This photograph was taken in the quiet stillness of early morning, well before the first light of dawn touched the desert. we had scouted this area near Hanksville, Utah, the day before and knew that any later in the morning, the shifting light would flatten the subtle textures that make this formation so mesmerizing.

This photograph captures the intricate erosion patterns along the flanks of Factory Butte, where gravity and time have sculpted dramatic ridges into the barren clay. The folds and channels resemble abstract brushstrokes—an alien tapestry shaped by nature's hand. Shot in the soft light of evening, the textures reveal a hypnotic interplay of shadow and form, echoing the stark beauty of the Utah desert..