The Bardenas Reales in northern Spain form a semi-desert you would expect to find in Arizona rather than Europe. Clay, sand and limestone have been carved here by millions of years of erosion into a landscape of jagged canyons, plateaus and peaks. The most recognisable landmark is undoubtedly the Castildetierra: a slender, conical rock formation that rises above the plain like a watchtower.
Early in the morning, when the air is still cool and clear, I come face to face with this wondrous phenomenon. The first rays of the sun colour the rocks gold, while long shadows highlight the relief of the landscape. In that moment, there is nothing else that matters but the sheer beauty of the silence and shapes around me.
The Castildetierra is not only a geological feat, but also a symbol of the transience of nature. Wind and rain erode it further every year, slowly changing its shape. It is precisely this temporary nature that makes experiencing it so special: it is a landscape in motion, captured in one still moment.
My name is Gerry van Roosmalen, photographer and author with a passion for images and stories that touch. After years in the corporate world, I followed my heart and chose photography in 2002. I completed the Fotovakschool in Apeldoorn, specialising in portrait and reportage photography.
Documentary and landscape..
Read more…