Slickrock and Shadow

Palms, Ocotillo and Barrel Cacti are primarily seen in Mountain Palm Springs Canyon In the heart of Anza Borrego Desert Reserve are the oases giving palm trees a life in the midst of harsh surroundings.  Mountain Palm Springs is one such oasis.  In my digital explorations using Google satellite images, it appeared that several small oases are interspersed throughout these canyons.  I came for sunrise and early morning photography (they face the east) and found small paths leading over the hills of one canyon into another adjacent canyon.  These hills are not very high so climbing to the top and then discovering another oasis in the desert was kind-of fun.  This is a delightful and easy place to explore.  (It made me feel like a Victorian-era explorer.)  I could have stayed a lot longer but had some other adventures planned this day. There is a small BLM-style campground with plenty of room here.  You'll be totally alone with nature. ...

Quiet Intersection of Monterosso al Mare, Cinque Terre Before crowds wake up, before the shops open, before sounds fill the alleyways, every city seems to have a quiet side.  I like to get up and wander around during this time to see the world without so many people.  Here in there, a shopkeeper was getting ready for the day.  For the most part, the alleyways for empty and silent. As a photographer I enjoyed exploring.  I had no map, no agenda.  I just wandered around, took my time and enjoyed whatever happened to cross my path.  Some street signs, hanging lanterns, umbrellas, parked bicycles and doors ajar caught my attention.  I hope you enjoy them. Monterosso al Mare is where I stayed during my 3 days in the Cinque Terre.  This is a wonderful town.  I stayed in the older part, more southern part.  There is a wonderful beach, wonderful old buildings and delicious pizza. Green door number 21 Shops before opening time. ...

Welcome to Pont Alexandre III The most beautiful bridge in all Paris is the over-the-top Pont Alexandre III.  this bridge does everything, including spanning the Seine River.  It has beautiful lamp posts, monuments covered in gold, winged horses, angels, great views of the Eiffel Tower as well as the other nearby monuments and landmarks.  This is a short walk from the Place de la Concorde and Musee d'Orsay.  I visited this location in the morning just as the sunrise was starting to light up the golden statues.  I had fun trying to work with different compositions.  The Eiffel Tower in the background served me well in one composition.  The Hotel des Invalides was used in the background of another image.  In a city full of wonderful places to see, I would not miss this wonderful gem. Monumental Morning:  Lining up these monument for a better photograph Lamp Posts of Pont Alexandre III

Snow Canyon Tree, Reflection and Cliffs One of the most helpful pieces of advice to give the photographer is to limit how many subjects are in a photograph to a maximum of 3.  A photograph tells a story.  In order for the story to be clearly understood, there must be a straightforward message.  Anything that is a distraction from that message, weakens the impact. In this photograph the story is simple.  small oasis in the desert.  The subjects in this photograph are the tree, its' reflection in the water, the background cliffs.  This composition was achieved by using a telephoto lens, zooming in on this subject and eliminating some distracting bushes on the left.  A photographer should not simply record an image.  He or she should draw attention to the subject in order to communicate emotion or tell a story.  My story about this tree is one of small beauty in the desert, living among the rocks, without neighbors.  It is a delightf...