Slickrock and Shadow

Yucca and West Mountains Yucca plants can be found throughout desert climes but nowhere are they as picturesque as White Sands National Park.  At White Sands, the green blades contrast maximally with the white background to create a colorful splash of nature.  If you've seens pictures of White Sands, most of them have yuccas to give a focal interest to contrast with the uniform sand.   Fortunately it's quite easy to find lovely yuccas here.  Sure, you can wander the dunes to find something far away but it's equally successful to drive the single road and look to your right and left.  Pretty soon you'll see something within a short walk and there you go!  Easy.  You can get them in groups or singly or even focus on a small detail.  Many pleasures for the photographer's eye. Pods and Clouds Set of Three Yuccas at White Sands Slanted Yucca

Two Yucca plants overlooking the majestic SnowCanyon, Utah Snow Canyon is the closest landscape photography destination for me.  I can almost see my home from this viewpoint.  I came to the Snow Canyon Overlook about a year ago to see what type of photographic potential it had.  After looking things over carefully, I decided it would be a great sunrise location. This month I decided to wake up at 5 o'clock, make the drive to the parking lot and began hiking up the trail.  It is about 2.5 miles one way.  It is not especially difficult although in the dark, false trails could lead someone astray for a few feet here and there.  I used my headlamp for the first 2 miles.as I was getting to the overlook, enough dawn light allowed me to turn off the headlamp. I was not disappointed with the sunrise.  It was very gradual, very beautiful.  I love the contrast in the white sand, the red rocks and blue sky.  I hope to return here again for anot...