The Eye of Alabama Hills Big Bend formed by ancient eruptions that

formed by ancient eruptions that built up layers of breccia and lava before erosion carved the steep faces and couloirs seen today

captured from a fixed tripod position to maintain clarity from the nearest petals through the cactus pads and spines

The road rises and falls with the terrain

and a small wooden bridge framed the scene

requiring multiple photographs captured at different focal planes to achieve sharpness from the foreground flowers through the distant mountains

The Eye of Alabama Hills Big Bend formed by ancient eruptions thatAlabama Hills, California This photograph was made at the Eye of Alabama Hills arch, one of my favorite compositions anywhere in the West. What makes this scene special to me is how naturally it comes together. The cactus in the foreground aligns almost perfectly with the opening in the rock behind it, without forcing the frame or searching for an angle that isnt there. Moments like this are rare. When they happen, it feels less like creating and more