arch rock in joshua tree national park

Joshua Tree is an extremely well laid out Park providing easy access for photographers of almost any fitness level. Amazing photo ops are available right from your car, very close to the road or within 1/2 mile or less from your car if you’re not inclined to hike. The best part is that the Park is less than 5 hours from Scottsdale! We’re eager to go back. (Click Here for info on Camping)

Arch Rock is 1/2 mile round trip from the parking area.

arch rock

joshua tree before and after dark

Joshua Tree National Park is perfect for infrared so my converted 5D got a workout this week. Today’s image has a glow courtesy of Lightroom’s Clarity slider. Blue skies come from Lightroom’s HSL sliders and Photoshop’s Hue/Saturation. (Nik or Topaz might have been faster but they tend to add too much noise).

infrared joshua tree

Capturing stars is a challenge! The most challenging for me is staying up late 🙂   (Click Here for info on Camping)

joshua trees and stars

wildflower report

I scouted for wildflowers on the Toms Thumb trail yesterday morning. With the temps climbing, there are now lots of blooms and many species on the verge of blooming. In bloom were: Combseed, Fiddleneck,Cryptantha, Arizona Popcorn Flower, Storkbill Filaree, Blue Fiesta Flower, Deer Vetch, Lacepod, 2 kinds of Mustard, Miners Lettuce, Yellow Throated Gilia, Chia, Birch Leaf Mountain Mahogany, Ragged Rockflower, Perennial Rockcress, Lupine and POPPIES!

Here are just a few photos:

Poppies
poppies
Poppy
poppy
Lupine
lupine
Bluedick
bluedick

patterns in nature

Stop! Did you see that?! The answer from the drivers seat was no. What caught my eye was the amazing green and other colors in the rock so we backed up to get a closer look.. The time of day wasn’t ideal, the snow was too deep and there was fence keeping us from getting really close but I documented it anyway with plans to go back in October.

patterns in nature

Section enhanced with Topaz filters.
patterns in nature

Oooo…can’t wait to see that again!

mormon tea…..a desert conifer

The definition of conifer is a shrub or tree that bears cones. Have you ever looked very closely at a Mormon Tea? Surprise! It’s a conifer. Look even closer at this time of year and you’ll see the cones sprouting with blooms.

Extreme Close-up of Momon Tea Blooms
mormon tea blooms

Close look at Cones
mormon tea cones

A few common names for this plant are Mormon Tea, Joint-pine and Ephedra. Whatever you call it, take a magnifying glass with you on your next hike. Not just for the Mormon Tea but for all the tiny things blooming right now. The details are amazing.

Mormon Tea Shrub in Bloom
mormon tea shrub in bloom

Tech info for extreme close-ups: Canon SX1. Super Macro setting, ISO 200, f/2.8, 1/1600 second. It was windy and I was hand holding so even at 1/1600 sec, there’s still slight movement.

Conservation Photography