MYSTIC CANYON 1/1 Original Film Photograph from The Looking Glass Series

THE STORY

After carefully loading a roll of black and white film into my trusty Mamiya C330, I embarked on my photographic adventure in the heart of the Grand Canyon, just as the sun began its slow descent towards the horizon. The temperature soared to well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit during that scorching afternoon, but as luck would have it, clouds started to gather overhead.

As the afternoon wore on, the weather took a fascinating turn. The approaching rain mixed with the setting sun, casting an enchanting interplay of light and shadow over the vast canyon landscape. The layers of rock that stretched out toward the distant horizon gained an otherworldly depth, with dramatic rays of light streaking across them.

Perched on the canyon's edge, facing due west, I exercised immense patience, waiting for that precise moment when nature would unveil its masterpiece. The drama unfolding before me was a symphony of rain and sunlight, and I wanted to capture every note with precision. I carefully composed each shot, taking only 6 photographs that evening. Each frame was a meticulous study of the unique lighting, the rugged terrain, and the mesmerizing interplay between the rain and setting sun.

Through the ground glass viewfinder of my Mamiya C330, the scene appeared nothing short of awe-inspiring. I was so meticulous with my focusing that I would often recheck the viewfinder multiple times to ensure absolute perfection, determined not to miss a single detail. The results of my dedication and patience were self-evident – a collection of images that encapsulated the breathtaking beauty of the Grand Canyon under these extraordinary and challenging weather conditions.

As I worked, raindrops fell upon me, but I hardly noticed, so engrossed was I in the magic unfolding before my lens. To the east, over my right shoulder, a double rainbow arched across the sky, an astonishing sight that I hurried to capture before returning to my position on the western rim. There, I witnessed a sunset like no other – a breathtaking symphony of colors and shadows that painted the canyon in hues I had never seen before.

This remarkable and ever-changing weather played an instrumental role in shaping the uniqueness of each and every image I captured that day. Each frame was an original, frozen in time on film, a testament to the power of nature's artistry and my unwavering patience and dedication. These images are not just photographs; they are visual stories, each one a testament to the ephemeral beauty of the Grand Canyon.

- Jason Poturica