Santa Elena Reflection Big Bend emphasizing surface texture and form

emphasizing surface texture and form rather than scale or distance

which has kept the area relatively quiet despite its reputation

This night made it clear that nightscapes don’t need the Milky Way to be powerful

Sparse grasses and low desert plants take root along the margins

Just pavement

Santa Elena Reflection Big Bend emphasizing surface texture and formSanta Elena Canyon, Big Bend National Park, Texas This photograph was made inside Santa Elena Canyon during a workshop at sunset. It is one of the most recognizable locations in Big Bend National Park, and one I have visited many times over the years. Because it has been photographed so extensively, it is not a place I actively seek out for personal work. While teaching a student how to focus stack near the rivers edge, I was positioned very low to