De-Na-Zin Hoodoo. This twisted spire overlooks the upper reaches of the Bisti/De-Na-Zin badlands wilderness area, around 35 miles south of my home town (Farmington, New Mexico). It is sometimes called the Collared Hoodoo, though my fevered brain is tempted to deem it “Chubby Checker’s Hoodoo” in honor of his most popular song.

In any case, I captured this image as a dramatic May thunderstorm was moving in. Those are normally very uncommon in these parts in...
more »

De-Na-Zin Hoodoo. This twisted spire overlooks the upper reaches of the Bisti/De-Na-Zin badlands wilderness area, around 35 miles south of my home town (Farmington, New Mexico). It is sometimes called the Collared Hoodoo, though my fevered brain is tempted to deem it “Chubby Checker’s Hoodoo” in honor of his most popular song.

In any case, I captured this image as a dramatic May thunderstorm was moving in. Those are normally very uncommon in these parts in May, but the Southwest’s weather so far this year (2023) has been anything but common. We had to hustle back to the trailhead in a steady drizzle.

And this photo provides a perfect illustration of why I love this sublime, enchanted, mystical territory so much.

Image ©2023 James D. Peterson

Tech info: Nikon D850 camera with Nikon 28-300mm lens at 122mm, 1/160 sec. at f/11, ISO 250
« less