This is where the prairie grasslands suddenly end and the eroded cliffs that have become known as badlands just as suddenly begin!
This land has been so ruthlessly ravaged by wind and water that it has become picturesque at a minimum and breathtaking at its best. The Badlands are a wonderland of bizarre, colorful spires and pinnacles, massive buttes and deep gorges. Buffalo Gap National Grassland surrounds this national park and The Badlands are home to the largest mixed grass prairie in the National Park System. Wildlife is found most everywhere in the park. Bison, prairie dogs, coyotes, snakes, mule and whitetail deer, vultures, pronghorn, eagles and hawks all make a living in this often harsh habitat.
This is a place of extremes!
Mako Sica, meaning -land bad-. The Lakota gave this land its name and the park consists of 244,000 acres. The hand of man is scantly noticeable here. For miles around buttes and pinnacles with tall spires dominate. It is hard to image crossing this desolate area let alone making a living here. Simply said, this portion of southwestern South Dakota stuns the senses!
The weather here is variable and unpredictable with temperatures ranging from 116° F to -40° F. Summers are hot and dry with occasional violent thunderstorms. Hailstorms and occasional tornadoes can descend on the Badlands suddenly. Winters are cold with 12 to 24 inches of total snowfall.
We were fortunate on our recent visit to have what fine art photography demands most ……… passing weather. After all weather is what we photograph. Weather dictates the degree and intensity of light which in turns makes the contrast and color. Without it detail turns flat and distance along with scale and scope are lost.
I’m always looking for the one image that makes a definitive statement. It’s not easily done in most cases. That image the says Yosemite, the one that screams Grand Canyon, a single frame that you take back with you to show everyone what the area you photographed is really like. In short it is the one that needs no further comment other than … The Name Of The Place!
Here are …….. THE BADLANDS. Where the prairie grasslands meet the eroded cliffs. Well maybe a covered wagon or bison in the frame would have been nice also. Actually bison were there on the right edge of my composition. Instead a wider view encompassed a passing storm at sunset. The wonderful magenta cast had the sandstone aglow while the only real problem to be solved was holding detail in the cloud pattern and getting the exposure right for the grass. Well, getting struck by lightening was something I considered also.
Solution …….. Singh-Ray color intensifier and 3ss neutral grad filters. AND, leaving the open area shortly after this frame was made!
