Midnight Sunset

Midnight Sunset” was captured in Talkeetna, Alaska, from a room overlooking the vast expanse of Denali National Park. After disembarking from an Alaskan cruise, I settled into a lodge with enormous bay windows framing the distant silhouette of Mount McKinley (Denali), the tallest peak in North America. Knowing how unpredictable Alaskan skies can be, I set an alarm for midnight in hopes of seeing the northern lights or maybe a late-night meteor shower.
What I witnessed instead was far more extraordinary.
Just before midnight, the sky suddenly ignited with color. From behind Denali’s jagged profile, the sun sent out perfect beams of gold, orange, and crimson—lighting the entire horizon in a display that felt almost unreal. The rays flared upward like the iconic pattern of the Arizona state flag, a connection I didn’t appreciate until reviewing the image later.
What made the moment even more remarkable was Denali itself. The mountain is famously shy, often veiled in clouds for days at a time. Seeing it this clearly, at this hour, with the sky erupting in such vibrant color, was a rare and unexpected gift.
This photograph predates the Arizona Photo Store entirely, yet it has since become a cornerstone of my identity as an artist—serving as the backdrop for my branding, business cards, and logo. “Midnight Sunset” captures a once-in-a-lifetime moment that continues to define the spirit of my work.

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