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 braided river cuts through a wide mountain valley beneath a clear blue sky.
    191

    A river through the mountains

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

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  2. A tiny figure stands on golden ground above a valley of receding blue mountains.
    193

    A hazy mountain valley

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  1. A sharp snowy summit rises above jagged grey slopes against a clear blue sky.
    194

    Snow-covered peaks beneath clear sky

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

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  2. A jagged grey peak rises vertically against an unbroken blue sky.
    196

    A textured mountain peak

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  1. A stream threads through a narrow rocky valley between high walls, with scattered green shrubs along the water.
    197

    A river through a mountain valley

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  2. The rough outline of rust-red rock fills the lower frame beneath clear blue sky.
    198

    Red rock, blue sky

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  3. Sunlit canyon terraces rise beyond a wide band of shadow.
    199

    Sunlight on canyon terraces

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  1. A dark, cone-shaped mountain fills the lower frame beneath bright blue sky and white clouds.
    200

    Slopes beneath blue sky

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  2. In black and white, pale river channels wind towards a snow-striped mountain.
    201

    A black-and-white mountain valley

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  1. Narrow golden ridges cast dark shadows in a pattern like folded fabric.
    202

    Golden ridges

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Lu Heng on the ledger and the throne