moment you’ve waited for your entire life is also the one you’re most afraid of missing?
I stood at the Fiery Furnace Trailhead in Arches National Park, gazing at the turbulent sky. My heart pounded as the storm clouds gathered, their dark edges swirling like a tempest in my soul. This was it. This was the shot I had traveled hundreds of miles for—a chance to capture the beauty of nature’s fury and grace in one frame. But the pressure was immense. What if I failed?
The delicate wind that was a welcome cooling breeze in the hot summer sun suddenly began to bellow through the rocks reminding me of natures strength. Every muscle in my body was tense, bracing against the wind and dust as the rain began to fall. The ever-present fear of missing the moment weighing heavily on my mind, making made each second feel like an eternity as I raced to adjust my camera settings.
Thunder rumbled in the distance, echoing off the red rocks that surrounded me. The smell of rain mixed with the earthy scent of the desert—a paradox of dryness and wetness, like two worlds colliding. I could taste the electricity in the air, a metallic tang that heightened my senses, reminding me that I had to act quickly.
I glanced at the horizon. The light was perfect, the storm clouds dramatic, but it wouldn’t last. The rainbow that had briefly appeared over the red rocks could vanish in a heartbeat. I adjusted the settings once more, nerves rattling me as the rain began to fall harder. Could I do this? Could I capture something that would make this journey worthwhile?
The internal struggle was real. Doubt whispered that I wasn’t good enough, that the conditions were too rough, that the shot would be lost before I ever pressed the shutter. But something deeper—faith, perhaps—pushed me to press on.
And then, with one final adjustment, I took the shot. Time seemed to freeze as I held my breath, waiting to see if everything had aligned. When I finally looked at the image, the tears welled up. There it was: the rainbow arching across the stormy sky, framed by the rugged red rocks, a moment of peace amidst chaos. I had captured it. The journey, the fear, the doubt—it had all been worth it.
