Red Sandstone Hammer Formation

Teig and I came across this cool structure while hiking among the beautiful red rock formations in Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada. The deep colored red sandstone is so cool to explore in the park. This location is a must to explore when traveling through southern Nevada.

Full Sprint in Snow

Teig in full sprint through the deep snow on South Table Mountain. He definitely blends into the snow when the snow is coming down hard.

Washboard between Bluegrass Sets

This is one of the very cool instruments you occasionally find Bluegrass Musicians play at their gigs. I love the sound and this washboard is resting between sets at the Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs concert at New Terrain Brewery.

Backcountry Road in Joshua Tree National Natural Landmark

Not a soul could be found when we were sauntering in the backcountry near Tabeau Peak in the Joshua Tree National Natural Landmark. Teig and I love these secluded spots where few people visit or spend their time. I will always choose this type of location rather than a crowded tourist attraction.

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.

Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs at New Terrain Brewery

Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs is a fantastic Bluegrass Band from Montana. They were jamming and exciting the crowd at the New Terrain Brewery in Golden Colorado.

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.

Traildog on Snow Covered Ridge

Teig enjoying the sun on a beautiful winter's day after a snowstorm on Dinosaur Ridge. This trail is one of our favorite quick hikes near Denver, especially after a snowstorm.

Crest of Dinosaur Ridge in Winter

Teig was enjoying the sun setting on the Front Range Mountains from Dinosaur Ridge. There was a foot of fresh snow on the ridge but it was a comfortable 45 degrees on the trail.

Desert Flora on Tabeau Peak Ridge

Teig and I were hiking up Tabeau Peak above Joshua Tree National Natural Landmark in  southwest Utah and we came upon this beautiful view on a ridge off the trail. The flora here was so quaint with the views of the valley far below and the mountains in the distance that I was compelled to take a photograph.

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.

Ullrgrass Volunteers Warming Up

A pair of UllrGrass Volunteers were warming up at one of the fire towers near the entry gate. There were several of these fire towers around the festival to warm the festivarians up on this chilly January evening. Volunteers help with the festival and get to enjoy the music and fun when they are off shift.

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.