Sometimes I like the unexpected image more than the planned one. Like, on this trip, I had dreamed of photographing the Salar de Uyuni, the near mythical salt flats of Bolivia, flooded and at golden hour with reflection of sky all around me. And while I did that and enjoyed the experience and find the images from those days compelling, I almost like this one more. The unexpected scene that I happened upon at just the right time: blowing storm over the red lake in the distance with just enough sunlight shining onto the colored earth and clouds to make the scene pop. Yes, this image shows the magic of the Altiplano. The unexpectedness of its rugged beauty. The volatility of the land and weather. The little moments of magic that are soon gone forever, unless you have the picture.
Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve, Bolivia
*2020 ND Awards Honorable Mention-- Fine Art: Landscape category.