White Pocket, Arizona - A Landscape Photographer's Playground
Towering above the Arizona desert are the impressive white and red sandstone swirls of White Pocket in Vermillion Cliffs National Monument. Though it is a lesser known destination, White Pocket is all the more special given how remote and secluded it is. For me, this trek was worth it to experience the infitine photography opportunities of one of my favorite places on the planet.
A desert wonderland in Vermillion Cliffs
Part of why the martian sandstone formations of White Pocket are not as well-travelled as some other nearby attractions is how difficult they are to access. 4x4 is necessary to get to the area, as the trail to White Pocket includes almost an hour of driving through deep sand. Vermillion Cliffs National Monument is nestled in between Kanab, Utah and Page, Arizona. White Pocket itself is about 2 hours from either town.
A wealth of opportunities
The sandstone formations in White Pocket are similar to some other nearby landscape destinations in Vermillion Cliffs, such as The Wave or Coyote Buttes South. An advantage that White Pocket has over both of those locations is that it does not require a permit. Though I have been able to secure a permit for Coyote Buttes South, permits for The Wave are often a once in a lifetime opportunity that are difficult to acquire. White Pocket offers an alternative than many photographers, myself included, prefer over the other two Vermillion Cliffs destinations.
My photography experience at White pocket:
One of White Pocket's biggest strengths as a landscape photography destination is how varied and versatile it is. There are infinite composition opportunities between the diverse geology of the formations are and how large the area is. Windows between the rocks offer some great framing potential, lines and swirls in the sandstone create engaging leading lines throughout the rock, and the towering facades of multicolored rock can be captured from a multitude of perspectives.
If you ever get the chance to photograph White Pocket, I cannot recommend it enough. Though it is a difficult journey to reach it, the solitude and serenity of the area make it all worth it. Be sure to continue following Focus Range to see my other photography adventures, and check out some of my other blog posts below.
