Nikon D810, 120mm, ISO 200, 1/2 sec, F/13

Granted, not a very exciting image. What the image does show is the sunset crowd at Mather Point (there are many more outside the frame). You can always count on sunrises and sunsets at iconic locations within the national park system to be crowded, as shown above and in this image taken at Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park.

Instead of fighting for tripod space amongst that mass of humanity (and at Cadillac Mountain), I walked around the corner and found a point of land to call my own. If you have the time, arrive well before sunset, or the day before you plan to photograph a sunrise, and scout a location that will be far from the crowd. Don’t forget to bring a flashlight.

By the way, if you ever need a person to standout in an image, have them wear something red. Click on the image to enlarge it and notice the person in a blue jacket with a red shirt. They really stand out from the crowd.

Mather Point: 36.059405° -112.110962°