Before We Explain the World

Photography by Lu Heng

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The Scale of Time

From rock and mountains to clouds, water and fireworks. Some shapes form slowly; some light lasts only a moment.

5The Scale of Time

Land Without Us

Story 30 of 51 · 12 photographs

Valleys, peaks, rivers and layers of rock. As you move along the photographs, notice which view takes away your sense of scale, and which gives you something to measure the distance by again.

  1. A river through the mountains; A braided river cuts through a wide mountain valley beneath a clear blue sky.
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    A river through the mountains

  1. Beyond golden grass, blue ridges recede into a deep mountain valley.
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    Into the valley

  2. A misty mountain valley; A tiny figure stands on golden ground above a valley of receding blue mountains.
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    A misty mountain valley

  1. Snow-covered peaks beneath clear sky; A sharp snowy summit rises above jagged grey slopes against a clear blue sky.
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    Snow-covered peaks beneath clear sky

  1. A rugged mountain range; Bare ridges and deep gullies repeat into a hazy mountain distance.
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    A rugged mountain range

  2. A textured mountain peak; A jagged grey peak rises vertically against an unbroken blue sky.
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    A textured mountain peak

  1. A river through a mountain valley; A clear stream threads through a narrow dry valley between high rock walls.
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    A river through a mountain valley

  2. The rough outline of rust-red rock fills the lower frame beneath clear blue sky.
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    Red rock, blue sky

  3. Light between canyon walls; Sunlit canyon terraces rise beyond a wide band of shadow.
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    Light between canyon walls

  1. A dark, cone-shaped mountain fills the lower frame beneath bright blue sky and white clouds.
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    Slopes beneath blue sky

  2. A black-and-white mountain valley; In black and white, pale river channels wind towards a snow-striped mountain.
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    A black-and-white mountain valley

  1. Golden ridges shaped by wind; Wind-cut golden ridges repeat across the frame like folded fabric.
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    Golden ridges shaped by wind

Lu Heng on the ledger and the throne