On July 24, 2021, after an exhausting 10 hour drive from Rio Rico, Arizona to the Grand Canyon, I waited patiently for approaching storms to push towards the canyon from the east. After scouting several different viewpoints, we decided to set up near the Desert View watchtower located on the far eastern end of the Grand Canyon-South Rim. As sunset approached, we witnessed an extremely rare occurrence of a large dust storm, also known as a haboob, approaching the watchtower. This special sand was being lifted from the nearby Painted Desert and then lofted into the Grand Canyon like water spilling over a table. Visitors were treated to an amazing sight of the canyon filling with hues of orange, brown and red as the dust storm flew over the cliff. Within less than five minutes everyone was blown back by winds in excess of 50 miles per hour and visitors were left to scramble back to their vehicles.
I trained my special Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 lens right at the cliff as it happened.