Flashback Friday

Fire Wave Sunset vs the Supermodels

Back in September of 2012, Judy and I were on our way back to the Fire Wave in Valley of Fire State Park, a breathtaking destination tucked away in the vibrant Nevada desert. At the time, there wasn’t even a marked trail to this geological gem—just a faint, unmarked path that only a handful of adventurers seemed to know about. That sense of solitude was one of the things I loved most about it; you could almost always count on having the spot entirely to yourself at that time.

As we made our way across the desert landscape, the evening sky began its slow transformation. Hints of deep amber, fiery red, and dusky purple were already spreading across the horizon, promising a sunset that could easily etch itself into memory. I was eager to capture it with my camera, but about halfway back along the trail, something unexpected stopped us in our tracks—a professional supermodel photo shoot. It was surreal to stumble upon this glamorous scene amidst such rugged wilderness. Reflectors and the stunning models posing in the middle of the desert seemed so out of place and yet somehow magical.

I didn’t stop to watch the models. Judy, curious to watch for a moment, stayed back and called out to me, “Aren’t you going to check this out?" I glanced at the vibrant colors blooming in the sky, a fleeting masterpiece of nature that no model photo shoot could ever replicate. After a moment’s hesitation, I smiled back at her, shook my head, and said, “Nope, I’ve got a sunset shot to catch.” With that, I ran ahead to the Fire Wave. Judy captured some pictures of the photo shoot and caught up with me a bit later. The sunset that evening turned out to be every bit as spectacular as I’d hoped, painting the undulating sandstone in hues that seemed to glow from within. And as I clicked the shutter, I knew I’d made the right choice.