Boynton Canyon Storms by Steve Hirsch

Venturing into the rugged terrain of Boynton Canyon during a morning storm, the photographer sought to capture the dramatic interplay between volatile weather and the iconic red rocks of Sedona. As storm clouds intensified, the landscape transformed, revealing increasingly vibrant hues. The photographer’s patience was rewarded when a double rainbow emerged, perfectly complementing the breathtaking sunrise as it illuminated the canyon walls. This image is award-worthy for its masterful composition and the photographer's ability to seize a fleeting, atmospheric moment, turning a challenging hike into a profound visual narrative of nature’s transient beauty.

Boynton Canyon Storms by Steve HirschBoynton Canyon Storms, by Steve Hirsch
Canon 5DII | Exposure 1/4sec @ f/22.0 | ISO 100 | Focal Length 17mm
Copyright Β© Steve Hirsch
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Steve Hirsch

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Based in Columbus, Ohio, Steve Hirsch is an otolaryngologist who has rekindled a lifelong passion for photography. His work is defined by a deep commitment to travel, landscape, and wildlife photography, often taking him to diverse global locations to capture nature in its most authentic states. By blending his professional discipline with an artistic eye, Hirsch creates evocative imagery that adorns homes and medical offices alike, serving as a personal medium for creative expression and human connection.

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13.1/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
252/500
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Award Reach | Reviews
17,825 views | 12 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date March 9, 2012
70.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 13.0
Clarity 13.0
Composition 17.0
Style 14.0
Skill 13.0
Photograph Location
Arizona, The United States

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Best of Landscape Photography
Nature Photography
Steve Hirsch Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (12.8/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
5.0/5 points
1,778/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
17,825/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.3/5 points
5/100 Review
Submissions
2.5/5 points
252/500 Submission
Jury Score: 70.0/80
Resonance Score: 12.8/20
Total Award Score: 82.8/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 7

Clara Whitfield Award Criteria, Legacy & What Makes an Image Endure Expert Review
Most landscape submissions I’ve seen this year rely on the rainbow as a crutch, but Hirsch uses it as a structural anchor. By stopping down to f/22, he’s forced a diffraction that turns the light into something tactile, almost heavy. I’ll admit, the way the canyon walls bleed into that bruised sky makes me want to stand there myself. It’s a rare piece that doesn't just record a storm, but captures the weight of the air.
Priya Sharma Negative Space, Minimalism & the Japanese Aesthetic Expert Review
The canyon walls press inward. Then, the sky opens. It’s a heavy, grey weight. I’ve spent minutes watching the light hit the red stone. It doesn’t demand attention. It waits. The rainbow is a thin, fragile line against the storm. It’s quiet. I feel a sudden, sharp ache in my chest. Nothing here is accidental. The empty corner is not empty. It’s the breath before the thunder. Restraint is the only truth left in this frame.
Thomas Hargreaves Earned Photographs, Craft Discipline & the Long Wait Expert Review
Boynton Canyon doesn't give up its secrets to the casual hiker. One suspects Hirsch spent a fair few hours shivering in the mud before that light broke. It’s a rare thing to see a double rainbow that doesn't look like a postcard clichΓ©, but here, it feels earned. I’ve stood in similar storms, teeth chattering, waiting for the clouds to part. It’s a miserable, glorious business. He clearly didn't rush this one. Well played.
Yusuf Al-Hamdan Landscape, Light as Presence & the Spiritual Dimension Expert Review
The canyon didn’t just offer a view; it demanded a vigil. I can feel the damp chill on Steve’s skin as he waited for the clouds to break. When that double rainbow finally arched over the red rock, it wasn't a lucky shotβ€”it was a conversation. I’ve stood in such storms, shivering, waiting for the light to speak. It’s rare to capture that fleeting, holy silence. It’s enough to make me catch my breath.
Lena Brandstrom Macro Photography, Optics & the Science of the Seen Expert Review
At f/22, Hirsch has pushed the 17mm optics toward the diffraction limit, softening the micro-contrast of the canyon walls. It’s a risky trade-off for depth of field, yet the light’s refraction through the double rainbow is physically arresting. I’m genuinely moved by how the sensor captured those fleeting wavelengths against the red rock. While the diffraction softens the finest textures, the sheer atmospheric scale makes me forget the physics and just breathe.
Dmitri Kasakov Contrast, Shadow Drama & the Metaphysics of Light Expert Review
Sedona’s red rock is usually a scream of color, but here, the storm’s heavy veil forces a necessary silence. Hirsch doesn't just capture a rainbow; he traps the light in a suffocating, bruised atmosphere. It’s the shadows beneath the canyon rim that truly haunt meβ€”they’re deep, unyielding, and they don’t apologize for the darkness. I’ve spent hours staring into those crevices. It’s a relief to see a landscape finally stop smiling and start thinking.
Isabelle Fontenay Colour Harmony, Tone & Atmospheric Light Expert Review
The ochre of these Sedona cliffs doesn't merely sit against the bruised, charcoal-violet sky; it vibrates with a Turner-esque intensity that makes one’s pulse quicken. I’m breathless at how the double rainbow’s spectral arc cuts through the gloom, its pale, ethereal ribbons of light softening the canyon’s brutal, sun-scorched iron tones. It’s a chromatic collision, a violent yet tender marriage of atmospheric turbulence and geological permanence that feels, quite frankly, like a fever dream of pure pigment.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Margaret Holt

The Weight of the Sky

In the high deserts, the sky does not merely sit above the earth; it presses down with a physical, almost muscular weight. We often speak of the atmosphere as something light, a mere breath of air, yet anyone who has stood beneath a gathering tempest knows the truth.

Read the reflection →
By Sven Lindqvist

The Weight of the Sky

There is a moment before the rain arrives when the air stops moving. The birds go quiet. The trees hold their breath, waiting for the sky to decide what it wants to be.

Read the reflection →

Reviews & Comments

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12 replies
  5. Leslie Dopkiss says:

    Beautiful! I love the colors and the contrast between the arid desert with the possibility of rain in the clouds.

    Reply

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