Seirer_200123_8500265.jpgThe Tailings
Mine tailings, the byproduct of a mine processing plant, glisten in the sun near Hayden, Arizona, an area where copper and other minerals are mined. The enormous tailing piles are made up of ground rock and process effluents left after the minerals are extracted.

Mine tailings, the byproduct of a mine processing plant, glisten in the sun near Hayden, Arizona, an area where copper and other minerals are mined. The enormous tailing piles are made up of ground rock and process effluents left after the minerals are extracted.

Elk on the PrairieElk greet the first light of morning at the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge in McPherson County. The refuge, a prairie of mixed grasses in the Smoky Hill region of central Kansas, is home to about 75 elk.

Elk greet the first light of morning at the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge in McPherson County. The refuge, a prairie of mixed grasses in the Smoky Hill region of central Kansas, is home to about 75 elk.

A Stone Wall That WalkedStone masons finish the Walking Wall at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art at Kansas City. The wall, created by Scottish artist Andy Goldsworthy, "walked" to its permanent destination, beginning east of the museum. Over a nine-month period, British stone masons continually moved limestone blocks from the wall's tail to its head, walking it across the museum grounds, down a flight of stairs, and into the Bloch Building, which houses the museum's contemporary art. The drystone wall is made of limestone from the Flint Hills of Kansas.

Stone masons finish the Walking Wall at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art at Kansas City. The wall, created by Scottish artist Andy Goldsworthy, "walked" to its permanent destination, beginning east of the museum. Over a nine-month period, British stone masons continually moved limestone blocks from the wall's tail to its head, walking it across the museum grounds, down a flight of stairs, and into the Bloch Building, which houses the museum's contemporary art. The drystone wall is made of limestone from the Flint Hills of Kansas.

Stone Wall ArtistAndy Goldsworthy, a Scottish artist, poses on part of the Walking Wall he created at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City. The wall extends across the grounds of the museum and into the Bloch Building, which houses contemporary art. The drystone wall is made of limestone from the Kansas Flint Hills.

Andy Goldsworthy, a Scottish artist, poses on part of the Walking Wall he created at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City. The wall extends across the grounds of the museum and into the Bloch Building, which houses contemporary art. The drystone wall is made of limestone from the Kansas Flint Hills.

Seirer_191120_8509652.jpgA Storm's Bounty
A late fall storm produced little moisture but it did drop a rainbow among the wind turbines in southern Lincoln County, Kansas.

A late fall storm produced little moisture but it did drop a rainbow among the wind turbines in southern Lincoln County, Kansas.

Seirer_191120_8509661.jpgSky Drama
Clouds, pushed by strong south winds, churn at sundown over a wind farm in Lincoln County.

Clouds, pushed by strong south winds, churn at sundown over a wind farm in Lincoln County.

Seirer_191121_8509730.jpgRolling With Steam
Big Boy 4014, a steam locomotive owned and restored by the Union Pacific Railroad, races past an old grain elevator at Wilson, Kansas. The train's November 2019 tour of the Southwest was a public event to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental railroad, The journey attracted considerable attention all along the route, and many train buffs from throughout the country followed in their cars, leading often to traffic jams in small communities. Big Boy 4014 was retired from service in 1961, after pulling cars more than 1 million miles. It was reacquired by Union Pacific in 2013, restored, and returned to special duty, such as pulling excursion trains.

Big Boy 4014, a steam locomotive owned and restored by the Union Pacific Railroad, races past an old grain elevator at Wilson, Kansas. The train's November 2019 tour of the Southwest was a public event to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental railroad, The journey attracted considerable attention all along the route, and many train buffs from throughout the country followed in their cars, leading often to traffic jams in small communities. Big Boy 4014 was retired from service in 1961, after pulling cars more than 1 million miles. It was reacquired by Union Pacific in 2013, restored, and returned to special duty, such as pulling excursion trains.

Seirer_191020_8509409.jpgSunflowers
Sunflowers, their heads bowed and their colorful summer vegetation long gone, dry in the autumn sun. This field is in northern Lincoln County.

Sunflowers, their heads bowed and their striking summer color long gone, dry in the autumn sun. This field is in northern Lincoln County.

Seirer_190917_8521614.jpgThe last of the day's sunlight illuminate borh the sand dunes and low clouds at Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado.

The last of the day's sunlight illuminate borh the sand dunes and low clouds at Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado.

Seirer_190918_8507805.jpgCars at the Top
Drivers of 14 vintage Rolls-Royce and Bentley motor cars, hailing from across the country, climbed to the continental divide in Colorado for a September rendezvous at Molas Divide. Their mission: group photographs — one of the cars, another of the owners. One driver said he found the slow, twisty, steep route up the Million Dollar Highway to Ouray to be a challenge for his Rolls, but that didn't dampen his enthusiasm. For the photograph, some in the group arrived early at the Molas Divide overlook to keep a wide area of the small parking lot free of more common cars. Perhaps because of the novelty of the British cars, which attracted at least as much attention as the mountain views, other travelers were quite accommodating.

Drivers of 14 vintage Rolls-Royce and Bentley motor cars, hailing from across the country, climbed to the continental divide in Colorado for a September rendezvous at Molas Divide (elevation: 10,910 feet). Their mission: group photographs — one of the cars, another of the owners. One driver said he found the slow, twisty, steep route up the Million Dollar Highway to Ouray to be a challenge for his Rolls, but that didn't dampen his enthusiasm. For the photograph, some in the group arrived early at the Molas Divide overlook to keep a wide area of the small parking lot free of more common cars. Perhaps because of the novelty of the British cars, which attracted at least as much attention as the mountain views, other travelers were quite accommodating.