Discover West Texas with Photographer Tara Kerzhner | Texas: Spirit & Soul - Big Bend | Nat Geo

Key Concepts

Big Bend National Park, Big Bend Ranch State Park, Rio Grande, Dark Canyon, Santa Elena Canyon, Marisol Canyon, Geology, Erosion, Cretaceous Inland Seaway, Fossils, Hadrosaur, Mosasaur, El Solitario, Dark Sky Reserve, Astrophotography.

Big Bend: An Introduction

Tara Kerzhner, an adventure photographer, embarks on her first trip to Texas, focusing on Big Bend and the Gulf Coast. She aims to explore the "timeless, rugged beauty" of Big Bend in a short amount of time.

Exploring the Rio Grande

Tara begins her adventure on the Rio Grande, guided by local photographer Mallory Davis. They canoe through Dark Canyon, one of three main canyons (Santa Elena and Marisol being the others). Mallory highlights the unique stories behind each canyon's formation and the various opportunities for floating along the Rio Grande. The river carves through Big Bend for 180 miles. Tara emphasizes the diverse rock formations and landscapes along the river, finding inspiration for photography.

Big Bend Ranch State Park and Geology

Tara and Mallory visit Big Bend Ranch State Park, the largest state park in Texas. They meet with archeologist Tim Gibbs, who explains the region's unique geology. Erosion is identified as the primary geologic force shaping the landscape, exposing layers of history. The color palette of reds, browns, blacks, and yellows each tell a unique geologic story.

Fossils and the Cretaceous Inland Seaway

Tim explains that many fossils found in the area formed in a shallow oceanic environment, specifically the Cretaceous Inland Seaway that once connected the Gulf to Canada. Limestone formations are remnants of this seaway. At the Barton Warnock Visitor Center, Tara views fossils, including a femur from a hadrosaur (found near the national park) and a mosasaur, the apex predator of the Cretaceous Inland Seaway, related to the Komodo dragon.

El Solitario and Park Activities

Tim points out El Solitario, a massive dome-like geological formation ten miles in diameter and over 4700 feet high. Its uniqueness is such that astronauts use it for orientation in orbit. Other activities in the park include horseback riding, mountain biking (with 70 miles of trails), and stargazing due to the area's quiet and dark skies.

Astrophotography at the Summit

Tara and Mallory visit the Summit at Big Bend, where guests can stay in domes. The location is part of the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve, the largest dark sky community in the world. They set up tripods to capture the domes, the landscape, and the night sky. Tara reflects on photography as a way to connect with places and people.

Conclusion

Tara expresses awe at the majestic river, colorful landscape, and vast sky of Big Bend. She prepares to leave Big Bend and head to the Gulf Coast. She marvels at the size and brightness of the stars in Texas. She reflects on the experience of connecting with the earth and sky.