First Impressions

The Bentonite Hills of southern Utah are a geological wonder. These softly contoured elevations, banded in various hues, have accumulated over the millennia from layers of clay-rich sediments, including volcanic ash and fine-grained minerals. While this colorful desert landscape is a drone photographer’s dream, Meagan Puett wanted to document her “first impression” of the hills with her handheld camera in order to compare this ground-level view to the aerial shots would take moments later. The view is otherworldly—something you might see on Mars. In fact, the Mars Desert Research Station was constructed nearby to investigate the possibility of humans existing on Mars. It’s the perfect location for such a facility because the area is geologically analogous to the Red Planet.   “I was blown away by the beauty of this place and how relatively unknown and desolate it still seemed,” Meagan says. “So many beautiful natural places are overrun with tourists nowadays, so it was refreshing and peaceful to have this special spot all to myself for the time I was there and to capture this truly undisturbed setting.” Meagan’s photograph invites us to connect with the natural world and experience its splendor through her lens.