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22nd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
A Lonley Pine Tree Grows Defiantly on the Slopes of Cinder Cone

Lassen National Parks' Cinder Cone volcano is surrounded by gravelly lava rock in a wasteland of its own making. This lone pine tree stands resilient on the steep slope of Cinder Cone. I feel like this photo simultaneously captures a sense of loneliness and also a triumph of the spirit. It's an underdog's success story.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 09.2022
Date Uploaded: 09.2024
Photo Location: Mineral, California, United States of America
Camera: NIKON D500
Copyright: © Brad Highland