Desert

What makes deserts so beautiful? The ideas of harshness and scarcity attached to these landscapes are unappealing to some. Paradoxically, these ideas could be the reasons why others are drawn to deserts. When you look at a desert, you notice that everything is stripped of unnecessary parts. Your eyes are left with patterns and designs sculpted by the wind. Or rock formations cracked by dry heat. So when you come across something ordinary, it becomes even more beautiful in contrast to harshness.

This phenomenon is a ubiquitous truth and is the reason turquoise and beige make beautiful combinations. Earthy tones allow highlights to emerge, and the results are magical. The moment I took this picture, I realized how much we see patterns of the desert in art, fashion, and everyday life.

-CSS

Photo: Painted desert overlook (Arizona)