Fins, Flakes, Rock Data and Sandpeople of the Southwest

[Bart Carrig]

For a while, I've collected images of various southwest abstracts: rock and sandstone caring, fins, flakes and formations, often more intricate than any sculptor's. I thought I should share them. I'm sure many of you have gathered some of your own; feel free to post them and add them to the thread (if that's ok with the proprietors).

Bart

The Fin Man

Sandstone Nobility

Corner Flakes

A Fin Runs Through it

Rock Data




Bart

 

[BarryHamilton]

These are all wonderful! Nicely seen formations! Dig 'em all, no faves.

 

[AlanLichty]

Very nice collection Bart. Those are some delicate specimens and you have done well with the lighting in framing these.

I'll bite and toss one in - from the Valley of Fire. Not so exotic behind Bart's but a fun shot I grabbed on a hike.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Neat and very delicate, that first one looks like a face. It's hard to imagine how delicate and fragile these rocks look.

 

[AMaji]

Nicely done abstracts. No. 2 is my fav in the set.

 

[JimFox]

Hey Bart, what super cool shots you got here. You really captured some great fins. I will have to see since I am on the road if I have any fin shots with the stash of archived shots I brought along.

 

[Bart Carrig]

Al: That's fantastic. The colors are rich, and it's amazing how the colors of the underlying textures are revealed in the outer layers. Great capture.

Ben: a friend described the face in #1 as part Bart Simpson, and part Zoot. Seems pretty accurate to me.

Bart

 

[Douglas Sherman]

The tonal range of these images are just wonderful, Bart. You have a great eye. Where did you shoot these?

 

[Jim Dockery]

Great shots, Corner Flakes is my favorite with the delicate fins going in different directions.

Here is mine, wide angle shot in a small area off Hidden Canyon trail Zion.

 

[Raphael Sombrio]

Amazing! Although I do not do much this style I really like it very much. It's beautiful!
To me it's like a abstract art.

 

[Bart Carrig]

Jim: That's a great shot from hidden canyon. I've been there a few times, it must be a ways past the little arch? It's interesting to imagine the forces and conditions that created these small beauties.

Bart

 

[Martín el Escocés]

Amazing shots, Bart. Real natural art with a definite Native flavour.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

Bart, these fins form when small cracks in the rocks are filled with calcium carbonate (calcite) or quartz, or gypsum. In an arid climate calcite, gypsum, and quartz are very resistant to weathering and thus remain behind as the less tightly cemented sandstone around it is eroded away. These are not nearly as unique as yours are.

Here are some fins in the North Coyote Buttes area.

 

[Bart Carrig]

Beautiful image, Doug. Great comp. I like the (afternoon?) lighting. I think I"ve been there, or at least something similar at Paw Hole? I remember shooting a similar site (perhaps the same), from the opposite direction in the morning.

If you get a chance, could you email me at bartblm@verizon.net ?

Thanks,

Bart

 

[Zeph]

Bart, these fins form when small cracks in the rocks are filled with calcium carbonate (calcite) or quartz, or gypsum. In an arid climate calcite, gypsum, and quartz are very resistant to weathering and thus remain behind as the less tightly cemented sandstone around it is eroded away. These are not nearly as unique as yours are.

Here are some fins in the North Coyote Buttes area.
View attachment 5428

These shots are totally awesome...
Doug, It's great to have a geologist on board.

 

[Zeph]

Bart, the second and third are stunning.

 

[lightsgood]

Super cool Bart! Love them all, but a fin runs through it is my favorite.

 

[Bart Carrig]

Thanks Doug, the SW must be a geographic mecca for your trade. Zeph, LG, very kind, thank you.

Bart

 

[Bart Carrig]

Martin, always good to hear from you, thank you.

Bart