Another Viewpoint in Canyonlands

These gnarled trees and the remains of their weathered stumps reflect the weathered canyons beyond them.

From our vantage, the deepest part of the canyon forming what seems to be an opening in the floor, seems of modest size. Then you notice the road nearby and realize that this is a really big hole in the ground. The scale of this place beggars belief.

Everywhere we stop to look, we find a wizened tree stump overlooking a vista of enormous scale.

I try to frame the scenes with these dead trees to both set the scale and limit it. With a tree providing a border on part of the image, the scene doesn't feel quite so unfathomable and overwhelming.

The emptiness with the wind in your ears creates a feeling of not belonging. This is a place not meant for people to live. Like outer space. It is awesome (in the original sense of the word) and beautiful but not a place you yearn to linger for extended periods. It is alien and unforgiving. Not all parts of this world are suitable for us. Seeing this place reminds us to take care of the parts that are habitable for someday, it could all look this way.