Silhouetted Palms

I love silhouettes. They just have such a great look to them. I must remember to do more of them in the future.

 

Chris. 

Sand Dunes

We took the time to visit the sand dunes in the south east corner of California again while we were down there. I love all that sand. Everywhere you look you see sand. It's like the worlds largest beach.

 

Chris. 

Moon Rise

 

This was the other reason I wanted to head out to the mountains when we did. Full moon. The sunset and moonrise were less than 30 minutes apart so I was sure there would be great photo opps. These were hard to get without my tripod but  I'm happy with the result.

Chris. 

 

Desert Sunset

There is something so awe inspiring about a sunset in the desert. I can't describe it. Just the way the sun dipped behind the mountains in the west. It just made me stare in awe.

I love the orange glow in this photo. So warm and inviting. I wish I was close enough to the highway to have gotten on the other side of the power lines but I still love this photo.

 

When the sun was almost completely under the horizon I spotted this. The colors were quickly moving from orange to purple and then to black. Such an amazing sight.

Chris. 

Cacti and Rock

I definitely need to go back to the deserts of Arizona and capture some more images like these. On our next trip down there I'm planning a whole day in the Kofa National Wildlife Reserve. I could easily have spent an entire day here.

Our next trip down won't be for several years now I think so the kids will be older and will be able to handle a day with Dad in the desert....or not. LOL.

I had to drive out to the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge while we were so close. I was hoping to see some wildlife and get some great landscape photos. We saw one small snake and were warned off by a rattle snake but other than that all I got were some great landscape photos. I forgot my tripod back at the park, still kicking myself over that one, but still managed some pretty nice photos.

This is the point at which I decided to return to the rental van. I had lost the trail and didn't want to get too far from the van and have to cut right across country to get back to it.

As we were making our way back to the van, I spotted a line of cacti growing up and along this ridge line. I really liked how they formed an arc in the image. There are more further up the mountain but they would not fit into the composition.

This small cactus was just loaded with spines! I can't even imagine falling onto that one. Oh, just after this image, we were warned by a rattle snake. Startled us but it was a few yards to our south and only rattled at us twice then left us alone. I couldn't see it and decided not to search for it even though I really wanted that photo!

This was the largest cactus in the area. It was just standing out by itself keeping watch on the area like a silent guard.

You can't visit the desert mountains without looking for this classic desert scene! I had timed our trip so we would be leaving around sunset and I knew the setting sun would shine some fantastic light on the area. All I needed to do was pick my spot and wait for the light. I saw this scene on our way into the area and made note of it for the drive out.

Chris.

Mountain Scape

 

I had to drive out to the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge while we were so close. I was hoping to see some wildlife and get some great landscape photos. We saw one small snake and were warned off by a rattle snake but other than that all I got were some great landscape photos. I forgot my tripod back at the park, still kicking myself over that one, but still managed some pretty nice photos.

Don't you just want to climb this?

Chris. 

Signal Peak.

 

I had to drive out to the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge while we were so close. I was hoping to see some wildlife and get some great landscape photos. We saw one small snake and were warned off by a rattle snake but other than that all I got were some great landscape photos. I forgot my tripod back at the park, still kicking myself over that one, but still managed some pretty nice photos.

This is looking east into Palm Canyon at signal peak. I lost the trail and never did make it to the palms but we still had a great time walking around the area.

Chris. 

Kofa National Wildlife Refuge

 

I had to drive out to the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge while we were so close. I was hoping to see some wildlife and get some great landscape photos. We saw one small snake and were warned off by a rattle snake but other than that all I got were some great landscape photos. I forgot my tripod back at the park, still kicking myself over that one, but still managed some pretty nice photos.

Chris. 

New Born!!

 

We went to the Camel Farm by Yuma to check out the exotic animals. Most of what they have are run of the mill goats and donkeys but it was fun none the less.

This goat was born only a couple of minutes before we got to the pen. The mother was still licking him clean. The kids were fascinated that it could stand and walk already.

Chris. 

Waiting For More.

 

We went to the Camel Farm by Yuma to check out the exotic animals. Most of what they have are run of the mill goats and donkeys but it was fun none the less.

This great donkey was just begging for me to keep scratching his neck. He was my best friend the whole time I was beside him.

Chris. 

Hi There!

 

We went to the Camel Farm by Yuma to check out the exotic animals. Most of what they have are run of the mill goats and donkeys but it was fun none the less.

The donkeys all just wanted some petting and attention.

Chris. 

Do I Smell Treats?!

 

We went to the Camel Farm by Yuma to check out the exotic animals. Most of what they have are run of the mill goats and donkeys but it was fun none the less.

This guy was very interested in the treats we bought to feed them.

Chris. 

Run Off Ditch

 

One of the many walking paths that doubles as a rain runoff ditch in the RV Resort we stay at in Yuma. It rarely rains but when it does, I guess it fills these ditches up most of the way.

Chris. 

Palm And Mountains

 

Looking out the back of the hotel we stayed at there is this great palm tree that juts up over the buildings behind it. The mountains cut across the mid section of the palm and gave a nice line through the scene.

Chris. 

Palm To The Sky

 

Looking up the truck of a palm tree in the court yard of our hotel in Palm Springs.

I love the textures of the bark. I noticed this tree across the court yard when the rising sun peaked over the mountains and lit this tree up. I was struck by the color of the light and how it made this tree seem to glow.

Chris.

Almost Travel Time!

My wife and I are taking our kids down to Palm Springs, CA and Yuma, AZ for vacation this month. Easter falls at the end of spring break this year so we are spending it with my wife's parent's winter home down in Yuma. I'm looking forward to the trip from a photography angle as well as a much needed rest. Here in Edmonton it is late winter starting to look like spring is coming. Basically that means that the wonderful white landscape is about to turn muddy and brown. Until the plant life starts to bloom that is.

Now anyone that has been to Yuma will tell you that it's brown there all year long being in the desert and all. :) This is true but it's a different brown. It's the browns and greens of the desert. Not the brown of road gravel thrown down by the road crews to help with the icy roads. I'm looking forward to the change of climate.

I have my eyes set on three wild life and nature preserves around Yuma. Two of them on the Colorado River where the border between Arizona and California runs and one a bit further east right in the middle of the desert.

The first I plan to visit is the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge. Here, along the Colorado River, I'm hoping to see Big Horn Sheep, Mule Deer, Muskrats and many species of birds. Perhaps I'll see some wild burros and some snakes along the way.

Second on my list of places to visit is the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge. Much the same as the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge it's just a short driver further north along the Colorado River. I expect to see much the same animals and plants here.

The third I want to visit is the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. This one is more or less due east of the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge. This one is desert all the way and I expect to see lots of cacti and desert critters. What I'm hoping to see here are Desert Tortoise and Desert Kit Fox.

Of course with all these locations, it would be amazing to photograph a coyote chasing a road runner!

Timing will be very important for these locations. I don't want to be in the desert in the middle of the day. Not only will it be too hot but the animals will not be nearly as active either. I'll have to get there before sunrise or a couple hours before sunset. Having 2 young children, I'm pretty sure it will be the afternoon time slot.

Chris.