© 2020 Romi Boon All Rights Reserved
We arrived at Monument Valley with plans to tour and photograph the valley; we were so excited! We didn’t however do our homework prior to our arrival, and were disappointed to find out the park was closed because of Covid. So, we made the most of our time here and decided to explore the area around Monument Valley instead. We chose to explore a side road that was paved to begin with, then it turned to gravel and then it turned into a forestry service road. We were alone and it felt freeing to be alone; the only car in the middle of nowhere and away from civilization. Suddenly I saw something move across the rocky desert scape, “Wild donkeys!” I said with excitement (I had never seen them before). They were a far distance away so with my camera and long lens in hand I slowly walked towards them; not knowing anything about wild donkeys, I wondered if they’d be curious about me. Then with some trepidation I wondered what would I do if they did! Quit quickly however, they ran off and I didn’t even get a single shot. We continued on and as we turned a corner, these four wild donkeys stood right in front of us! Now, knowing how skittish they are, I quietly (and quickly) got out of the truck to take aim. Initially, they were huddled together but as I approached them (ever so carefully) they backed off and stood as you see them here; just as curious about me as I was about them. I knew how very, very blessed I was for this once in a lifetime opportunity, so with that in mind, I made sure all my settings were I wanted them and held my camera steady. What I love about this photo is how perfectly lined up they are!
While on our way to visit Wickenburg, we decided look for some photographic opportunities and potential boondocking (dry-camping) sites in the Lake Pleasant area, north-west of Phoenix. Just a short distant from the Phoenix/Scottsdale area, the world changes; as we noticed as we drove down a dusty gravel road, through small mountainous valleys and rocky gorges. The area was (quite notably), densely covered with saguaro trees. When this lake (Lake Pleasant) came into view, I noted how intriguing it was to see both saguaro trees and a lake in one “frame”. Driving further north I noticed the sun’s reflection in the lake and stopped to take a photo. I carefully placed my feet as I made my way down the prickly pear embankment and framed this shot when suddenly a truck barreled past. Seeing the dust, my first instinct was to run back into truck however I knew I wouldn’t make it there in time so I ate the dust, lol! To my surprise however the dust lofted down into my frame! Although my camera (and myself) got sugar coated with dust, I was elated to get this shot! I absolutely love the softness and muted colors of this photo and how the dust (which looks like fog) adds to the interesting combination of sun, lake reflections and sky.
Finding and planning photographic locations takes time and physical effort but the rewards often yield the best photographs. It never does however seem like a chore when I’m engulfed in my passions (early morning starts, cycling, hiking and photography), it’s then that I’m in my “happy place”! What could possibly be more fun than searching for spectacular locations and then later have a prize photograph. That said however, weather does play a big roll, and even with all the efforts I’ve made, sometimes sudden weather changes have worked against my plans or rewarded me well. This photograph has such a story. I found this location on a previous morning bike ride, and I made a mental note to return. What I loved about this particular location was the combination of darks and lights (the shadows and highlights), often referred to as the darkest darks and the brightest whites, which are complimentary in any photograph or painting. We planned the night before to be on the bike path before sunrise and then cycle out to this location. Our goal was to be there for golden hour, when the early morning rays of sun make the desert cacti come alive. That said however, the weather didn’t cooperate and even though it was an overcast day the sun did poke through occasionally; just enough to get this shot.
