A short stop on our way home. This Park is huge, slightly bigger than the state of Rhode Island. It encompasses two distinct ecological zones and these can actually be recognized as you drive through the park. This was my second trip through the park and I am still amazed at how few Joshua Trees are in the park! The AZ Joshua Tree Park has more trees and they appear healthier than their CA counterparts. The rock formations are interesting and the desert views are outstanding. The Cholla Garden is a must see.
We got up early, it was still very dark when we checked out of our room in Twenty Nine Palms. Given that we had not scouted for a sunrise shot, we opted to wait for some light and have breakfast first. When we stepped outside the restaurant we found that the sky was ON FIRE! I hate that when it happens!!! Dang it!!!! We drove very quickly to the Park while asking the goddesses of sunrise for the sunrise to last long enough for us to find a Joshua Tree. Any Joshua Tree! Near the road (please)! A foreground (big enough we could see). Anything!!! Miles down the road, or so it seemed, a single smallish Joshua Tree. Whew! We took it. We had missed the incredible red that was there just minutes before this image was captured.
Just four minutes after my first shot above. Mother Nature waits for no one!
Looking south . . . round the bend.
The band of darker clouds was not going away any time soon. We kept hoping for some breaks in the clouds.
Better light to the south. Not so good overhead.
Ah! Big break for a few seconds! This is a situation where you really begin to appreciate the term 'chasing light'. Notice how all of a sudden we have shadows, DOF, interest! Ah, Father Sun, stick around!
Just a bit of life in a harsh environment. A blossom on a long stalk to improve its chances. The beauty in something like this is missed when looking skyward.
It is alive.
What to do when the sun won't come out and play? Shoot flowers and other macro shots.
All macro shots taken handheld with the Nikon Df and the Nikkon 55mm f/2.8 manual focus lens. Have not seen a cactus quite like this.
I wonder what their flowers look like.
These were the tiniest flowers I have seen in a very long time. They were so fragile. I was not successful at getting a good DOF with them, especially hand holding and manually focusing. Sharing anyway.
Leaving one ecosystem with Joshua Trees and getting into the Cholla Garden.
Only a mother could love them. So ugly they are gorgeous.
How about that for a leading line? Not walking down there! We tried to be so careful and not pick any up on our shoes. We were not successful!
Grandeur! Expansive! Think fisheye!
As we neared Twenty Nine Palms I admitted to Tom that I had not been so tired in years. Years!!! The following morning I asked him if, just perchance, we were too old to be keeping up the schedule we had chosen recently. "Maybe." was his response. Nope! Not! Negative! That was my response! I am sure once we get rested up we will be just fine. Until then, two tired minds are better than one tired mind so we will stick closely together. We are a team!! Thanks for joining and sharing our teamwork.