Nikon D750, Nikkor 16-35mm / f4
We set up our first camp for a few days in Badlands National Park, South Dakota. We were there before twice in the last ten years, but always only for a brief stop on the way to Yellowstone. This time we wanted to explore the park and the surrounding grasslands much more and also spend time with the wildlife. The name Badlands suggests nothing really good but I can tell you, colors, landforms, and wildlife will surprise the visitor with every turn you take.
Nikon D750, Nikkor 24-120mm / f4
From our previous visits we knew that landscape photography can be very tricky during the day because the harsh light mutes the colors quite often. We were lucky on our second day that a few rain drops came down, not much, but just enough to bring out the colors of layered sediments, volcanic ashes, and of the prairie grass and plants. The Badlands are a place of extremes between summer and winter and sometimes it is hard to imagine that much can exist there. However, the biological diversity is rich and wildlife abounds. But more about this later...