It was difficult to leave my home in Ohio for a week as spring continued to work towards its climax. I would miss some beautiful mornings walks among blooming flowers and tree buds popping. Alas, my day job called me away to Las Vegas for this year’s NAB convention. 

I’ve been to Vegas more times than I can count over the past few decades for work. Admittedly it is one of my least favorite places. The indulgences it offers are of no interest to me. The convention, however, was quite enjoyable as well as productive. 

Following NAB it was time to head west to California for some business meetings. Ah, but not before finding some time to play in the high desert! After renting a car, my coworker and I drove to Joshua Tree National Park where we would wash away the grimy remnants of Las Vegas in the cool crisp air of this magical place. It was time to slow down and reconnect with mother earth. 

Spring color dazzled everywhere. I’ve visited this park a few times previously but not seen such a display of color. The ground was carpeted with a variety of flowers while the Joshua trees loomed above. Yellow was most prevalent, followed by white, lavender, and some splashes of red. The company of a few jackrabbits added to this sublime pleasure of being there.

This park is very approachable. In addition to the parking lots, a variety of pull-offs along the  roads offer ample places to stop and go for a walk. There are few marked paths. For the most part a person can wander at will. The contour and beauty of this landscape is enhanced by Incredible rock formations.

Photographically speaking there is a lot to take in. It would be a mistake to move too hastily. Instead, I chose to slowly take in what the surrounding area of my current position had to offer before moving on. I would rather depart with a few quality photographs than shoot a blitzkrieg that leaves me out of breath at the end of the evening. Simply setting up the camera, looking through the viewfinder, and slowly composing is an absolute joy. And it should be enjoyed whether or not the shutter button is ultimately pressed.

As the late afternoon gave way to evening the sunlight became more intense. I found myself watching the glow of backlight coming through vegetation. How glorious the heavenly light was! I placed my tripod almost without thought, being drawn to each vantage point.

We wandered, photographed, and drunk in everything that was gifted to us well past sunset. Stars began to dot the deep blue sky and our time was completed with the promise to return.

The photos I made at Joshua Tree during this visit were taken with my lenses set to their widest apertures or just one click smaller. I used selective focus, tilts, swings, and some shifting to compose, control perspective, and focus or defocus areas of each photo. This was not a plan I began with but rather the process that worked for me on this particular visit. Sometimes I use smaller apertures in my photography and handle depth of field in a more common way. Hear in lies the benefits of a technical camera. Its bag of tools is vast with capabilities far beyond those of most other cameras. 

All of these photos are pure, meaning they are straight out of the camera without any post editing.