This is a continuation of a multiple part blog of a sunset shoot in Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada.
Desert Structure & Life
In Part 20 of this blog, I included a similar photo made by standing closer to the big rock in the foreground. I think that image is more dramatic, but I backed up to included the little bush at the bottom left in this image to add a bit of “life” in the image.
Desert Green
It is the “rainy” season here and there is new greenery softening the hard rock desert.
Desert Pond
Occasional small ponds give evidence of recent rains in this soon to be baking landscape.
Pathway – Muted footprints of previous visitors in the sandA Sheltered Life
This is a continuation of a multiple part blog of a sunset shoot in Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada.
Spines and Layers
There must be a geological explanation of how the spines running across these rock layers form. My initial thought was that the spines represent more well cemented sand, but how does the cementation process cross the layers? Ancient water flow vertically? Or maybe the spines are a result of some erosional force that affects some areas of the rock and not others as much. Maybe water drainage patterns down the rock face? Can wind erosion do this?
Spiny RockDesert EveEndurance
Daylight fades, but the desert rocks will endure the extremes of weather here for many more days.
What’s He Shooting?
Maybe he was just adjusting a circular polarizer, but he is in my shot.
Desert Structure 1
Rocks in Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada exhibit varied and interesting structure, patterns and textures. I have tried to capture those features in many of my photographs in this desert area. I made a series of photographs in the vicinity of this image to showcase the rock fabric from various viewpoints.
This is a continuation of a multiple part sunset shoot in Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada.
Serene Desert 5Serene Desert 6Desert Surf
The rock features here remind me of ocean waves and ripples on a shoreline.
Stage Light
A desert shrub stands as if on a stage in a spotlight as the late day desert light show begins.
Life on the Rocks
In a harsh, rocky, dry desert environment life finds a way to survive.
Life on the Rocks 2Rock Huggers
Desert vegetation staying close to the rocks. Is it because that is where the sand is deepest, where more water is available from run off from the rocks or is there more protection from the elements there? I suspect all of those are factors in desert life survival.
Serene Desert 7Serene Desert 8
Fin Rocks
These vertical rock protrusions remind me of fish fins.
This is a good place to end this post, but more of this sunset shoot to follow.
This sunset photo shoot will be presented in multiple posts.
Looking Sunward
These rocks seem to be looking towards the late day sun.
Rock River
The rock texture here looks like a river or spring flowing from beneath that little arch.
Rock Spring
Rock seems to be flowing like a spring from beneath the rock above it. There is even an eddy current or whirlpool near the left side of the rock spring.
Sand Generator
Rock makes sand, sand makes rock, cycle repeats.
Wonderful Geology
Interesting rock formations in Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada. I can imagine those cross cutting, linear features as veins feeding into a strange creature’s brain.
Shadow Remains
Life is gone from this desert bush, but it still casts a shadow upon the rock beside which it once thrived.
Serena Desert 3
Shadows lengthen as the peace of evening descends over Valley of Fire, Nevada.
Desert Serenity 4
A quiet, peaceful evening is fast approaching in Valley of Fire, Nevada.
Rock Fall
Rock texture mimics a waterfall.
Whirlpool
The rock fragments accumulated in the “whirlpool” like area of this rock feature look like debris swirling around at the base of a waterfall.
On our hike back to the parking lot, we took an obvious route towards a large feature that we had hiked past on our way in. This route went alongside the rock outcrop from which the Fire Wave is formed.
Fire Wall
That large rock feature towards which this outcrop points, is our destination for joining up with the official trail back to the parking lot.
Against the WallLaminar DesertThe Not So Grassy SlopeShadow Divide
Early morning shadow and light seem to be divided by the meeting of two different rock formations. The meeting of these two different rock deposits forms a low area, where sand accumulates and desert vegetation takes root.
Pebble Ridge
I noted many small pebbles accumulated in the ridges of this rock outcrop. Initially, I thought maybe tourist were tossing these into the grooves, but now I think it is a natural accumulation. Maybe strong winds blow the pebbles along the rock face until the pebbles drop into a place that is somewhat protected from the wind.
One of the better known and most popular geological features in Valley of Fire is The Fire Wave. The beginning of the hike to this feature is well marked and apparent, but the trail soon becomes not so apparent. We found a couple of others on the trail in the early morning of our visit , at least one of whom had been there previously, and he was confused about the trail, too.
We headed in opposite directions, wandered around for awhile, found a marker telling us we missed the trail, doubled back and eventually found our way to the Fire Wave.
The two we had separated from earlier had also found their way and another photographer had arrived before any of us. Those three were occupying the best vantage point for shooting the Fire Wave in the AM, so I shot from other directions, until those arriving first vacated their spots.
Fire Wave 1
The shadow of one photographer and his tripod can be seen in the lower center of this first image.
The Fire Wave, East Side
While waiting for the other photographers to finish their shooting, I wandered around to the east side of the feature to see what it looked like from there, making a couple of images.
Fire Wave, East Side 2Fire Wave
After the other photographers were satisfied with their shots, I moved into a better spot for shooting this feature. The Fire Wave is best shot at sunset, rather than sunrise, but then one has to deal with a crowd of folks, since most ordinary visitors do not get out at sunrise.
Photos from another sunset shoot in Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada. The day after the storm at sunset, we returned to the same area for another photo shoot. Some of the photos in this post are similar to the evening prior, but with different lighting and sky
The Day After The Storm 1The Day After The Storm 2The Day After The Storm 3Skyward TiltDesert GoldShadow Ravine
There was a late day storm on the eastern horizon during this cloudy, sunset shoot. Such desert storms contribute to the slow, but certain evolution of the rock features found here. These are a few of those images.
Relentless Evolution 2
I made many images, capturing the changes in the sky as the storm and the late day lighting progressed.
I hope the similarity of these images is not boring to the reader. It was fascinating to see how the sky changed with the storm’s advanced across the landscape and the subtle changes in the light on the landscape.
