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THE SURREAL LANDSCAPE PAINTED DESERT

The Painted Desert sprawls across hundreds of miles of northern Arizona, much of it remote and inaccessible, but all of it fascinating. It is a land of extremes with scorching summer heat, bitter cold winters, and a wind that seems to blow continuously. Yet for all that, this is a seductive landscape, enticing explorers ever deeper into its hoodoo formations where time and distance appear distorted: hours flee like minutes and space becomes compressed. But these are only illusions created by this surreal landscape. Or are they? Judge for yourself.

Prescott-based photographer George H. H. Huey spent a year in pursuit of the seasonal essence of the Painted Desert for his and author Rose Houk's book, The Painted Desert: Land of Light and Shadow, published by the Petrified Forest Museum Association.

GEORGE H. H. HUEY

(ABOVE) Hoodoos in the Western Painted Desert's Ward Terrace. (FOLLOWING PANELS, PAGES 24 AND 25) Rabbitbrush battles the harsh terrain. (PAGES 26 AND 27) A sandstorm over Ward Terrace. (PAGES 28 AND 29) The desert and Ives Mesa on the horizon. (PAGES 30 AND 31) Petrified logs in the desert's Black Forest.