https://www.google.com/maps/place/Trona+Pinnacles,+California/@35.6177676,-117.385619,6199m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x80c145f0b0d18109:0xa3fdb5c8562aba3f!6m1!1e1 The otherworldly landscape of Trona Pinnacles is like a scene straight out of a science fiction film. Hundreds of stone columns mysteriously rise far above this remote, open playa. Thousands of years ago, this part of the Mojave Desert was covered by a large lake. Over time, calcium carbonate, in a form known as a tufa, formed underwater pinnacles before the lake went dry. Now, hundreds of tufa stand above an open desert playa, some reaching 140 feet or more. I spent the afternoon exploring these bizarre formations before shooting sunset, where I was treated to the week’s most vibrant display of light. The pinnacles came to life as the sky lit up with color, and for a fleeting moment I felt like an interplanetary traveler. The area is best explored by sunset or sunrise, when the curious landscape features are accentuated by dramatic light.