On the Straight and Narrow
Alvord Desert, Oregon
The Alvord Desert in eastern Oregon is a broad playa that dries in the hot summer months, creating a 6-mile wide dry lakebed with Steens Mountain towering a mile above to the west. It attracts powered gliders, high-speed drivers, and at night bicycle riders and nude hikers. I wanted to capture the vast flatness of the area with a low angle composition, and I thought the human element of tire tracks aided me in this effort. Photo © copyright by Stephen Penland.