The painted desert covers a huge expanse of Arizona from the Grand Canyon to the Petrified Forest. It is vast landscape of rainbow coloured badland hills and buttes that resembles an abstract painting on earth’s canvas.
Please click the images to view larger versions.
This particular section of the painted desert is inside the bounds of Petrified Forest National Park. I’ll have more on that tomorrow. For now, feast your eyes on these layers of clay and sandstone stacked like a delicious cake. The soft layers of earth allow a great deal of erosion and colourful staining by mineral deposits.
It was another white sky day during my visit so I focussed my attention on the patterns and textures of the landscape and did not include the sky in the frame.
It’s hard to imagine that this area was once covered with a thick lush forest, dinosaurs roamed the land, and at one time it was covered by ocean.
I absolutely love the Southwest and you really bring out the beauty in the landscape in your photographs Anne.
Thank you so much Edith, I have really grown to love the southwest too. I have been to Arizona once before but this is the first time I’ve spent any amount of time down here.
Excellent images Anne. Sometimes the color in things just works!
Thank you very much Joe!
Another batch of outstanding images, Anne.
Thank you Fred, that’s very kind!
Saw this park when I was 10 but don’t remember much! Great shots Anne, love the color and details!
Thank you very much Jim! It’s amazing the different colours and patterns in the soil. It’s really a neat place worth a visit.
Extraordinary colours, Anne. I’d heard of this but don’t recall seeing images of it. Well captured.
Hi Andy, I think there are other painted deserts around too, maybe in California. I don’t think I had seen images of this place either before I saw it in person. Its really an interesting place. Thanks for your comments.
Beautiful colors and composition! I definitely need to check out Petrified Forest National Park next time I visit Arizona
Thank you very much Sam!