It seems that way when you visit the incomparable Bentonite Hills in Southern Utah. Bentonite is a type of clay created by volcanic eruptions millions of years ago. I’m sure the clay beds have changed in appearance over the years through erosion but these layers give you some insight into how they may have originally looked and formed.
Watch at HiDef at Full Screen. Music is Feels Like We Only Go Backwards by Tame Impala.
You saw the video but here are some photos to enjoy.
Hanksville, Utah is a small town in the middle of nowhere. Much of Southern Utah is like this and I hardly saw anyone out there except a few locals, but I found much to enjoy with the surreal landscapes.
Watch in HiDef at Full Screen. Music is Alone In Kyoto by French musical group, AIR.
I’ve probably driven near this spot 30 times over the last 15 years but didn’t know about this hidden gem. The road is a bit rough getting there but the drive is well worth it.
Watch at HiDef at Full Screen. Music is Vestiges by Martin Courtney.
You wouldn’t want to get lost in this maze of badlands. Now we know why they call them badlands.
EWatch in HiDef at Full Screen. Music is Jai Dormi Sous L’eau by the French Band AIR.
A favorite place of mine to visit and shoot is Factory Butte in Southern Utah. The years of weathering and erosion have created a masterpiece that is best viewed from above. The yellow mineral deposits in the gray Mancos Shale is Jarosite. This is a yellow-colored iron sulfate mineral that often forms in arid, acidic environments, such as the weathering of iron-rich shale. Sulfur and gypsum are also present.
Factory Butte’s formation is the result of a geological process spanning nearly 100 million years, divided into two distinct phases: the deposition of ancient sediments and the subsequent erosional sculpting of the landscape. This area was under a sea of water which deposited the sediments. The sharp ridges and “lunar” badlands at the base are the result of centuries of relentless erosion by rainwater and wind that continue to shape the formation today. I would not want to get lost in that maze.
Video to follow soon. These images were captured via drone.
I’ve added a new promo video for my workshops.
Enjoy in HiDef at Full Screen. Music is Dreams Of You by Icarus featuring Rae Morris.
Sign up for one of my Dawn2Dawn Photography workshops where you’ll be taken to some of the coolest locations to photograph in America’s Amazing Desert Southwest. You’ll learn to shoot in daytime, nighttime, with video and drones. I’ll also teach you how to turn those images into works of art !
https://www.dawn2dawnphotography.com/photography-workshops
Click On Any Image Below For More Details. Contact Me Direct With Any Questions.
This footage is from Southern Utah near Mexican Hat and is hard to explain. It’s named Raplee Ridge or Raplee Anticline. The mighty San Juan River runs through it but tectonic plates pushing upwards produced some elaborate patterns.
Watch in HiDef at Full Screen. Music is Johny by Sofi Tucker.
The Moki Dugway is a road in Southern Utah that shouldn’t be driven even if you’re just a bit under the influence. It’s mostly dirt and gravel with no guard rails and narrows in some places. I didn’t drive it up very far. That’s what a drone is for.
Watch at HiDef at Full Screen. Music is In Your Beat by Django Django.
