Grand Canyon is one of the world’s most exquisite natural beauties, and all of our Grand Canyon Images Contest participants capture its wonder in a way that words simply cannot. It is a difficult task to choose just one of these amazing submissions that range in photos, drawings and paintings. This year, we decide upon Rex Naden’s photo titled Crenellation (featured above) as the 2014 Grand Prize Winner. Rex reflects the unique fluting phenomenon in a piece of Vishnu Schist. Vishnu Schist is a metamorphic rock that is part of the “basement” rock layer in the Inner Gorge of Grand Canyon. The Vishnu Schist is well-known for featuring the natural sculpting wonder known as fluting. Fluting is created by centuries of weather and erosion.
Interestingly, in the 1800’s, geologist Charles Walcott names the Vishnu Schist rock layer after the Vishnu Temple. Vishnu Temple is a rock formation on the north side of the canyon near Cape Royale. It was common practice to name the rock layers of the Grand Canyon after the names of buttes and mesas. Many landscape features in the Grand Canyon are named after mythologies and legends from all over the world. Vishnu is the name of a God from Hindu Mythology.
Titled “Crenellation”, Rex’s photo captures the unique fluting phenomenon in a piece of Vishnu Schist.
We don’t think it is a secret why Rex names his photo Crenellation. But unless you are familiar with medieval architecture or an expert at crossword puzzles, you may wonder. The word crenellation, also commonly interchanged with battlements, is an architectural feature of a castle. Furthermore, it derives from the Latin word crena, meaning “notch.”
In conclusion, you will see or you have seen this section of the Grand Canyon. As your raft floats past the fluting in the Vishnu Schist, the tall, dark and smooth walls swallow the river. The sun warms the Vishnu and the heat reflects off the earth like an oven. The rock itself can become too hot to touch with your bare hand. The notches in the schist look like a maze of tunnels. And an occasional plant takes root and hangs on for dear life. It is definitely possible to imagine a scene straight from a book or movie set during the Medieval times.
We would also like to congratulate (in no particular order): Paul Dyer, Danny Gale, and Catherine Mix, our three runner-up Grand Canyon Images Contest contestants, on their gorgeous submissions!
Thank you to everyone who submitted an image to this year’s contest, and we look forward to seeing what our 2015 Grand Canyon Images Contest will bring!
Would you like to submit your adventure art to the next Images of Grand Canyon Contest? Read Rules and Regulations for the Images of Grand Canyon Contest.
Check out winners from other years: 2017, 2016, 2015, & 2012. Questions? Contact Roxanne Begay-Shupla at rbegay@azraft.com.