Weekly Photo Challenge – Shadowed II

Cochiti Pueblo, New Mexico

It’s only occasionally that I submit two challenge entries in a week. This week’s challenge asked us to share images focusing on shadows: “For this week’s Photo Challenge, find the shadows. You can choose a literal interpretation and shoot an actual shadow, or you can play with the light and dark, and create a moody scene, or capture your subject in a rich and interesting way.” You can view the entire challenge post here.

This morning we hiked for the first time this year in a spectacularly interesting and beautiful location. Several million years ago, volcanic eruptions created an area of volcanic pumice, ash and other deposits that led to the rock formation known as Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. Located about 55 miles north of Albuquerque, the site, managed by the Bureau of Land Management, contains about 4600 acres (about 18 km sq.) of public lands.

The volcanic deposits with their varying rates of erosion created hoodoos and conical tops giving the area the name “Tent Rocks.” One of the main hiking trails winds through a slot canyon where the sun seldom reaches. In and near that slot canyon I found areas of light and shadow that created interesting patterns on the rock surfaces. Other places the sun seldom reaches contain the remains of the winter’s snow. I submit for your approval a small gallery of images in the shadows of Tent Rocks, New Mexico.