Painted Hills in Winter

Description

Painted Hills in Winter

John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Eastern Oregon

The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, located in the John Day River Basin of Eastern Oregon is composed of three separate units, Clarno, Sheep Rock and The Painted Hills units.  All three units are distinct yet beautiful. The Painted Hills Unit is usually what travelers think of when discussing the Painted Hills of John Day, even though the Painted Hills Unit Is not near the John Day River and is about a 90 minute drive from the city of John Day. Popularized by Oregon’s successful “7 Wonders of Oregon Campaign”, the Painted Hills receive quite a few visitors but mostly in the dry, hot summer months. East of Ochoco divide, Oregon becomes quite arid, receiving 11 inches of precipitation annually. Precipitation peaks in May when, during wet warm years, the Painted Hills Wildflowers can be stunning. While they receive very little snow fall, the Painted Hills in winter can be quite spectacular. During a recent winter storm, I rolled the dice and drove to the Painted Hills and I was rewarded for my gamble with striking white highlights interweaving with the rich warm painted hills in between.

Painted Hills snow

The patterns were mesmerizing. I captured countless different compositions that afternoon and I’m especially fond of the composition in this new Painted Hills fine art Photograph. The richly toned, sun-struck clay of the Painted Hills offset by stark white striations of snow drifts make for an enchanting arrangement. The snow dusted mass of Sutton Mountain with a peak of Blue Sky add color and textural variation to one of Oregon’s most beautiful scenes!

Potential collectors should feel free to contact me with questions or to schedule a showing of this beautiful new fine art photograph of the John Day Painted Hills in Winter.