Palo Duro Nights
by Stephen Stookey
Title
Palo Duro Nights
Artist
Stephen Stookey
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
The stars at night are truly big and bright deep in the heart of Texas. I captured this image of the Milky Way rising above Palo Duro Canyon on a late September evening. The sun had just set and the last vestiges of sunset illuminated a low layer of wispy clouds with a wonderful golden hue. The stars and Milky Way popped through the light layer of clouds giving the setting a majestic glow. Alone in the canyon with my camera equipment, it was a glorious, peaceful setting--light wind rustling the trees, cicadas singing, and the occasional coyote howl. The scene brought to mind Georgia O'Keefe's description of Palo Duro Canyon: "It is a burning, seething cauldron, filled with dramatic light and color."
Located just outside Amarillo, Texas, Palo Duro is the 2nd largest canyon in the United States, earning the natural wonder the moniker "The Grand Canyon of Texas." The Prairie Dog Fork of the Red River carved Palo Duro from the Caprock Escarpment in West Texas. The canyon is a dramatic change in the landscape from the level nigh plains of the Llano Estacado. Dramatic multi-hued cliffs, rock formations, hodoos, and caves mark the Palo Duro landscape. Members of Coronado Expedition in 1541 were the first Europeans to view the canyon. Apache Indians called Palo Duro home at the time. The US Military mapped the canyon in 1852. In 1878 Col. Charles Goodnight and wealthy Scot John Adair established the JA Ranch. Texas purchased portions of the upper canyon and established Palo Duro Canyon State Park in 1934. The natural wonder is a popular tourist attraction offering opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking.
Summer nights bring musical overtures at the Pioneer Amphitheater as guests enjoy the outdoor musical drama "Texas"--a summer staple at Palo Duro since 1966. Noted American composer Samuel Jones's Symphony No. 3 is titled "Palo Duro Canyon" and evokes the length, breadth and depth of canyon formation. Jones's work was premiered at the Pioneer Amphitheater in 1992.
This image is perfect for those who love the big, bold beauty of the Lone Star State.
FAA Featured Image:
Fine Arts Professionals
9/30/2016
FAA Featured Image:
SunriseSunsets
9/30/2016
FAA Featured Image:
All Natural Beauty of This World
9/30/2016
FAA Featured Image:
Images That Excite You
9/30/2016
FAA Featured Image:
Sunsets and Sunrise
9/30/2016
FAA Featured Image:
The Road To Self Promotion
10/1/2016
FAA Featured Image:
USA Photographers Only
10/1/2016
FAA Featured Image:
Texas
10/1/2016
FAA Featured Image:
Look Towards The Sky
10/1/2016
FAA Featured Image:
Pleasing The Eye
10/2/2016
FAA Featured Image:
Cards Cards Cards - Note Cards - Greeting Cards
10/2/2016
FAA Featured Image:
First Friday Gallery Group
10/2/2016
FAA Featured Image:
Forward Exposure
10/5/2016
FAA Featured Image:
Canon Full Frame Cameras
10/6/2016
FAA Featured Image:
Pin Me - Daily
10/7/2016
FAA Featured Image:
No Place Like Home
10/8/2016
FAA Featured Image:
USA National Parks and More
10/10/2016
FAA Featured Image:
Out of the Ordinary
10/12/2016
FAA Featured Image:
All Art Welcome
11/15/2016
FAA Featured Image:
The World We See
11/15/2016
FAA Featured Image:
Sunsets Sunrises Night and Moon Shots
11/17/2016
FAA Featured Image:
The Niche
11/17/2016
FAA Featured Image:
Five Star Artists
11/20/2016
FAA Featured Image:
The Weekenders
11/30/2016
FAA Featured Image:
Starving Artist Photographers
12/7/2016
FAA Featured Image:
The SPACE Between
2/27/2017
FAA Featured Image:
Your Very Best Photography
5/4/2017
FAA Featured Image:
No Place Like Home
10/26/2018
Uploaded
September 30th, 2016
Statistics
Viewed 4,985 Times - Last Visitor from Lisle, IL on 04/24/2024 at 9:02 PM
Embed
Share
Sales Sheet