I've been too Joshua Tree National Park many times over the last few years but have never created a photo I'm happy with. This was another short camping trip with friends where we hiked new trails and searched for the new blooms of Spring. I found this scene after a long day of hiking right next to our campsite as my friends were preparing the campfire and dinner. The full moon popped out from behind the mountains and compelled me to take out my camera. I felt this scene was a unique representation for the feelings of familiarity and comfort that I often experience while camping with my buddies here.
Taken in what I believed to be a uniquely discovered and difficult to find location (until another photographer showed up just before sunrise and yelled across the landscape at me that I was pointing my camera the wrong way and that sunrise was, in fact, "over there!" behind me. Thanks bud, I was aware ;-)
Taken in a remote playa of Death Valley National Park. I arrived to the park late at night and wandered off into the middle of the flats. When I woke, I was treated to this fiery sky, glowing mountains, and a gamut of patterns and textures below me. Big thanks to Sarah Marino and Ron Coscorrosa for their book, "Desert Paradise." Reading it before my first Death Valley trip really helped me learn more about the park and pointed me in the right direction for my explorations. Can't wait to get back here again as there are so many more places left to explore!