White Pocket Arizona has been an area that in the last 6 years I have become absolutely obsessed with. I’ve kept coming back here every year since my first visit in 2016, and most recently staying for days on end. I love any landscape that takes you to a different place, a place that doesn’t feel like earth while you’re there. White Pocket is a remote single square mile of eroded sandstone accessed by long stretches of deep, soft sand in the middle of the desert, in the middle of absolutely nothing. Geologists don’t know what created this place; some geologist proclaim that this is a result of "soft sedimentation" in the Jurassic period, while some believe it was the result of a huge sand-slide mass triggered by an earthquake.
This fall of 2022, I headed out to the desert from the Pacific Northwest with Hollis and my Two dogs. After a few days on the road we arrived to my favorite road in the world, House Rock Road. This road is literally a portal to so many areas of other-worldly landscape- from the Wave to the longest slot canyon in the world- it’s a photographer’s and geology lovers paradise.
The road up to white Pocket isn’t for the faint of heart. Deep sand pockets that require a 4x4 with high clearance, and some desert navigating skills. A challenging yet rewarding drive results in an impressive, otherworldly desert expanse of extraordinary geology. We came out with a plan to stay a couple days, but ended up at White Pocket for 5 days as the weather wasn’t what I had hoped for. Catching the tail end of monsoon season, I had hoped for some storms that could bring killer clouds for sunset.
On the last day after getting nothing but clear skies and bright sun, a storm rolled in. At sunset, the skies were a dark vivid blue, and all of a sudden lit up like crazy, vibrant pinks, purples and oranges, and lasted for only a good 2 minutes- it was quick. This image was a short moment that I captured in the middle of this quick yet insanely stunning sunset- no blending or heavy editing techniques- this was truly the scene.
As the sound of thunder became closer and closer and the sky began to fade, I packed up my gear and hustled back out to our truck- the storm was getting intense and lightning was right over us. After witnessing one of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen, we drove out followed by the most captivating desert storm. Truly of of the best days I’ve had that I will never forget.
