Behind the Lens: Zion National Park

As +Peyton Hale and I rolled into Zion NP after a 10 hour drive from Dever, Colorado (my home), we had little time to set up and search for a spot. Shooting the Watchman over the Virgin River at sunset is like like shooting the Taj Mahal when you go to India. You know that it has been done before…but you still have to do it.

Later tonight +Scott Jarvie & +Jim Davis join the party, followed by +Casey McCallister tomorrow morning. Needless to say it should be an entertaining week of shooting to say the least.

Zion National Park, Watchman Sunset, Utah — The Watchman at Sunset

About the Author

Colby Brown

Colby Brown is a photographer, photo educator and author that specializes in landscape, travel and wildlife photography. His photographic portfolio spans the four corners of the globe and all 7 continents. He has worked as a photo instructor for National Geographic and founded The Giving Lens, an organization that blends photo education with support for various non-governmental organizations (NGO) and causes around the world, such as child education, clean drinking water projects, and women’s rights.

Additional Articles Worth Checking out...

Dell XPS 13 Plus – The Best Ultra Portable Laptop Currently Out?

Gear Review: Sony 200-600 f/5.6-6.3 G Telephoto Lens

Gear Review for new Sony 20mm f1.8 G lens

Gear Review: The New Sony 20mm f/1.8 G Lens

Sony RX0 II Review

Upcoming Photo Workshop Adventures...

Wildlife Photography Workshop in Brazil Jaguars of the Pantanal

July 31st – Aug. 7th, 2025

The Pantanal region of Brazil is known as the land of the Jaguar. Nowhere else on Earth is there a higher concentration of these elusive big cats than this remote region of Southern Brazil, close to the Southern Amazon Basin. In addition to Jaguars, you will see Caimen, Capybara and a wide assortment of birds.

Aurora Over Skogafoss in South Iceland from Colby Brown's Iceland Winter Photo Workshop

Iceland Winter Photo Workshop – Ice Caves & Auroras

March 4th – 11th, 2024

Winter in Iceland is one of those unique experiences that everyone should have at least once in their life. With this workshop, we will focus our time on the South of Iceland, focusing our time on Ice Caves, Northern Lights, and glaciers, but we will also photograph a number of waterfalls such as Gullfoss, Bruarfoss, Seljalandsfoss, Skogarfoss and more.

A cheetah image captured in the wild in Namibia by Colby Brown during a Photography Workshop

Namibia Photography Workshop

October 12th – 24th, 2022

Namibia is home to some of the most incredible desert landscapes and wildlife on the planet. From the great sand dunes of Sossusvlei to the remote Himba tribes of Northern Namibia to the amazing mixture of wildlife found in the country, Namibia is a photographers paradise. Here you will find large populations of cheetahs, lions, rhino, elephants, buffalo and much more!

Uganda Photo Safari – A Trip of a Lifetime

July 27th – August 3rd, 2024

Uganda is one of the most unique wildlife destinations on the planet. Here you can find the endangered Silverback Gorilla along with amazing troops of Chimpanzees and the world-famous tree-climbing lions, which are found in a single area of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Join us on an adventure of a lifetime that offers some of the most intimate and incredible wildlife experiences on the planet.