Monument
Mount Rushmore in Gritty Granite
The towering granite presidential faces of Mount Rushmore are an imposing presence. Surrounded by trees, the mountain captures the serenity and grandeur of the landscape. The ruggedness of the stone, enhances the monument’s timeless appeal.
This photo is from our second trip to South Dakota and Mount Rushmore. Surprisingly, on the first trip, I took a number of photos of the monument but only posted two – one of the faces lit up at night and one of monument as viewed through the Doane Robinson Tunnel in Custer State Park.
On this evening, there was quite a but of haze in the air and in my effort to clean up and sharpen the image it made the rough texture and various cracks and veins running through the granite more pronounced. It’s almost distracting, but I kinda like it. Full disclosure: The sky was actually a bland, solid gray. I thought these guys deserved a better background so I digitally replaced the sky with a soft sunset.
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A Night at Mount Rushmore
On our trip to South Dakota’s Black Hills, we visited Mount Rushmore. We were sure to plan our visit for early evening so we could take part in the nightly program and lighting ceremony. This photo was taken as we exited the Memorial.
The rows of flags leading to the monument were flags of the states and territories of the United States. The evening ceremony and historical program they present is well worth the time. The only charge is a $10 parking fee. ($5 for seniors and free for military and veterans.)
I took a lot of photos of Mount Rushmore from various locations at the monument and around the area. You’ll see them posted here…in time.
Of course, the photo was taken in the dark and contains a boat-load of digital noise. I did my best to remove what I could but I could only do so much. (I might have to try harder.)
You can view a larger version of this photo by clicking on the image.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.