In fall of 2000 I visited Bryce Canyon and Zion national parks.  It was a most successful trip; I returned with many beautiful images.  When I visited Zion the weather turned rainy.  I took this photo one afternoon when I was hiking up a creek bed and saw these rocks and leaves.  

I set up to take the picture and it started to rain.  I waited a while to see if it might let up but it did not.  The exposure time was thirty seconds or so, and when raindrops hit the leaves they would move, spoiling the picture.  

Finally I got an idea.  I had some large sheets of soft material used for padding my lenses and they stuck quite well to the Velcro tabs on my jacket sleeves.  I stood facing the camera with the cloth secured to my sleeves, and another corner in my teeth.  I held the cable release in one hand, and timed the exposure by looking at my watch on the other arm.  I must have been quite a sight but it kept the rain off the leaves.  

After taking several shots the rainstorm passed and I heard a loud rushing sound.  The rain had moved to a plateau above me and since the entire area is mostly rocks with poor drainage, the water was rushing off a cliff above me in a gigantic waterfall.  A flash flood was on its way!   Quickly I gathered up all my gear and carried it to higher ground.  In only five minutes the creek was completely flooded and all the leaves were washed away.  When I returned home and saw the results of the afternoon's shooting I was very grateful for having it all work out.