When we finally reached the Badlands on the second day of our trip (we had dinner in Wall, South Dakota that will be in future postings). As we entered the park from the Wall end along I-90, clouds were rolling in, with rain to be seen off in the distance.
Here is a long exposure taken there in the middle of the Badlands overlooking the lower valleys. I liked this spot as there was some green growth mixed in with the chalky rock structure there.
It did end in a stormy evening, and one incredible sunset, but those images are to follow once processed ...
Bandlands National Park
300 Seconds at f/10
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From this overlook area out in the Badlands (South Dakota), I carefully set up the tripod and camera on this high outcrop of hardened rock and mud (that is what basically makes up the foundation here in the area. The precipice I was on was only a coupe feet wide, and with steep drop offs of about 60 to 150 feet ... that just got deeper the farther you look out here into the view over the valley. I liked this shot as it really shows the chalky strata that makes up a large portion of the Badlands.
I stayed right next to camera the whole shot here as the winds were really kicking up with the approaching storm. Winds were gusting in the 30 to 40 MPH range, and I did not want to lose the camera and tripod ...
What a stark yet beautiful place in this world ... made all that more dramatic by the stormy clouds. Badlands indeed ;)
f/10 @ 300 seconds
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On that 2nd day of our trip the storms continued to quickly approach the Badlands ...
This wide view really shows how the storm came rolling in to devour the land ... Badland that is ;)
f/8 @ 252 Seconds
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On the 3rd day of our trip woke up in Wall and headed down into the Badlands for sunrise. Was greeted to the Super Moon setting in the western sky. Looked pretty impressive there over the Badlands. Also took some shots with the 300mm, but they need to be processed in LR-4 yet.
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On the second day of our trip we were in the Badlands for late afternoon and evening. Storms rolled through and have posted some of the images taken as they approached the area. It then overwhelmed us and we had to sit in the car through heavy rain, lighting, and some small hail ... then the rain stopped.
This image was taken not long after the rain ended as I was looking back behind the car towards the west. There above the mountains behind us the colors were starting to hint at the possibility of a colorful sunset.
Once this shot was over, quickly got back into the car and headed back westward in the park to get to the higher ground to see what mother nature had in mind for the sunset.
As we drove into the mountain area and up towards higher ground it appeared that the reds in the sky waned, and that it was going to fizzle out ... alas it turned out to be spectacular once we reached the top ... those images to come soon ;)
Badlands National Park South Dakota
f/11 @ 220 seconds
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