Category Archives: National Parks

Patterns in Stone

Pahoehoe Lava Sculpture
Kilauea Lava Flow, Hawaii

Pahoehoe lava flows and cools slowly. It forms ropey type patterns as it cools. Walking over the Kilauea lava flows provides an infinite source of vignettes for creating images. My mind wanders as it gazes over the terrain. I discover pattern after pattern. Each one is unique and my imagination goes wild. I get lost and lose track of time. Each time I have walked the flows with travel partners, they have patiently(?) waited for me with stern faces by the car ready to drive to the next stop.

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A Foggy Morning at Kilauea

Kilauea Crater Edge
Kilauea National Park, Hawaii

We checked the weather forecast before we started a two hour drive to the Hilo side of the island and up to Kilauea. Everything looked good for a nice day. By the time we reached the top, it was heavily raining with dense fog and wind. We could hardly see the bottom of the crater, but decided to make the best of the day and drove down the chain of craters road down to the ocean.

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Hills and Ridges

Along Sage Ridge Road
Badlands National Park, SD

Colors, light, shadows, hills, ridges, and valleys … they are all here in the Badlands. The late afternoon sun pops out the colors, shapes, and textures from a rather grey-brown scene at midday. This image is not as sharp as I would like it to be, but it still captures the feeling of awe I had gazing over the vast landscape.

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Disappointment Followed by “Ah Ha!”

Devil’s Tower
Devil’s Tower National Monument, Wyoming

On my recent trip to the Badlands, I took a several hour detour to see Devil’s Tower in Wyoming. I drove into the park and was disappointed when I encountered a stopped line of traffic. After what seemed to be an eternity, I slowly moved around a corner and saw a sign, “One Hour to Parking Lot”. I grumbled and turned around and started driving back to the park entrance. After a bit, I broke out into the open from the tree lined road. I looked up and saw this sight. Ah ha!!! It was worth the drive.

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Looking Under the Cottonwood Tree

View from the Visitors Center
Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Photographing in infrared is perfect for midday. All I need are a few clouds in the sky and some interesting foliage. This framed view is directly across the park road from the Visitors Center. It is great place to catch a little food and a photo or two.

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Islands in a Sea of Grass

Stacked Eroded Hills
Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Looking southwest at the end of the Badlands, I saw this series of eroded hills sticking up from a grass covered plain. They looked like islands rising above a sea of yellow. There is so much to see in the Badlands. I can’t wait to go back and do more exploring!

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Peace in the Afternoon

‘Purple and Yellow Mounds’
Badlands National Park, South Dakota

It was late in the afternoon and the sun had gone behind the clouds. It felt like rain was coming. There were few cars passing along the adjacent road. No one was stopping to enjoy the beauty of the colorful hills. Alone, I had this wonderful panorama in front of me. I felt at peace in one of nature’s wonderlands.

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I wish I had my little red sports car !

‘Curves’
Badlands National Park, SD

The first time I was in the Badlands, I was driving my little red sports car. It was early spring and not many people were visiting the park. I had a great time driving the windy roads and enjoying the beautiful scenery. It was just not quite the same this trip, driving my Jeep Grand Cherokee! At least with my Jeep, I was able to pull off more frequently along the side of the road and create an image or two.

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Who Said the Badlands Look Dull?

‘Mid-morning Sunlight on the Purple Mounds’
Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Pastels proliferate the hills of the Badlands during mid-morning sunlight. The golden and green grasses in the foreground set the stage. The yellows, oranges, reds, and purples of the different sediment layers of the mounds provide the center focus. The purple striped rugged mountains and blue cloud covered sky creates an intriguing background setting.

Millions of years of creation stand directly in front of me. I dream of the wonder of nature and the beauty it brings.

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