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A stormy morning at Joshua Tree

A Solitary Joshua Tree

A Solitary Joshua Tree

The scene above is one of my favorites from my recent trip to Joshua Tree. The sun had just broken over the top of the thunderstorm line that had produced the lightning show a few hours earlier. The rain left a nice low level fog amongst the joshua tree forest ahead.

Joshua Tree Forest

Joshua Tree Forest

Here you can see the ground level fog. The backlight did not last long. As we got closer the sun dipped behind the clouds. We were on our way out at this point. The sun would emerge a short time later but the light had turned harsh. The previous morning was a different experience.

Sunshine and Thunderstorm

Sunshine and Thunderstorm

Taken at the Boy Scout Trail head where we began our journey, these three pictures show the storm that would shortly hammer us.

Incoming Storm

Incoming Storm

Ever changing storm clouds

Ever changing storm clouds

After the storm

After the storm

Joshua Tree Forest II

Joshua Tree Forest II

On this backpacking trip we encountered few wild animals. During one rest stop I looked over and spotted this tarantula walking across the southern slopes of Quail Mountain. I am not sure if it was looking for food or if it was a male looking for a mate (and its doom).

Wild Tarantula

Wild Tarantula

Looking North from Quail Mountain

Looking North from Quail Mountain

View from Quail Mountain

View from Quail Mountain

Our expedition was to summit Quail Mountain, which is the high point in the Little San Bernardino Mountains and also the high point in the park.

Desert Sunset

Desert Sunset

Desert Sunset II

Desert Sunset II

Desert Sunset III

Desert Sunset III

As a landscape photographer, I find a place like Joshua Tree can be very challenging to shoot. The cloudless skies we have in southern California can sometimes make things a bit dull. On this trip however the skies played nice. Clouds tend to make what might be an interesting photograph an exceptional one.

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