Fractured Surface

Fractured Surface
“Fractured Surface” — Fractured dry mud, Death Valley.

Yes, more dried mud! As I have written before, for reasons that still mystify me, this is an irresistible subject for many landscape photographers… and I’m no exception. What explains it? The colors? The contrast with surroundings? The fractal shapes?

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Desert Gold Flowers, Panamint Range Mountains

Desert Gold Flowers, Panamint Range Mountains
“Desert Gold Flowers, Panamint Range Mountains” — The snow-capped Panamint Range rises beyond a field of desert gold wildflowers, Death Valley.

What is the popular image of Death Valley National Park? I’d say that it is some combination of the following: desert, sand dunes, arid, empty. There can be some truth to that though it is not quite so uniform. This photograph is an example — it is not empty and there are no sand dunes. Instead we see flowers stretching off into the far distance.

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Sierra Setting Moon at Sunrise

Sierra Setting Moon at Sunrise
“Sierra Setting Moon at Sunrise” — The setting full moon drops behind Sierra Nevada peaks lit my sunrise light.

Last fall I was in a popular Eastern Sierra location to photograph autumn aspen color. I had arrived before sunrise, while it was still pre-dawn twilight. I began photographing before the sun came up, continued through the arrival of first direct light, then moved on to some other nearby subjects. As I continued to work I could not help noticing that the full moon was setting in the western sky.

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Detail, Pena Palace

Detail, Pena Palace
“Detail, Pena Palace” — A pattern of balls and pyramids, details of the Pena Palace, Portugal.

The Pena Palace sits on the top of a ridge above Sintra, Portugal, a short train ride from Lisbon. (You do have to get to the ridge from the train station, perhaps a story for another time.) It is a remarkable structure that appears like something from a fantasy, especially in the foggy and rainy conditions while we were there. The palace and its turrets and towers are painted in brilliant colors.

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Photographer and visual opportunist. Daily photos since 2005, plus articles, reviews, news, and ideas.