Midnight Sunset

“Midnight Sunset” was taken in Talkeetna, Alaska, from a lodge overlooking Denali. After getting off a cruise, I had a room with large windows facing the mountain. Knowing how unpredictable Alaska can be, I set an alarm for midnight, hoping to catch something—maybe the northern lights, maybe nothing at all. What showed up instead was this. Just before midnight, the sky began to light up behind Denali. It wasn’t subtle. Strong beams of gold, orange, and red pushed up from behind the ridgeline and filled the horizon. At the time, I was focused on getting the shot. It wasn’t until later that I noticed how the light spread out, almost like the rays of the Arizona state flag. That connection didn’t hit me until I reviewed the image afterward. What makes it even more rare is Denali itself. Most of the time, it’s hidden behind clouds. Seeing it this clearly, at that hour, with the sky doing what it was doing, doesn’t happen often. This image was taken before Arizona Photo Store even existed, but it ended up becoming a big part of it. It’s been used in my branding, business cards, and logo, and it helped shape the direction of everything that followed.