20th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Into the Badlands

Over many centuries, high winds and water erosion left this once lush, tropical area dry and barren. As the rock slowly eroded, the stunning layers of rock hidden beneath the earth's surface became unveiled. I arrived at this overlook about an hour before sunrise and searched for the perfect location to capture the unique formations. As the sun crept up in the sky, beautiful colors stretched across the sky and reflected through the white portions of the rock.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 06.2022
Date Uploaded: 11.2022
Photo Location: Wall, South Dakota, United States of America
Camera: Canon EOS 5DS R
Copyright: © Nathan Wood