Fossil Falls Recreation Site is on Highway 395 between Lone Pine and Ridgecrest, California.
There aren’t any fossils, except the falls. An interesting geological feature. A good example of differential weathering.
Fossil Falls
Bristlecone and Rock
This Bristlecone Pine was growing right on top of a rock pile. My guess is that at one point in the past, the soil was present on top of the rock and has since eroded. The erosion of soil around the root systems is one of the causes of death for bristlecones. That’s one of the reasons that they request visitors to stay on the pathways: to keep erosion to a minimum.
Alabama Hills and Mt Whitney
This photo was taken from the Alabama Hills just above Lone Pine, CA. The hills were a frequent film/tv location in the 40’s and 50’s. In the background you can see the Mt Whitney Portal road carved into the mountainside. The jagged ridge along the skyline is part of Mt Whitney.
Bristlecone Pines: Alive and Dead
It may not look like the tree on the left is still alive, but it is still hanging on. I liked the pattern these two created on the ridge line against the clouds.
Beach Walk
I like the panoramic format even if the subject isn’t a scenic panorama. Of course, it depends on the subject. In the top image here there are a lot of horizontally running lines … something that a panoramic crop can emphasize. In the lower image, the crop turned into a panorama when I cut away the pieces that were distracting. In this image, I liked the wet rocks just above the surf line … and the rocks in the distance become increasingly out of focus.