Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are at the northern end of the valley floor and are nearly surrounded by mountains on all sides. The primary source of the dune sands is probably the Cottonwood Mountains which lie to the north and northwest. The tiny grains of quartz and feldspar that form the sinuous sculptures that make up this dune field began as much larger pieces of solid rock. In between many of the dunes are stands of creosote bush on the sand and on dried mud, which used to cover this part of the valley before the dunes intruded.
Resting Off Trail in the Dappled Light
Teig resting on our way down from Whitney Lake in Colorado's Holy Cross Wilderness. We were next to the creek taking a rest from our saunter to the lake and back. These moments are some of my favorites because we feel a bit tired and are content with just experiencing nature.
Light on the Green Mountains behind Vail
We were exploring Piney River Road north of Vail and it was getting near sunset. The light broke through the heavy clouds and cast beautiful light on the mountains in the distance. These special scenes make it all worth exploring the backcountry of Colorado.
Joshua Trees as Moon Rises over Desert Mountains
I spent a fun couple of winter's nights in Joshua Tree National Natural Landmark outside St. George Utah. The evenings were cool and the stars and clouds made for some good night photography. The Joshua Trees really come alive when lighted by the moon or a flashlight. I spent a few hours every night shooting the landscape and stars. I really adore nights in the southwestern deserts.
Joshua Trees on Mojave Desert Floor
Cool Joshua Trees covering Joshua Tree National Natural Landmark. Yucca brevifolia is a plant species belonging to the genus Yucca. It is tree-like in habit, which is reflected in its common names: Joshua tree, yucca palm, tree yucca, and palm tree yucca. The name "Joshua tree" is commonly said to have been given by a group of Mormon settlers crossing the Mojave Desert in the mid-19th century: The tree's role in guiding them through the desert combined with its unique shape reminded them of a biblical story in which Joshua keeps his hands reached out for an extended period of time to guide the Israelites in their conquest of Canaan.
Joshua Tree and Tabeau Peak
A beautiful Joshua Tree with Tabeau Peak in the background at Joshua Tree National Natural Landmark in south western Utah.
A Forest of Joshua Trees
This beautiful place is the only spot where you'll find Joshua trees in Utah, and it's also the farthest north point in the U.S. to find tree yuccas. The Joshua Tree Natural Area covers 1,052 acres of federally-protected land. It was designated in 1966. The scenery is downright stunning with the desert foliage right in front of you, and the vast land stretching toward the mountains in the distance, you'll feel like you've found your own remote piece of heaven.
Desert Mountains and Joshua Trees
The desert southwest is a beautiful location to saunter and explore in the winter. It very rarely snows and it is mostly t-shirt and shorts weather this time of year. This landscape photo was created in Joshua Tree National Natural Landmark in Utah and the contrast of the Joshua Trees and barren mountains helps with composing desert landscape compositions. It is hard to get a bad landscape photo here in the winter.
Joshua Tree beneath Rugged Mountain Range
The beauty of a Joshua Tree on the desert floor underneath the rugged Mountains in Southwestern Utah.
Mountain Range in the Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area
A panoramic view of the desert mountains from the Woodbury Desert Study Area in southwestern Utah. The study area lies within both the Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area and Joshua Tree National Natural Landmark. The range is high in elevation above the Mojave desert below.
Joshua Trees in the American Desert
In the southwestern corner of Utah is a not very well known forest of Joshua Trees. The Joshua Tree National Natural Landmark is the location of this forest and stretches out for miles. Sauntering in this valley you can see how special this area is with the plethora of trees that cover the basin between the desert mountains. Each of these trees is a work of art and this photographer found a multitude of compositions worthy of documentation through photography.
Joshua Tree in Utah Basin
Numerous interesting Joshua trees can be found while exploring the desert basin in Joshua Tree National Natural Landmark. This unique location in southwestern Utah is a gem for photographers and adventures wanting to capture some of the American desert experience. It is awesome to be here in the winter months when the normal high temperatures hover around 70 degrees fahrenheit.
Lone Joshua Tree in Utah Desert
Late morning view in south-western Utah's Joshua Tree National Natural Landmark. Joshua trees range from here to the Mojave desert in southern California. It is fun to be able to saunter around this beautiful area in late December.
Warm Fall Colors Near Buena Vista
The warm sensation one feels when they approach a colorful stand of Colorado autumn aspens.
Mushroom Formation at Bisti Badlands
There are a plethora of interesting rock formations in the Bisti Badlands of northern New Mexico. I came across this mushroom looking one in a lonesome canyon and thought it looked cool.
Winter Scene at White Ranch
Winter in Golden Colorado is especially wonderful after a snowstorm. On this day I took a hike up to White Ranch above the valley and I found this group of frozen trees on my way to the summit. The light was nice even though it was later in the morning. A hike becomes super fun when you come across gems like this.
Morning Breeze in Death Valley
On our last morning in Death valley National Park we sauntered around the salt flat near Badwater which is the lowest point in North America at -282 feet below sea level. The winds were kicking up pretty good and Teig had his fur flowing with the breeze. It was very quiet on this morning and we were on the west side of the valley which only has a rough dirt road with hardly any tourists.
Stars, Milky Way and and Night Eyes
The Milky Way is amazing, especially viewing it above 11,000 feet in the Colorado Rockies. On this summer evening I was shooting the night sky in complete darkness. I was out in the forest alone and heard a bunch of rustling near me, totally freaking me out. I booked it back to camp which was a couple of hundred yard away. I came back a got my camera a short time later with a extremely bright headlamp. When I got home and processed the shots I found out it was just a few deer feeding in the grass on the mountainside. When you are out in complete darkness by yourself, you can get rattled and spooked by noises in the dark. By the way, Teig was asleep in the truck back at camp.
Glimpse of Cuchara Valley
Hiking down from West Spanish Peak in the San Isabel National Forest, I found a clear spot through the forest to the Cuchara Valley below. We had just came out of a large thunderstorm and I could see one down in the valley below. This section of the Southern Colorado Rockies is very lush and green. The hiking here is fantastic.
Glimpse of Cuchara Valley