#azimuth 71

[thorsenmark]

Hello, Carlsbad Caverns National Park! by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: Natural Entrance Trail-13 A view looking down and to the east while walking the path on the Natural Entrance Trail in Carlsbad Caverns National Park. My thinking in composing this image was to capture the look of the man-made walking path as it led into the depths of the cavern. All around would be the cliff wall and areas caught in reflected sunlight, but there would be that one “hole” leading into the darkness below.

[thorsenmark]

Athel Hill and Salt Benchmark by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: A setting looking to the northwest while taking in views across the Mojave Desert setting at a roadside pullout along California State Route 127. Athel Hill and Salt Benchmark are some of the prominent peaks in the image.

[thorsenmark]

Silver Star by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: As I looked across this is a valley between two mountains, I'm noticed a sign as part of this overlook for a poem written by William Stafford. Standing there and taking in this view, I tried to imagine this mountain as it lived the life described in the poem... “Silver Star” by William Stafford June 5th, 2009 To be a mountain you have to climb alone and accept all that rain and snow. You have to look far away when evening comes. If a forest grows, you care; you stand there leaning against the wind, waiting for someone with faith enough to ask you to move. Great stones will tumble against each other and gouge your sides. A storm will live somewhere in your canyons hoarding its lightning. If you are lucky, people will give you a dignified name and bring crowds to admire how sturdy you are, how long you can hold still for the camera. And some time, they say, if you last long enough you will hear God; a voice will roll down from the sky and all your patience will be rewarded. The whole world will hear it: “Well done.”

[thorsenmark]

Sun Temple Walls and Ruins (Mesa Verde National Park) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: While walking around the ruins and Ancestral Puebloan archaeological site at the Sun Temple. This is in Mesa Verde National Park. The view is looking to the east down a hallway.

[thorsenmark]

Get Yourself to the Bisti Badlands by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: A setting looking to the east while taking in views across eroded and adobe formations present in this part of the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area.

[thorsenmark]

A Winter Morning in Joshua Tree National Park by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: A setting looking to the east-northeast while taking in views of a snowy landscape along the Hidden Valley Nature Trail in Joshua Tree National Park. What drew me into the setting was the rock formations and hillside to my front that had that fresh coat of fallen snow. I decided to angle my Nikon SLR camera, so that I could include some foreground leading up to those rock formations. I thought the snow added to the feel of the landscape, and there was no real reason to include the overcast skies since I felt it was more of a negative space.

[thorsenmark]

Hello, Carlsbad Caverns National Park! by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: Natural Entrance Trail-13 A view looking down and to the east while walking the path on the Natural Entrance Trail in Carlsbad Caverns National Park. My thinking in composing this image was to capture the look of the man-made walking path as it led into the depths of the cavern. All around would be the cliff wall and areas caught in reflected sunlight, but there would be that one “hole” leading into the darkness below.

[thorsenmark]

Forever Carlsbad Caverns National Park by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: Natural Entrance Trail-7 At the main natural entrance to the cavern with some of the walkway present. The view is looking to the east.