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Pentax 67, SMC 45mm f4, Efke IR820c, developed in Kodak T-Max 1+4, wet-mounted drumscan.
A male Northern Cardinal glowing in the sun. Wildwood Lake.
Thanks so much for the visit!
1/800 sec. f/6.3 600mm ISO200
This was shot for the Strobist - Lighting 102 - Cooking Light assignment. I used two SB-24 flashes set to 1/4 power on either side of the grate. Both were pointed straight up at a piece of blue poster board. The Grate is sitting on a clear piece of craft "paper" with a grid pattern and that is sitting on top of black felt. Click on the setup shot in the comments for more details.
Grand Canyon, Arizona
The skeletal remains of a dead pinyon pine stand out in sharp relief against a misty background created by a thermal inversion within the canyon.
Under harsh noon summer sun, Chimney Rock (15 miles west of Pagosa Springs) was a standout against the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. This geological structure is visible from US 160. My altitude was ~7700 feet. Temperature was about 80F in the shade and approaching 100F in the sun.
The distinctive twin spires of Chimney Rock and Companion Rock are the most prominent geological features of the monument. These pinnacles are composed primarily of sandstone and shale, with evidence of sedimentary layers from the Mesozoic era, specifically the Cretaceous period (approximately 145–66 million years ago).
The key geological components include:
Sandstone: The upper portions of the spires are likely composed of resistant sandstone, possibly from the Point Lookout Sandstone formation, which is part of the Mesaverde Group common in the Four Corners region. Sandstone forms from cemented sand grains deposited in ancient marine or coastal environments. Its durability has allowed the spires to withstand erosion better than surrounding materials.
Shale: Beneath the sandstone cap, softer layers of Mancos Shale form a pedestal. Shale is a fine-grained sedimentary rock formed from compacted mud and clay in quiet, low-energy environments like ocean basins. Its relative softness makes it more susceptible to erosion, contributing to the spires’ isolated appearance.
Volcanic Influence: The San Juan Mountains experienced intense volcanic activity during the Oligocene (approximately 34–23 million years ago). While the spires themselves are primarily sedimentary, the broader region contains volcanic ash and tuff deposits interlayered with sedimentary rocks, indicating nearby volcanic eruptions that influenced the local geology.
Formation of the Spires
The twin spires of Chimney Rock and Companion Rock are classic examples of differential erosion, a process where materials of varying resistance erode at different rates:
Cap Rock Protection: The spires owe their existence to a hard sandstone cap that protects the softer shale and other underlying materials from erosion. This cap rock acts like an umbrella, slowing the erosion of the material directly beneath it while surrounding softer rocks are worn away by wind, water, and freeze-thaw cycles.
Erosion and Isolation: Over millions of years, the surrounding landscape was eroded, leaving the more resistant spires standing tall above the mesa. The Piedra River and Stollsteimer Creek, which flank the monument, have carved valleys that enhance the spires’ prominence, with Chimney Rock rising approximately 315 feet from its base.
Mesa Formation: Stollsteimer Mesa, where the spires are located, is a flat-topped landform typical of the Colorado Plateau.
Mesas form when resistant rock layers (like sandstone) protect underlying softer layers from erosion, creating elevated platforms. The mesa’s elevation and the spires’ position atop it highlight the region’s layered sedimentary history.
Geological Processes and Features
Several geological processes have shaped the Chimney Rock landscape:
Sedimentation: During the Cretaceous period, the area was part of the Western Interior Seaway, a vast shallow sea that covered much of central North America. Sediments from rivers, deltas, and marine environments accumulated, forming the sandstone and shale layers visible today. Fossils found in the area, such as marine shells, provide evidence of this ancient seaway.
Tectonic Uplift: The Laramide Orogeny uplifted the Rocky Mountains, including the San Juan range, elevating the sedimentary layers to their current high altitude. This uplift exposed the rocks to erosion, setting the stage for the formation of the spires and mesa.
Erosion: Wind, water, and seasonal temperature fluctuations (freeze-thaw cycles) have sculpted the landscape. The steep cliffs and exposed rock faces at Chimney Rock are evidence of ongoing erosion, which continues to shape the monument. The softer shale erodes faster, undercutting the sandstone cap and maintaining the spires’ sharp profiles.
Picture of the day
Charlottesville, Virginia. Shot with an Olympus E-M1 Mark II camera and an Olympus 12-100mm f4.0 lens.
I took this one a couple of weeks ago at Sussex Prairie Garden. I thought it was hot then. It's hotter now! I'm hoping it will cool down again soon, so I can get back to my indoor photography and remain (relatively) sane. :)
A splash of color to start of the weekend! I really enjoy my Nikon 300mm F;/4 (especially with the 1,7 tc) it gives me a a new way of getting the shot I want and a new perspective at looking at things, as well as framing them. Not to mention the fact that 500mm (effectively if used with the 1,7tc) opens a new world of opportunities quite literally. Thanks for looking/favoring and commenting on my photographs and have a nice -photogenic- weekend.
Returning from our walk along the edge of the Manawatu River estuary recently, this small corrugated-iron hut didn't look to be much of a building - especially when compared to the big home behind it... However, the very colourful three-dimensional art work never-the-less made it a stand-out little building in its own right - and was certainly far more colourful than the rather drab-looking "mansion" behind it...!
(The roofline that appears to be hanging over the hut was (I think from memory) a part of the extensive 'patio' attached to the house behind!).
The building materials used for the hut might not have been the flashiest, but the artwork that adorned it can only be described as standout work...!
New Zealand moves to Daylight Saving Time at 2am tomorrow morning - which means, of course, that we lose out on an hour's sleep...! (Groan!).
Thanks for taking the time and the trouble to leave a Comment beneath this photo Folks! It's always nice to hear from you, and your comments are always very much appreciated...!