Painted Dunes and Fantastic Lava Beds (2020)

Painted Dunes and Fantastic Lava Beds, Lassen Volcanic National Park, as seen from the edge of Cinder Cone’s crater. Painted Dunes consist of layers of oxidized volcanic ash which became so vividly colorful because the ash fell on a bed of lava flows while still hot. Cinder Cone, the Fantastic Lava Beds, and Painted Dunes were formed during two eruptions that occurred in the 1650s. – I took this photo in June 2020, after moving to Chico only a couple months earlier. The volcanic features of Lassen National Park still fascinate me and I feel very lucky to live near such an amazing place.

This image achieved “Featured Picture” status, which is Wikipedia’s designation for finest image quality. The photo has since been used in the article “Lassen Volcanic National Park” on various Wikipedia language versions.

This picture was taken with a Canon 5D Mark IV camera and a ZEISS Milvus 2.0/135 ZE manual focus lens. I love taking pictures with ZEISS lenses made in Germany, as they provide an outstanding optical performance with an incredible high contrast rendition. Since 1890, ZEISS has been making lenses for photographers who strive for uncompromising image quality.

Museum-quality print produced with archival pigment inks on Hahnemühle Photo Rag Baryta paper using a professional wide format Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000 printer.

Hahnemühle paper is made in my home state of Lower Saxony in Germany. It dates back to the year 1584 when the Duke of Braunschweig granted the right to build a paper mill to paper making craftsman Merten Spieß. Hahnemühle paper fulfills highest quality standards and provides an excellent ageing resistance.

Limited Edition of 100