Lichen and Lava Beneath the Storm
Lichen-covered volcanic rock stretches across the foreground of El Malpais National Monument, leading toward a lone dead juniper beneath a brooding New Mexico sky. Dry grasses, shrubs, and living evergreens surround the rugged lava field, creating a layered high-desert scene shaped by both harsh geology and resilient plant life.
#EngelPhotography #NewMexico #ElMalpais #Lichen #VolcanicRock #LavaField #DeadTree #Juniper #HighDesert #DesertLandscape #StormClouds #NaturePhotography #LandscapePhotography #SouthwestPhotography #AmericanSouthwest
#EngelPhotography #NewMexico #ElMalpais #Lichen #VolcanicRock #LavaField #DeadTree #Juniper #HighDesert #DesertLandscape #StormClouds #NaturePhotography #LandscapePhotography #SouthwestPhotography #AmericanSouthwest
Photographer
James Engel
Date & Time
Saturday, March 28th, 2026 at 5:26 PM America/Denver
Focal Length
24mm
Shutter Speed
1/125 sec
Aperture
ƒ/11
ISO
160
Location
North America, The United States of America, New Mexico, El Malpais National Monument, Zuni-Acoma Trailhead, Zuni-Acoma Trailhead Area
Keywords
Desert Landscape, Juniper, Landscapes & Nature, Lichen, National Park, Plant, Rock, Volcanic Rock
Camera
Nikon D850
Approximate Map Location
Latitude: 34.955139
Longitude: -107.941917
Altitude: 2,087.0 meters / 6,847.1 feet
Longitude: -107.941917
Altitude: 2,087.0 meters / 6,847.1 feet