Grass in Pale Sand, White Bluffs, Washington, 2024

Description

This image turns from the broad Columbia River overlook to one of the smaller details found within the White Bluffs landscape. A single clump of grass rises from pale sand, its fine stems catching the light against the darker surrounding tones. The photograph feels quiet and intimate, almost like a study of persistence. In a place known for wide views, ancient sediments, and river-carved bluffs, this small form holds its own kind of presence. The black-and-white treatment removes distraction and emphasizes texture: sand, grass, shadow, and light. The scene suggests the resilience of plants living in the dry shrub-steppe above the Hanford Reach, where wind, sun, and poor soils shape what survives. It is a small moment, but it carries the same sense of time and exposure found throughout White Bluffs.