Bonnie Rannald's Photo-Explorations in focus with nature. : August 2013

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Sand Mountain and the Playa

Adventures in an Extraterrestrial Environment

A day trip to Sand Mountain, a large dune of windblown sand measuring 2 miles (3.22 km) long and 600 feet (180 m) high is a journey back in time to a place that on closer inspection, takes on an unworldly appearance. Sand Mountain, located east of Fallon, Nevada, off US Route 50, is a favorite recreation area for camping, off-roading and hiking.

However going back in time to the Pleistocene epoch, the Sand Mountain area was once covered by the purival Lake Lahontan. As the climate began to warm and dry, Lake Lahontan slowly started to evaporate, leaving behind sediment and exposed rocks that gradually weathered in to a mixture of dissolved minerals and salts. Therefore, the desert playa that is found near Sand Mountain was created

Desert playa is a salt flat devoid of vegetation.

The plants that do manage to grow are shrubs, low to the ground.

A hole in the playa is perhaps home to one of the Zebra-tailed lizards that are camouflaged to blend in with the surroundings.

Horizontal lines in the mountain or wave terraces are evidence of the ancient shoreline of Lake Lahontan. Over time, the windblown sand exposes a surface of gravel or what is known as desert pavement.

Massive volcanism is evidence of the violent past that formed many areas in the Great Basin Desert.

So you might be wondering why the fascination with a hot, dry, dusty area that is almost devoid of color. The answer lies in a sense of adventure, a challenge with the adaptation of nature and the feel of exploring in an extraterrestrial environment.

What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been. I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences.

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

"Reflecting Nature's Artistry"

Many of these images are available on my website:

http://www.bonnierannald.com/

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Thursday, August 15, 2013

Together IN Harmony, An Artistic Event

Going Out on a Limb brings Photography Awards

Once in a while photography takes you out of your comfort zone and off the beaten path to a road less traveled when the weather conditions are so unique that the landscape has been totally transformed in to a frozen mix of fog and ice.

Thus were the conditions on an early January morning when I ventured out to the Stillwater Wildlife Refuge near Fallon, Nevada. Occasionally during a cold winter, the Great Basin Desert experiences a weather phenomenon known as Pogonip or freezing fog. The ice particles from the fog adhere to any rough surface and though very beautiful, it can also be dangerous to breathe the ice crystals for a prolonged time. It is easy to become disoriented in the fog and people have been known to die from the exposure.

Being aware of my environment, I tried to go for scenes that were in close proximity to my warm truck. However through the fog, I noticed a stream up ahead and what appeared to be ducks swimming through the unfrozen water. This was one of those moments when your instincts take control and you are in a "got to have that photo mode". As I was carefully walking through the muddy frozen dirt carrying my camera on the tripod, a pair of red-tailed hawks took flight from the left side of the bank. In a manner of micro-seconds, I composed the scene and snapped the shutter, hoping that I had caught the fleeting birds.

It always seems that when I am out in the moment and being one with nature, the photograph comes to me. And on these rare occasions I am blessed with an image that will reach out and touch the viewer as was the case with my hawks in the fog that became titled "Quiet Retreat".

On June 11, 2013, I received a call for artists in the mixed medium competition: Together IN Harmony, which was a project by Ambassador Lyza Sahertian for the European Capitol of Culture--Umeå2014. The winners in the mediums of Photography, Painting, Illustration and Sculpture would exhibit in the Galerie du Columbier, Paris, France from July 22nd through August 3rd.

As luck would have it, my "Quiet Retreat" was awarded third place from a field of 60 photographers from across the globe.

Distinguished members of jury

Artists represented at Galerie du Columbier in Together IN Harmony

When I am out competing with the whims of nature to get a scene, I am always mindful of a favorite quote from actress and author Shirley MacLaine, "Don't be afraid to go out on a limb, that's where all the fruit is". Whether it is the challenge or just living on the edge, these are the moments when I do get my best shots.