• Badlands National Park,  landscape

    Badlands

    Badlands National Park
    Badlands National Park

    Badlands National Park consists of 244,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires surrounded by a mixed-grass prairie ecosystem. The landscape of Badlands National Park is roughly half badlands geologic formations and half mixed-grass prairie ecosystem.  The mixed grass prairie is a transitional zone between the tall-grass prairie to the east and the short-grass prairie to the west. This land was formed by the geologic forces of deposition and erosion. Deposition of sediments began 69 million years ago when an ancient sea stretched across what is now the Great Plains.

     

  • Badlands National Park,  clouds,  landscape,  National Parks,  quotes

    Badlands

    Badlands
    Morning Sunrise in the Badlands

    “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” ― Maya Angelou

    My first, and only, trip to the badlands was in May of 2004. I spent three days camping there and shooting a few images but that was not enough time. The rugged beauty is breath taking. The openness with vast skies will cause you to look skyward. My evenings were spent looking to the west, watching the sun set and the clouds constantly changing formations. That was seven years ago so I’m think it’s time to make plans for another visit.

  • Badlands National Park,  landscape,  National Parks,  sunrises

    Those Expectations

    Sunset at the Badlands in 2004

    It amazes me I still look for how many comments or visits there are to my images. When I look at stats I am setting expectations and that is not what I want to do. My hope is that my images will say something to me and others, to move me and others. I shoot because I cannot shoot. There is something inside urging me to look for images and every so often being pleased with the results. Darn those expectations. Hope everyone enjoys their weekend!

  • Badlands National Park,  National Parks

    The Badlands

    Badlands National Park in South Dakota

    Another one of my motorcycle touring trips included a couple days visiting the Badlands in South Dakota. I was not expecting the beauty I discovered there.

    The Lakota called the topography “Makhóšiča“, literally bad land, while French trappers called it “les mauvaises terres à traverser” – “the bad lands to cross”. This dry terrain is a type of soft sedimentary rock and clay-rich soils that have been extensively eroded by wind and water. It almost has a look of volcanic rock. And, it is so rich in colors, patterns and shapes. This type of terrain can be found in several locations in the U.S. such as Makoshika State Park in Montana,Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota and the Badlands National Park in South Dakota. Another popular area of badland formations is Toadstool Geologic Park in the Oglala National Grassland of northwestern Nebrask and you can include Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado and Utah.

  • landscape

    Lesson Learned

    The Badlands

    A look back to 2004 and some images from a motorcycle tour. I enjoyed this trip, camping just outside of the park and spending my mornings and evening exploring the park looking for images. This trip was made during my first year shooting with a digital camera. Lesson learned: shoot RAW rather than JPG. Have an Awesome weekend!

  • landscape

    The Beauty of the Badlands

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    The Badlands

     

    The badlands of South Dakota is a type of arid terrain where softer sedimentary rocks and clay-rich soils have been extensively eroded by wind and water. It can resembles volcanic  rocks.  Canyons,  ravines,  gullies and other such geological forms are common in badlands. They are often difficult to navigate by foot. Badlands often have a spectacular colour display that alternates from dark black/blue coal stria to bright clays to red scoria. When you add blue skies and slowly drifting clouds you can get some pretty awesome images that show the beauty of the Badlands.