Ancient Marks Above the Painted Desert
Weathered rock art etched into dark desert varnish overlooks the vast landscape of Arizona’s Painted Desert. Lichen-covered sandstone boulders frame the foreground while open scrubland and distant mesas stretch toward the horizon, preserving a striking connection between human history and the rugged landscape of Petrified Forest National Park.
#Petroglyphs #RockArt #AncientRockArt #DesertVarnish #Archaeology #CulturalHistory #PaintedDesert #PetrifiedForestNationalPark #Arizona #AmericanSouthwest #DesertLandscape #RockFormation #LandscapePhotography #NikonD850 #EngelPhotography
#Petroglyphs #RockArt #AncientRockArt #DesertVarnish #Archaeology #CulturalHistory #PaintedDesert #PetrifiedForestNationalPark #Arizona #AmericanSouthwest #DesertLandscape #RockFormation #LandscapePhotography #NikonD850 #EngelPhotography
Photographer
James Engel
Date & Time
Sunday, March 29th, 2026 at 9:44 AM America/Phoenix
Focal Length
24mm
Shutter Speed
1/100 sec
Aperture
ƒ/11
ISO
64
Location
North America, The United States of America, Arizona, Woodruff, Petrified Forest National Park
Keywords
Badlands, Desert Landscape, Landscapes & Nature, Lichen, National Park, Painted Desert, Plant, Rock, Scenic Vista
Camera
Nikon D850
Approximate Map Location
Latitude: 34.97451
Longitude: -109.793457
Altitude: 1,624.0 meters / 5,328.1 feet
Longitude: -109.793457
Altitude: 1,624.0 meters / 5,328.1 feet