Thanks to Stephen Hampshire I have the honor of choosing the topic for this week's Weekly Challenge. I've decided on a topic that I think everyone can shoot and which has wide appeal -- The Earth's Bones.

In a former life I was a geologist, and even now that I no longer make my living hammering flakes of rock from outcrops, wherever I go I am drawn to rock formations in situ, in their natural location.

Your challenge will be to show me what the earth's bones are like where you live or where you've traveled. Impress me with their beauty and their character.

The Challenge will close on Friday, July 26, 11:59 pm EDT. So go to it!

The rules are as follows:

1. Post ONE photo (max 1024x1024).
2. The photo must portray an interpretation of the theme.
3. Post your single picture in this thread. If it's not obvious, explain what motivated you to take the picture and/or how you feel it represents the weekly theme.
4. The challenge is interactive. Any response is welcome.
5. The judge will pick the WINNERS and choose one of them to be the judge for the next week.
6. This challenge closes after 7 days, then allows for a day for the judge to choose the winners.
7. Any Pentax (or Samsung DSLR) camera will do.
8. Pictures can be from any time frame, not just within the week of the current theme.
9. In case the winner of a challenge is unable to become the judge for the next challenge, the winner will PM the #2 winner and pass the baton to that person to be the judge.

Previous weeks:
214 - Physical Strain, 215 - The Daily Grind, 216 - Colors of nature, 217 - Heavy Industry, 218 - Wisdom, 219-Surprise, 220 - Blue, 221-Vanishing Point, 222-Motion, 223-Juxtaposition, 224-Metals, 225-Firelight, 226-The [Not-So] Mundane, 227-Angles, 228-Theater, 229- Does not Belong 230-Breaking the Rules, 231-Cold as Ice 232-Selective Colour, 233- The Dark Side, 234 - Repetition, 235 - Dramatic Angles, 236- Dramatic Skies, # 237- Color and Contrast, # 238-The Human Shadow, #239- Nature does have its casualties, #240- A Working Class Hero, # 241 Wild Spaces, # 242 Old, Ancient, Antique, 243 - Wired, 244 - Reflections, 245 - Bridging the gap, 246 The thin slice, #247 Upside-Down; #248 Surreal; #249 Grounded; #250 Gold

Some examples from me are below. These were shot along a river, but don't let that make you think that you have to do so.

[Mike L]

Columnar basalt at the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland

[NaClH2O]

My humble entry. Quartz and pink granite stand out in this shot of coastal Bronx, looking north away from NYC. What looks like a skyline on the horizon just left of center is actually the spinnakers of a sailboat race coming down Long Island Sound.


NaCl( the Bronx certainly rocks! )H2O

[Neville]

The glow of the sandstone mountains in the Golden Gate Reserve in the Eastern Free State, South Africa.

[sealonsf]

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[audiobomber]

I love so many of the images in this this thread. We need a whole new thread where we can post lots of Earth's Bones photos.

This is one from Joshua Tree National Park, California:

[jheu02]

I guess this would be like the Incredible Journey's look at the Earth's Bones. My wife and I visited Luray Caverns in Virginia yesterday on our way to Charlottesville to see Yes. Lot's of photos, but this one seems to fit with the "bones" theme best. Lighting conditions were tough, and with no tripod and on a guided tour I was forced to low aperture settings since I didn't want to use the flash too much.

[noelcmn]

No way I can compete with these images- so just for the fun of it, and tempt Tamia to explore this rock which I found in the Kruger Park. You never know what you may find!

[Tamia]

What a marvelous glimpse of rocks around the world, folks! (I think I'll use a long lens or binoculars for your rock outcrop, Noel!)

There's a day left for others to join in our virtual geology field trip, so if you're thinking of adding a picture, now's the time to do it.

[charliezap]

Received feedback from the Saugus National Historic Website stating that the axe head is from the Archaic period dating from 2700-8000 years ago.Not as old as some "old bones" but it does have character.---charliezap
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=522250661162531&set=o.289647597765595&type=1&theater

[Johnyb3000]

So many warm rocks so I thought I would do a cold rock.

[Tamia]

This challenge is CLOSED. I'll post winners later today. Thanks to everyone who participated with such terrific photos!