Arizona Sunset Fired By The Eruption Of Mount St. Helens

On May 18, 1980 when Mount St. Helens in the State of Washington erupted some say it was the most disastrous volcanic eruption in the recorded history of the United States. It also created some of the most beautiful sunsets. I took this photograph in Arizona, far away from Mount St. Helens, where even there the skies were made fiery by volcanic gas, aerosol droplets, and ash injected into the stratosphere. I was sitting wordlessly in the desert when this sunset took over the sky. I reject the very unwelcome and dangerous person who deceived and drugged me to be with me at that moment. I claim that evening when the sky was overtaken by the volcano as mine and mine alone. That sky was awesome.

Caption: Arizona Sunset Fired By The Eruption Of Mount St. Helens

(true color) by Annmarie Throckmorton 1980