The color of the soil in this photo, taken at Cedar Breaks National Monument in southern Utah, is caused by iron oxide. Parts of it have turned white through "bleaching", a natural process wherein water dissolves the iron oxide and strips its color. Pretty interesting: http://geology.utah.gov/online/pdf/pi-77.pdf
This is a view from my home, with the setting sun illuminating the mountain. Photography literally means light writing, or writing with light, and we've had lots of beautiful sunset light lately.