John Holbrook
Well-Known Member
Thursday’s Task: Scenic Spin. This week: Desert. Your interpretation.
Saguaro National Park, AZ
White Sands National Park, NM
Big Bend National Park, TX
Great Sand Dunes National Park, CO
Colossal Cave Park, AZ
Thursday’s Task
- Thread starter John Holbrook
- Start date
Thursday’s Task: Scenic Spin. This week: Desert. Your interpretation.
Saguaro National Park, AZ
White Sands National Park, NM
Big Bend National Park, TX
Great Sand Dunes National Park, CO
Colossal Cave Park, AZ
AlanLichty
Moderator
Wonderful starter shots John - this leaves a high bar for the rest of us which sounds like a Good Thing(TM) to me 
A few from my stash.
Coral Sand Dunes, UT
Death Valley, CA
Capitol Reef NP, UT
Bonneville Salt Flats, UT
Coral Sand Dunes, UT
Death Valley, CA
Capitol Reef NP, UT
Bonneville Salt Flats, UT
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John Holbrook
Well-Known Member
Jameel, beautiful desert landscapes you shared—thank you! I love the single colored Coral Sand Dunes image—very nice. The Death Valley image is perfect—I love the subtle lighting of the desert sands, the mountains beyond, and the perfect sky above. Very nice and a favorite image. I love the textures of the Capitol Reef NP image, another nice composition. The Bonneville Salt Flats is another gorgeous image and another favorite—I like the subtle light, colors, and textures captured—and the colored sky reflecting on the salt flats below. Also the moon captured to make this image even more unique. Thanks again Jameel.
AlanLichty
Moderator
Some desert shots through the years:
Blue Basin Trail in the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument:
The Toadstool Hoodoos along US89 near the Paria River:
Inside the San Rafael Swell in Utah:
Badwater Sunrise in Death Valley:
Mouse's Tank Road in the Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada:
Blue Basin Trail in the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument:
The Toadstool Hoodoos along US89 near the Paria River:
Inside the San Rafael Swell in Utah:
Badwater Sunrise in Death Valley:
Mouse's Tank Road in the Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada:
John Holbrook
Well-Known Member
Alan, thank you for posting beautiful desert landscapes! I’ve never visited the John Day Fossil Beds, a beautiful image—I was especially surprised to see the color green. Is this the Sheep Rock unit? I loved the toadstool hoodoos image, very striking with the blue sky above. Nice. The San Rafael Swell is another beautiful desert scene, I lIke the dirt road leading into the frame with the beautiful rocky structures beyond—and a moon as well! The Death Valley’s sunrise is a memorable and gorgeous image! Very nice composition and a favorite. I like the Valley of Fire image’s foreground of layers and “holes”—and the road leading to the colorful and interesting rocky structures beyond. Thank you for posting all these beautiful images Alan!
Kyle Jones
Moderator
Looking across the Dead Sea to Jordan from Masada in Israel.
John Holbrook
Well-Known Member
Kyle, thank you so much for posting this beautiful image from Israel. This gives one a visual perspective to the land often talked about. I remember my mother visiting there with a church group almost fifty years ago––and taking many photos with a film camera I purchased for her trip. Again thanks for posting this very beautiful image.
AlanLichty
Moderator
Thanks John - the Blue Basin Trail is in the Sheep Rock unit of the John Day Fossil Beds NM. There is a trailhead just below the Blue Basin with two trails - one leading up the basin itself (the Blue Basin is in the foreground) and the other trail leads up and around the basin. This is from the top of that trail looking north. The colorful outcrops are actually on private land outside of the National Monument.
ProCaliberTraveler
Well-Known Member
Here’s a shot of the Central Australian Desert in the Northern Territory of Australia. The rock formation is Kata Tjuṯa, the only rock that I’ve ever thought disliked me.
John Holbrook
Well-Known Member
I don’t know why Kata Tjuta would “dislike” you—when you made it look so good! Seriously, a beautiful and well composed desert scene. Thank you for sharing this image.
John Holbrook
Well-Known Member
I love both of the Saguaro NP landscapes—I especially love the “two color” composition of greens and pale blues in the first and my favorite of the two. Very nice. The second Saguaro image benefits from the trail into the beautiful scene. My favorite image of the three is the Great Sand Dunes image. A well composed and beautiful image with the warm layered dunes against the beautiful blue sky. Thanks for sharing each of these images Larry!
John Holbrook
Well-Known Member
Thank you so much for sharing these two beautiful B&W desert images with us. Each has many merits of editing and composition. The first capture with the fog and clouds obscuring much of the landscape but with the iconic mittens revealed is my favorite. Incredible image. The second is another perfect and classic composition as well. Very nice! Again, thank you so much for sharing these perfect images.Hello John,
Great idea - two of Monument Valley for you, from November 2025. Photographed with the Fujifilm GFX100RF:
Best regards,
Vieri
John Holbrook
Well-Known Member
Craig, the landscapes you’ve shared are perfect in composition and lighting—and thank you so much. As I’ve complimented you before the titles are always well chosen for each image. “Jagged Edge” is so well framed—and named with the rocky edge atop the sand dune. I love the layers depicted in “Uplift”—very nice. “Monolith Uprising” is special with butte(?) rising above. I like the dominant layers of the blue sky and rocky reds—and the blue river winding through it. “While You Were Sleeping” is a gorgeous image, love this composition! “Evening Wind Down” is a beautiful capture of light on the landscape. Very nice! “Emptiness” is another beautiful image—and well named! Love this one too. “Desert Moon” is another well named and great capture as well. Thanks for sharing each of these desserts (not a typo)!
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