Stone Mushrooms

[Teton Chuck]

I spent this past weekend with a friend on his ranch in Wyoming. It is a rather large ranch and we began to explore to find places that held photographic potential. We discovered the area where this photograph was taken. He had never been there before, and it is likely that no human has been there for decades. I took the following shot as a prototype for when I can return and have time to work the area. It was late afternoon and the light quality was good. Who knows where we will find a gem.

[Mike Buckley]

That's quite a buildup to have no photo displayed.

[Teton Chuck]

Mike, it shows up for me. Please tell me if you can't see it. I'll try to post it again.

[Shadowman]

Nicely captured.

[Mike Buckley]

The photo is now being displayed and it was well worth the wait. The only rock formations that I've seen resembling these are in Cappadocia, Turkey, though these are much smaller. Was your friend aware of this type of rock formation elsewhere on his ranch? Have you seen this type of formation in other parts of Wyoming?

[Teton Chuck]

Mike, We are going to go to his ranch next summer an look for more locations. These rocks are on an a very steep hillside that the cattle don't use and fishermen don't pay attention to. The bottoms are made of sandstone and the tops are a kind of conglomerate, much harder than the sandstone. I have not seen "stone mushrooms" that are this well formed in Wyoming. The colors come from the lichens that are growing on the surface.

[Mike Buckley]

If you find enough locations or a single location that is large enough, your friend could charge for taking photographers to the scenes if he's interested in that.

[IzzieK]

Nice find....

[ajsmith]

Very interesting...

[ShaneS]

Beautiful Chuck, but did I read that I have to wait until next year to see more images of this fascinating subject?

[NorthernFocus]

Those are definitely some interesting rocks. Worth visiting again to be sure.

[Teton Chuck]

Thanks for the comments. I have a busy fall schedule and will probably not be able to return to the rocks this fall. If I do I would like to go when the willows in the bottom land are changing color. I am interested in how that would change the photo.

[Manfred M]

That's a great shoot of some hoodoos, Chuck. Nicely done.

I remember the last time I was into a badlands area near sunset trying to find some to shoot; the coyotes were starting to howl as the sun went down. The mood of this shot reminds me of that little adventure.

[Nicks Pics]

Chuck, those are certainly weird rocks. It sounds like you are rambling around the West like indeed, John Muir. Wouldn't he have been a fine photographer?!