Picture This!
Geological Wonders

Geological Wonders
Our Picture This! assignment this month was Geological Wonders, the amazing forms and patterns of the natural world. While we rightfully admire the design concepts and executions of engineers and artists, they are in many ways little match (indeed are often humble imitations) of what a walk in a canyon or valley will provide. Photographers have the unique opportunity to capture these wonders as they stand, without embellishment of brush or pencil. Our readers responded with a wide variety of abstractions and depictions of those forms from everywhere--coastline to mountaintop and the valleys and canyons in between.

Sedona Outlook

Roger Johnson captured the majestic beauty of Sedona, Arizona, with a Nikon D70 and a Tokina ATX 80-200mm lens with an exposure of f/5 at 1/250 sec at ISO 200.
© 2007, Roger Johnson, All Rights Reserved


Sandstone Formation

Made at South Coyote Buttes in Arizona, Fred Clifford's image shows us the echoes of forms and a dynamic composition. Exposure was f/8 at 1/80 sec at ISO 200 with a Nikon D200 and a Nikkor 18-70mm lens.
© 2007, Fred Clifford, All Rights Reserved


The Palouse

Using his Canon 75-300mm lens on a Canon EOS 20D, Don Charlton made the most of the compression of space at the longest focal length setting of this colorful and entrancing landscape. Exposure was f/8 at 1/125 sec at ISO 100.
© 2007, Don Charlton, All Rights Reserved


Natural Geometry

The forms and patterns of rock and water make for a perfect mix of pattern and balance in this shot by Marcus W. Reinkensmeyer at the North Coyote Buttes on the Arizona/Utah border. Using a Nikon D200, exposure was f/20 at 1/60 sec with a Nikkor 12-24mm lens on a Gitzo 2220 tripod with a Manfrotto 486 head.
© 2007, Marcus W. Reinkensmeyer, All Rights Reserved


Granite Formation

This evocative monochrome image made at La Digue, Seychelles, by Irwin H. Segel adds texture and tonality to nature's balanced composition. Made with a Nikon D200 and a Nikkor 18-200mm VR lens, exposure was f/11 at 1/200 sec at ISO 200. Original color shot was converted to black and white.
© 2007, Irwin H. Segel, All Rights Reserved


Fog And Formations

Roy H. Senn's moody image of fog and formations in Acadia National Park, Maine, was scanned from a 4x5 original transparency made on Kodak EPN film. No camera or exposure information was provided.
© 2007, Roy H. Senn, All Rights Reserved


Profiles In Stone

Sandra W. Kahn saw these profiles in stone on a side canyon in Lake Powell. She caught these forms using a Nikon D200 and a Nikkor 24-120mm lens with an exposure of f/10 at 1/500 sec.
© 2007, Sandra W. Kahn, All Rights Reserved


Morning Light

Combining gorgeous light with fascinating formations, Greg Tucker captured the wonder at the Grand Staircase of the Escalante with a Nikon F100 and a Nikkor 28-105mm lens on Fujichrome Velvia 50. Aperture was f/16; shutter speed was not recorded.
© 2007, Greg Tucker, All Rights Reserved


Abstract Caves

Photographed in Petra, Jordan, Larry MacKinnon noted that these formations were probably part natural, part manmade. He photographed with a Nikon Coolpix 8700 with an exposure of f/2.8 at 1/30 sec with auto flash on.
© 2007, Larry MacKinnon, All Rights Reserved


Capadoccia Caves

Maria Costa's image of tufa formations and dwellings in Capadoccia, Turkey, remind us that nature's natural shelters can be both evocative and beautiful. She photographed with an Olympus EVOLT E-300 with a 40-150mm lens.
© 2007, Maria Costa, All Rights Reserved

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