Sometimes the second time is better. I shot this composition right at sunset on my first visit thinking the late-day light would produce a wonderfully glowing composition. Unfortunately, the shadows were deep and dark, and the texture of the "skirt" was lost in murky darkness. Looking at those first slides I realized this image needed to be photographed mid-afternoon instead. When the sun was not so low, all the color and texture of the rock would come through.

I hadn't planned for the clouds though. They started rolling through as the time to take the picture rolled around. The sun would dodge in and out, lighting the butte for brief moments. Every time there was a break, I would take a few frames—vertical; horizontal; under-, normal, and overexposed. I liked what I saw in my viewfinder and wanted to make sure I got it on film.