A Little Off The Top by auntietk
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Outside Sedona, Arizona.
Sedona is famous for its red rocks, but a lighter colored layer overtops the rusty red sandstone. You'll see the connection later in this series.
Claude has been posting pictures of his trip to the American Southwest, and he's the one who reminded me that I had a whole file full of photos from our trip to Arizona in the spring of 2011 that I had never shared!
The cliff dwellings at Montezuma Castle National Monument (see my gallery from early December) are about 25 miles away from Sedona, and are much like those at Mesa Verde (where Claude went), about 325 miles away. The Sedona red rock formations are much like those at Canyonlands in Utah, about 400 miles away.
The similarities in geology are not coincidental. These places (along with the Grand Canyon) are all part of a formation known as the Colorado Plateau. (Click HERE to check out the Wiki and learn more about the Colorado Plateau.) If you look at the satellite map on that Wiki link, and search on Google Maps for Sedona, Arizona, and then back out so you can see the entire southwestern United States, you'll be able to easily see that Sedona sits on the very edge of the Colorado Plateau.
If you're not familiar with Claude's work, you should check out his gallery. He's photosynthesis here on Renderosity, and he's been posting some beautiful images of the Canyonlands area.
If this is too much information, and you just want to look at the pictures and say, "Oooooohh! Pretty!" I won't be offended in the least. :)

Comments (25)
Oooooooh---pretty!! lol I've been to Sedona and it's an amazing place. Everywhere you turn, there's another beautiful sight to see. You've caught the color and feel of this town so well!!
Impressive and craggy. Nice capture.
Absolutely amazing. I don't think pretty is quite strong enough: and although breathtaking in their beauty I still find mountains oppressive!
"Oooooohh! Pretty!" ,Sorry I couldn't resist, this is a super shot of a great looking place, another one to go in the places to visit when I win the lottery, Thanks.
very nice land
Big scenery to my English eye, lovely shot
Superb capture Tara. A link that you and bill and all renderosity artist may enjoy. http://www.tenbestphotos.com/ God Bless.
Simply beautiful.
Never been to the West....I'd love to see some of this spectacular area of the US.
Very beautiful capture Nature's own style of working in layers
Its a quite stunning looking place Tara, very beautiful to see and the colours..... You are right.. Good shot! Rob
What I love is the upright weathered shapes within the mountains; very stunning indeed!
Rugged terrain. Very colorful.
Great capture of these beautiful mountains!
Spectacular. My brother and I visited Sedona for a week and made it up to the Grand Canyon for an overnight stay as well. Wonderful world to visit.
OHH! This is beautiful and I do love these almost geometric rocks, that make it look like cities. Beautiful shot, Tara :-)
this is wonderful
Majestic is the word I am looking for and is also somehow reminiscent to me, of our own heritage here in OZ, mainly Central Australia, the Mac Donnell Ranges, particularly with Ayers Rock (Uluru), especially the rusty/red sandstone rocks and the Simpson desert ... BB 'a little off the top'! - a hairdressers nightmare - LOL
Tara - I'm afraid I've fallen behind in my gallery browsing & have missed your last few postings. This is a great shot of the dramatic mountains around Sedona, which I've only visited once around 30 years ago, but which I remember as a very special place. Not really that much into the geology & how it was formed, but I do appreciate the beauty & grandeur of it. And thanks for the nod to my Canyonlands photos...
Wow ... I ove this one !!!
Beautiful capture.
Very scenic image Great pic Happy New Yr to you and hubby Hugs Susan~
Love the array of colors throughout...superb postwork to bring so much life into this rocky scene. Niceee.
Really impressive view. I love it.
Absolutely gorgeous shot, Tara! And I really enjoy looking at the information as well is the beautiful photos. What a gorgeous landscape - if I ever get Vue figured out, I may have to see if I can simulate this! Hope you and Bill have a wonderful New Year's!