A large part of the land in the southwestern US is by definition, a desert. A couple times during the year, weather patterns shift, and much needed rain covers the desert, often in volumes too excessive to benefit the land. One of those times is happening now. The summer rainy season, or monsoon season, can make travel tricky or unsafe at times, but can also make for tremendous lighting conditions. In the case of the rainwater pools, above, all the smaller ones usually evaporate within a day. The larger ones can remain for weeks, providing water for the wildlife through drier times.
This spot is in the western Grand Canyon. The Esplanade Sandstone layer is riddled with these water collecting depressions and can be seen through lengthy, though not necessarily difficult hikes. This is my contribution to Leanne Cole’s Monochrome Madness with the theme of Season. To see what other photographers have contributed, or instructions to join in, please visit her website.
August 4, 2017 at 2:51 pm
Great photo! Funny you’d mention that just now, it’s raining in my part of the valley at the moment. Love the Monsoon season!
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August 4, 2017 at 3:09 pm
I’ve lived in places where it rains much more frequently, and that gets old after a while. Now that I’m a desert dweller, I love seeing rain. Thanks, John! Enjoy the rain!
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August 4, 2017 at 3:33 pm
Such a wonderful heaviness to the land and sky. Great reflection
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August 4, 2017 at 3:42 pm
Thank you, Eliot! The storms can add such a dramatic mood and change in a matter of minutes.
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August 5, 2017 at 12:59 pm
Awesome! I’d be looking for fossils near the higher elevations! 🙂
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August 5, 2017 at 6:40 pm
Thank you, Tom! I have seen fossils not far from here, and slightly higher in elevation. 😁
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