Ancient Layers of the Painted Desert
A weathered sandstone outcrop rises from the sparse vegetation of Arizona’s Painted Desert, revealing layers shaped by erosion and the passage of time. Patches of colorful lichen cling to the rugged stone while desert shrubs surround its base. In the distance, a freight train crosses the horizon, adding a subtle modern contrast to the ancient landscape of Petrified Forest National Park.
#PaintedDesert #PetrifiedForestNationalPark #Arizona #Sandstone #RockFormation #DesertLandscape #DesertGeology #Geology #Erosion #Lichen #HighDesert #AmericanSouthwest #NaturePhotography #LandscapePhotography #NikonD850 #EngelPhotography
#PaintedDesert #PetrifiedForestNationalPark #Arizona #Sandstone #RockFormation #DesertLandscape #DesertGeology #Geology #Erosion #Lichen #HighDesert #AmericanSouthwest #NaturePhotography #LandscapePhotography #NikonD850 #EngelPhotography
Photographer
James Engel
Date & Time
Sunday, March 29th, 2026 at 9:54 AM America/Phoenix
Focal Length
260mm
Shutter Speed
1/160 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
Camera
Nikon D850
Approximate Map Location
Latitude: 34.976326
Longitude: -109.7938
Altitude: 1,604.0 meters / 5,262.5 feet
Longitude: -109.7938
Altitude: 1,604.0 meters / 5,262.5 feet