Alternative Views Of The Painted Desert

I suspect this would represent a typical photograph made showing The Painted Desert.  As I mention
in the text, I've seen this type of landscape many times across the desert southwest.  I soon turned
my eyes and attention to some non-traditional subjects for my photography. (click to enlarge)
All images made with a Nikon Z7II coupled with a Nikon 24-200mm f/4-6.3 lens.

I have now visited The Painted Desert twice.  The first time I was there, I was a bit underwhelmed.  The second time I visited I saw that nothing changed, nor did I assume anything would.  I've seen striated red rocks hundreds of times and I wasn't sure what the specific attraction was to this particular landscape.  Soon, however, my focus, as it sometimes does, turns to things that most others may not observe or have interest but caught my eye as potential interesting photographic subjects.

In the case of The Painted desert, it wasn't the colors but the landforms themselves.  The shapes and contours of the land is what I found more interesting than the colors.  Also, I found the details, color and textures of the adobe buildings contained within the park interesting as well.  Finally, as Route 66 used to pass through here, I found the line of telephone poles and the old, rusted shell of a Studebaker sedan showed a sense of what used to be instead of what is now.

A detail from the old Painted Desert Inn. (click to enlarge)

I thought the textures and details of the dried logs nicely complimented the raw landscape.
(click to enlarge)

This building was originally opened as "The Painted Desert Inn" in the 1920s.  Travelers along
Route 66 could stay here as they passed through.  The original structure was made out of
petrified wood from the nearby acres and acres of petrified forest, which existed about 225 million years ago.  The adobe was applied in the 1930s. It is now a museum but you can buy some pretty
good ice cream on the lower level! (click to enlarge)

I found the textures and shapes interesting. (click to enlarge)

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S-curve. (click to enlarge)

This 1931 Studebaker Sedan (as best as I can determine) was placed next to the roadway along
with a sign as a remembrance of those who passed through here on Route 66 many years ago.
(click to enlarge)

Route 66 used to parallel these telephone poles.  Interstate 40 is about a mile to the right (south)
of where I made this image. (click to enlarge)

I believe these two small structures are park staff living quarters. (click to enlarge).
I was attracted to the surrounding landscape as well as the textures of the adobe.

I suspect, as a photographer, there are more times than not that you adopt an alternative view of a popular subject rather than just 'see' as do others.  As I mentioned above, I've seen this type of terrain numerous times so my attention turned to things that were somewhat unique to this particular locale.

Oh!  My apologies for the plain, blue sky.  But that is almost all you ever get in locations in desert southwestern United States.  I've never had the good fortune to photograph out there in stormy conditions or with cumulus clouds peppered across the sky.  Maybe next time.

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Thanks for looking. Enjoy!  

Dennis A. Mook  

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