I suppose I should have labeled today’s post, photographing stone but “written in stone” is much cooler.

Actually, rock rather than stone is probably more applicable to today’s images.

The “Rocky Mountains of course contain a lot of rock. It’s the namesake. Still, most mountain ranges have gathered a lot of earth, and in that earth a lot of plants have grown.

In most cases, the rocks that make them mountains, will peak out near the top.

The first image below was made in Colorado, the second in Wyoming at sunrise. A little snow on the peak, can be a blessing.

Rock parks such as the Badlands of South Dakota, are smaller and lower to the surrounding land, but they are mostly rock. This is a beautiful place.

Always search for attractive compositions that balance everything that will be in the photo, as best as is possible, without digital alterations. That lonely little yellow flower helps make this photo better.

Rock cliffs such as this one in the Black canyon of The Gunnison in Colorado, to me are fascinating. I enjoyed composing this with a hint of the canyon below.

As the day wore on the light began to become warm, and the shadows helped create some drama.

Later in the day.

Late yet, and all rock and nothing but rock, except of course the afternoon light, and black shadows.

When shooting stone, even if it is more earth than rock, there are opportunities for interpretations such as black & white. This was made in the Badlands.

To me, the most beautiful stone/rock to work with in the world is Navaho Sandstone. Most of it is found in Utah.

Warm rock and cool blue skies make for a nice contrast.

As the day grows later, the light becomes even more dramatic. Think verticals and horizontals.

In rock parks like Arches in Utah there are a great variety not only of rocks, but potential compositions.

Once again, both horizontals and verticals abound.

Sometimes, in your face comps are the only way to tell the story.

Finally, all rock and the last rays of light. Notice how the indirect light reveals texture.

Remember what I always say, mood and atmosphere both inspire us to press things to the edge if you will.

Be it the edge of light or the edge of the canyon.

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Lastly I would like to express my thoughts about myself, and what I write on this blog, beyond photography.

I have no plans to change my habit of at times sharing my religious, political or moral beliefs and commentary here at Earth Images. I would wish everyone to continue to follow the blog, and bring their friends. That said, I would only suggest that if you acknowledge my right to say what I believe, and that even when I am angry, I do so because of love, not because of hate.

I will indeed continue to share Bible verses and my thoughts about religion in general.

I believe everyone has the right to believe what they want, and shout it from the rooftops (or a blog), as long as they do not hurt anyone and they allow others the same rights. I repeat, as long as they do not hurt anyone, and allow others those same rights.

I will continue to express my opinions on other religions, and when they are the aggressive creators of hateful violence, I will say what I think about that.

Most of my criticism will be directed to those who call themselves Christians, while they often ignore or misrepresent the Bible. Some also do so because of how they were brought up. It is understandable how that can happen. I personally was brought up Christian, but pretty loosely so. I could count on my fingers the number of times I went to church as a kid. With that said, given that specific church, that might be why I searched for the truth and the Lord much of my life, finally finding that truth somewhat late in my life. Not in a church but in the Bible and in prayer. Personal one on one prayer. Often!!

More harm is done to Christianity by people who spend Sundays in buildings with crosses on them, than most non-Christian religions etc. That of course, is my opinion.

There are also great individual churches and one can be blessed to worship in those locations.

The spread of fake or seriously altered Christianity, is more deadly than those who are the complete antithesis of such and have a different god so to speak.

The “edges of truth”, when it is outnumbered and outgunned by falsehoods, is dangerous to life and eternity.

If by what you see above and/or what you have read on these pages before, and you are a Christian of some sort and think that I am crazy, I want to thank you, because you have made my case!

Altering the one real God is worse than sharing a different god.

Anger can be harmful to the giver or the receiver, but it can also be righteous.

I am definitely not a Biblical scholar, just a ground level Christen who actually believes the book called the Bible. Otherwise, I would move on and do something worthwhile.

What I have written above, is my opinion. A learned opinion, but an opinion none the less..

We all have that right. Of course that also is my opinion. It is however not the opinion of all religious people where some would remove you from those rights.

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A few years ago some protesters wrongly broke into our capitol to protest a grieveance they had with our federal government. In some cases they did not have their day in court for over two years. Recently one protester was sentenced to 22 years in prision.

With what happened in our nation’s capital yesterday, we will see if our justice system here in America is truly blindfolded in the sence of “justice for all”, or do we live in a rigged system where what your politics are, and who you are likely to vote for is what decides your fate.

God Bless, pray, and follow your God-given moral compass.
Wayne