I'm not much of a landscape photographer, so there are less of these than the nature photos, and a bunch of them are abstracts. I'm not sure why I like them so much. They seem like the opposite extreme from my detailed lifelike images of animals or plants. Something about them pushes some buttons in my brain.
When I arrived at the Cottonwood campground in Big Bend, I noticed the low evening sun shining through the autumn leaves on the cottonwoods. So as soon as I got a site I grabbed my camera and walked back to the road to take some photos. It was a little hard to get a clear view, but I got a few shots that I like. (Seems a little odd to be photographing autumn colors in late December!)
I only did one standard popular hike this trip - Santa Elena Canyon. Last time Shelley and I did this hike I got some good reflection photos, but this time the sun and wind were quite different. I arrived early, hoping for good light, and had the hike to myself. But by the time I was leaving the crowds were arriving. In true bureaucratic fashion, they had locked the gate a mile before the parking lot for the hike. The only reason given was the government shutdown, but I'm not sure why that required them to close access to the parking. (They didn't close the trail itself.) It meant people parked all over the place, including, of course, places they weren't supposed to. Somehow the park still had sufficient staff to hand out parking tickets. I guess it's one way to generate revenue. (Coming early, I got a legitimate parking spot and escaped a ticket.)
The Rio Grande forms the border between the USA and Mexico here. The name "Big Bend" refers to the large curve in the river.
In the Santa Elena Canyon the river is squeezed between tall cliffs.
Outside the canyon, the river meanders through a flood plain covered in bush. I like the colors and patterns that the bushes form.
And there are more cottonwoods, still with their autumn finery.
The bare trees made interesting forms as well, here silhouetted against evening light on Castolan:
The geology of Big Bend is varied, from sedimentary to volcanic, leading to some interesting rocks. This one reminds me of continents on a globe:
and this one looks like some sort of cartoon creature:
This striking area of dark talus lying on white slopes is just north of the campground and visitors center.
And the details are interesting too:
On my way out of the park the weather was changing and a winter storm was blowing in.
See all 37 photos in this album
When I arrived at the Cottonwood campground in Big Bend, I noticed the low evening sun shining through the autumn leaves on the cottonwoods. So as soon as I got a site I grabbed my camera and walked back to the road to take some photos. It was a little hard to get a clear view, but I got a few shots that I like. (Seems a little odd to be photographing autumn colors in late December!)
I only did one standard popular hike this trip - Santa Elena Canyon. Last time Shelley and I did this hike I got some good reflection photos, but this time the sun and wind were quite different. I arrived early, hoping for good light, and had the hike to myself. But by the time I was leaving the crowds were arriving. In true bureaucratic fashion, they had locked the gate a mile before the parking lot for the hike. The only reason given was the government shutdown, but I'm not sure why that required them to close access to the parking. (They didn't close the trail itself.) It meant people parked all over the place, including, of course, places they weren't supposed to. Somehow the park still had sufficient staff to hand out parking tickets. I guess it's one way to generate revenue. (Coming early, I got a legitimate parking spot and escaped a ticket.)
The Rio Grande forms the border between the USA and Mexico here. The name "Big Bend" refers to the large curve in the river.
In the Santa Elena Canyon the river is squeezed between tall cliffs.
Outside the canyon, the river meanders through a flood plain covered in bush. I like the colors and patterns that the bushes form.
And there are more cottonwoods, still with their autumn finery.
The bare trees made interesting forms as well, here silhouetted against evening light on Castolan:
The geology of Big Bend is varied, from sedimentary to volcanic, leading to some interesting rocks. This one reminds me of continents on a globe:
and this one looks like some sort of cartoon creature:
This striking area of dark talus lying on white slopes is just north of the campground and visitors center.
And the details are interesting too:
On my way out of the park the weather was changing and a winter storm was blowing in.
See all 37 photos in this album
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