RETROSPECTS 2020 - #8

The Castles, Slim Buttes, South Dakota

Now we have entered the new year and I’m still not done with my photography ‘Retrospects’ for 2020. So here is another one. 😉

The Castles, a grouping of steep-walled, flat-topped buttes rising 200-400 feet above the surrounding prairie, was a place we revisited during our trip through the Dakotas and Montana. The photos taken during the day were ok, but it was that one evening we camped there I was looking forward to. The colors of the sandstone remnants came to life during the hour before sunset and the moon above the rocks is a bonus that makes up for the missing of any clouds. It was another good photography moment in 2020…

A UNIQUE ROCK

Little Missouri National Grassland, North Dakota, September 2020

When we drove by at this solitary towering sandstone rock on the way to the Elkhorn unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park in the morning, I saw some potential for a black & white image if some elements in the sky would be present. The unique shape of this rock drew our attention and how long it took for wind, rain, and snow to form it from sandstone that ones was a layer of sand on the bottom of a shallow sea, filled with abundant marine life.

While driving back from President Roosevelt’s former ranch in the afternoon a few clouds just moved through and we tried to take advantage of it. I remember that I had the camera slightly tilted to the right to give the grassy slope a little less presence in the photo. Other than climbing up the steep slope, it was an easy click to be made. In post process I applied a red filter B&W preset to make the sky darker and let the rock and single cloud stand out.

MEDICINE ROCKS - A PHOTOGRAPHER’S PARADISE

Our last “base camp” during the trip in eastern Montana was in Medicine Rocks State Park. Medicine Rocks is a series of sandstone pillars with eerie undulations, holes, and tunnels in them. The rocks are considered a sacred holy place by Plain Indians. Archaeological evidence indicates that there has been human habitation at or near Medicine Rocks for about 11,000 years. Many Indian tribes resided there permanently or temporarily. (source: Wikipedia)

I could write a lot more about a place like this but I trust you know where to find more information if you are interested. All what I can say is, it is a photographer’s paradise for landscape and night photography.

On a sunny day the hours around sunrise and sunset are again your best times for exploring this 330 acres (130 ha) area with the camera.

THE CASTLES

We discovered this little gem in the northwest corner of South Dakota already five years ago and had it on our list of places we wanted to revisit since. 

Castles National Landmark is located in the Slim Buttes land unit in South Dakota. The Castles are a massive sandstone remnant which originated as a volcanic ash deposit and resemble a medieval castle. (source: USDA - Forest Service)

This time we camped at this location and that gave us the chance to photograph these interesting rock formations during day light and of course during a wonderful sunset. As a bonus the moon was up already and made it worth to be included in some of the photos.