Travel Theme: Dry

I always like to post something a little off, different, unexpected but the obvious was screaming in my ear…a dry river bed in the driest place in the US – Death Valley National Park, California. I visited there with my girls in 2005 and it has haunted me ever since. I regret that I didn’t return during my second national park tour. At first glance this place appears devoid of anything of value but a closer look reveals an unexpected beauty.

Death Valley is also the hottest place in the US. The day we were there it was 114° in the shade at 10:00 am. As we went on our way that evening we all said “I’ll never go back”. But before we finished the hour and a half drive to Las Vegas my heart was already longing for a return trip.

There is something very special about the desert, the quiet, peace and solitude is the perfect prescription for our over civilized generation.

 

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Sonel’s Photo-Editing Challenge : Feathers

Original

Edit

I used Picasa for editing, first I cropped to just the feathers then applied drastic contrast to darken background and bring out the reds. Nest I applied a soft focus highlighting the central feathers.

Sunday Stills, the next challenge: Bad Weather

Storm brewing over Westgard Pass, Inyo National Forest, California

 

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A Word A Week Photograph Challenge: Undulate

 

Undulating Mountains

Death Valley National Park, California

 

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Monochrome Monday: Fluffy White Stuff

Sunday Nature Quote: Woods

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Robert Frost “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”

Whitewater Memorial State Park, Indiana

Weekly Photo Challenge: Juxtaposition

An old country store, from a time long ago…but wait…is that a soda machine, and credit card signs. I guess not everything is as it seems.

 

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Travel Theme: Wood

What happens when you scare a piece of wood?
…..It turns to stone.

Petrified trees at Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

 

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Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Found In Nature

 

Smiley faces found in nature

 

 

Sonel’s Photo-Editing Challenge : Unusual Angles

Original

I used picasa to adjust the coloring to black and white then added glow to lighten.

‘The Hulk’, Universal Studios Orlando