Water to Sand, Water to Rock
This photographic series examines the effects of water on the desert environment of the Mojave National Preserve in the Mojave Desert. The desert is an area defined by scant rainfall and, yet, some water is present. At Soda Dry Lake, seasonal rains and some underground springs sustain wildlife on the edge of the lake and in nearby Zzyxz, CA. Soda Dry Lake was once a lush environment, but now it is a vast, arid playa often punctuated with white lime deposits, swirling dirt devils and shimmering heat. Winds blow the lakebed sediments and sands into a neighboring valley. Over time these sands have formed both Devil's Playground and Kelso Dunes. Without the lake, lakebed sands and sediments would never have been present and Kelso Dunes would never have been formed. Water has helped create sand. Water is also part of the erosional forces at work throughout the Preserve in the continued shaping of great granite monoliths.
This project was photographed using a film camera. Negatives and prints were developed at home.
This photographic series examines the effects of water on the desert environment of the Mojave National Preserve in the Mojave Desert. The desert is an area defined by scant rainfall and, yet, some water is present. At Soda Dry Lake, seasonal rains and some underground springs sustain wildlife on the edge of the lake and in nearby Zzyxz, CA. Soda Dry Lake was once a lush environment, but now it is a vast, arid playa often punctuated with white lime deposits, swirling dirt devils and shimmering heat. Winds blow the lakebed sediments and sands into a neighboring valley. Over time these sands have formed both Devil's Playground and Kelso Dunes. Without the lake, lakebed sands and sediments would never have been present and Kelso Dunes would never have been formed. Water has helped create sand. Water is also part of the erosional forces at work throughout the Preserve in the continued shaping of great granite monoliths.
This project was photographed using a film camera. Negatives and prints were developed at home.