California Photos
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"Death Valley View" - CLICK TO SEE ENTIRE IMAGE. Hmmm, really…. seriously! The wet and windy weather seems to be following me! I’m now in Death Valley and although the weather has been challenging, I did manage to dodge the rain. and get some awesome shots. Honestly though, I love the varied weather because it adds unique lighting, clouds and contrast to my images, like this one. The weather was clinging to the mountains all around me and although it was 17 degrees where I stood, it was snowing along the mountain tops. It was SO windy though, that when I dropped my lens-cap it (in seconds), blew over a ledge. A fine young man from Vancouver Island however was kind enough to retrieve it for me (in flipflops!)…. sheesh! I had visited this location before and although it was only in passing I did manage to get a really unique shot here (visit: ). I decided to camp nearby and planned to be back there for sunrise but (you guessed it), by morning it was raining… yet again! Suddenly though, the sun appeared so I hurriedly got dressed, packed up the RV and drove the the 5 minutes to get there.... AND, Yup, you guessed it (again) the sunlight was gone, oh darn! Okay, so now what to do? I decided to stay in the parking lot, have breakfast and do some editing while I hoped the sun would peak through again. Low and behold, the sun came out just long enough to get a shot! This image is a 4 image panoramic stack; meaning that I’ve stitched 4 images together (in photoshop). As a result, the file is huge and worthy of a monstrous (lol) enlargement. Patience and perseverance paid off.
This, is MY FAVORITE photo to date.... but admittedly my favorite photo is always my latest one; or the one that’s still in my camera :-) I love panoramic images; especially those with repeating patterns, like this image. As I drove around the Coachella Valley (south-west California) I marveled at the date farms, and how the trees were in such perfect lines That said however, I didn’t find a date farm planting that I thought was “perfect”, so I left the valley "empty handed". I hadn’t driven but an hour when I notice this planting and how the slope of the land made all the tree trunks (from front to back) visible. “Perfect!”, I said to my dog Arlo! Yes, I talk to him as he listens with a tilted head… lol. You may ask, “What makes this image work?”, and why did I choose this one, out of all the images I took. With my camera in hand, I carefully I placed the widest and brightest separation of trees off to one side. I chose to include a separation (so that your eyes would be drawn into the image) but I had to consider balance and the weight of the image too; the heaviness of the fronds, the size of the date trees and how much foreground too. Together, these elements make this image outstanding ….in my humble opinion… :-) NOTE: This is a 3-image stack; meaning 3 horizontal images have been stitched together in post processing to create this format. That said, this image is HUGE and will easily cover the length of any wall.
With all the rain that California received this winter, I decided to visit Borrego Springs in hopes to capture some flowering desert plants. I wasn’t disappointed! In some areas, the desert floor was blanketed with color; purples, pinks, yellow and white too. The desert is sometimes referred to as the flowering desert and I could see why; I have never seen the desert so vibrant with color! I walked around for quite some time before I found this composition; one that would lead your eyes to the distant mountains (which adds to its overall scale). With my camera on a tripod, and only a foot from the ground, and only a inches from the foreground flowers, I used my wide angle lens. Then, I had to take multiple images and stack them (in post production) to get the depth of field I desired. The purple flowered plant are called, “Desert Sand Verbena’s”. They’re creepers that grow wild (and well after rains), in the sands of Mexico, California and Arizona and can cover vast areas (as I saw!). The sweet scented “Dune Evening Primrose” (the white flowers) grow to 18 inches tall and grow in clusters of up to 40 inches in diameter. They can be found in all of the southern states, especially around sandy dunes. They also go by other names, including; Desert Primrose, Birdcage Evening Primrose, Devil’s Lantern, Lion-in-a-cage and Basket Evening Primrose.
The desert can be beautiful, dangerous and downright eerie sometimes too. The desert wildfires I’ve seen in the past, have always been on hillsides, and never on a sandy plain like this here. That said, I was quite surprised because very little tends grow on the plains... yet here was a stand of sparsely spaced and blackened trees. I stopped to take a look around and as I did, I noted a dust cloud across the way; little did I know that I’d soon be engulfed by it... but I got this shot! ;-) From time to time, the desert can feel eerie; I can walk for miles in the desert, and never see a single soul. It's tranquility is lovely; but I know snakes are lurking. I’m at awe by its night skies; but the howling coyotes remind me that I’m not alone. Yes, the desert can be eerie but I’ve never thought of the desert as "ghostly", until I came across this scene. Note the smaller tree in the background. I chose to include it in this composition to give it an overall sense of scale; without it, one could think that the subject tree was simply a shrub.
“Desert Dust Storm” While visiting the Palm Springs area recently, the frequent high winds meant my camera had to stay in my bag, and Arlo and I were sequestered to the RV; it was quite the site to see, and experience. The wind howled as the blowing sand and dust pelted the RV. At times it looked like fog, and it blanketed entire valleys and neighborhoods. Drifts of sand accumulated as the sand blew and swirled across the roadways. At times the wind was almost violent, and yet it was “only” 70 mph winds (I can’t imagine winds over 100mph!). This photo was taken from inside my RV :-) ....where I was sheltered from the wind and (most) of the blowing sand and dust. The wind shook the RV so I waited for a moment of calm before capturing this image. I love how the dust helps to define the depth of field in this image; something I didn’t expect to ever capture in a desert scene. I'm thrilled!
If you take a closer look an artist’s small scene landscape, you’ll usually notice these three predominant elements; a focal point, the overall contrast and the composition. When these elements are creatively harmonious the image speaks for itself, and we take note. Now, take a look at this image, and see if you can spot these elements. This image was taken along California’s Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, home to John Muir’s, Pacific Crest Trail; an enormous hiking trail that starts at the Mexican border, and ends at the Canadian border (2650 miles in total). The trail covers some incredibly taxing terrain; from the dry heat of the desert to icy and rugged mountain tops ....but so stunningly beautiful. That said, if I could turn back time, I'd be on the Pacific Crest Trail! It's important listen to your spirit of adventure and to remember that when the fear of staying the same weighs more than the fear of change, that’s when it’s time to face the fear, and make the change (in all regards).
Sometimes, I just have to get down and get dirty to get the shot I want, as I literally did here. Years ago, I drove through the Sierra Nevada Mountains in very similar conditions, and the remarkable scenery never left my mind. So, imagine my delight when I visited the area a second time when the conditions were exactly the same; I was thrilled! I saw this view in my rear view mirror, so I pulled over to take a closer look. I stepped out into the middle of the road I took a deep breath to soak it all in. I felt so very blessed to be here; traveling in my RV, following my passions on such a stellar winter day and of this unbelievable view. I wanted to do this scene justice by creating an image that was much more than, “just another mountain scene”. Given that, I noted how the four horizontal elements (the foreground, middle ground, background and the sky). They were so well well balanced and defined by their colors and textures. I noticed the vertical and diagonal lines of the road right and with that I saw my composition and laid down on my tummy in the middle of the road with my camera lens mere inches from the pavement. To be safe however, I had to capture this image quickly because traffic was coming. To create this image, I took two images (one of the left side, and one of the right side), and then blended them together to create one very large file. That said, this is a very large file; perfect for filling any wall.
"Canyon Tree" It’s been said that, “To write well, you have to write what you know”, and although this is true, we (thankfully) will never know “everything”. We can share what we do know, and be open and willing to learn more.... and there lies growth. That said, I hope that my artistic journey speaks to you in an inspiringly curious way. With this in mind, I am always looking for the next photographic image. I like to challenge myself to look beyond a first glance; this image was an example of that. I stood in this gorge with another wall of rock directly behind me. There wasn’t a lot vegetation, which made this tree really stand out. You’ll notice that I didn’t include the sky because If I had, your eyes would have been drawn up to it (the brightness) and out of the frame; now your eyes remain drawn to the tree. I am thankful for my passion for photography, it has opened so many creative avenues and in so doing it gives me great joy. That said, I encourage you to grasp your creative passions and explore the opportunities. Hmmm, someone once said to me, “Romi, opportunities don’t come knocking at your door”, you have to look for them”. So true. Life is very individual, however it’s created through the choices we make. Humbling.... yes! Scary…. yes! Exciting…. yes. Life though, is in the memories we create, those we leave behind and those with whom we have so lovingly touched. Look, with an intent to see possibilities ....in life, and in creativity too! :-)
I spent Christmas in Desert Hot Springs (with some dear friends) and although I wanted to travel home to my family I had to considered the implications; my tightening time frame (to the set up of the Arizona Fine Art Expo) and then of course, the threat of covid exposure. One of the most visually interesting things in Palm Springs are the 100's of wind turbines that cover the valley floor and hillsides; my objective here (besides Christmas!) was to get some "signature" shots of the Coachella Valley. It was late day when I noticed a sudden weather change so off I went, to my pre-planned photographic destination. With my tripod firmly anchored in the desert sand and my camera focused on a grouping of wind turbines, I suddenly noticed a change in overall color, and then I noticed why.... and you might say I changed my "focus"! The first thing I noticed was the complimentary colors of the hillsides and then I noticed the matching colors of the sky! "Really!" I exclaimed to myself! I was SO excited! It was (truly) so thrilling to witness this! I'm sure though, that most people wouldn't have noticed the colors of the hillsides but I'm so color intuitive that they "screamed" (lol) at me! With little time to spare, I removed my camera from my tripod, switched lenses and hand held this shot. I wanted a high quality panoramic shot of this scene so this photograph is actually comprised of three shots (that I later stitched together in post production). Sure, I didn't get the shots of the wind turbines I wanted but I got this shot instead; which made my day!
When we buy art, its usually a piece that caught our eye or one that changed our state. Art can take us away from the present moment and instantly change our mood from the mundane moment to bliss, calm, or even one of melancholy. The subtle softness of this image provokes a sense of calm and peace and it’s not demanding of the viewer’s attention, yet its uniqueness captures our attention. Be sure to view this image in the "Sampled" section. There you'll see how beautiful this image is hanging in a room.
"Joshua Tree Nightscape" It’s long been known that our cognitive brain health declines as we age and that diet, exercise, sleep, social interaction and mental stimulation can prevent it. As I’ve aged, I’ve noticed the normal changes in my own cognitive function but I hope that as I sharpen photography skills (including night sky photography), will help; I have my fingers crossed! I pre-planned this location earlier in the day (I even marked the spot where I’d stand). With the help of an app, I knew exactly where and what time the milky way would line up with this scene. What I didn’t realize however (until after the shoot) was that the milky way was rather “blah” from that angle; hmmm, so what to do? I decided to learn something new by blending a previous Milky Way photograph with the foreground; the results of which you see here. This now known as a “composite" image; which is an image comprised of two or more images to create one. Joshua Tree National Park is a vast protected area, not far Palm Springs, California. The high elevation of the park is characterized by it's rugged rock formations, Joshua Trees, “dark sky” landscapes and sunsets. The Joshua "tree" is not really a tree because it belongs to the yucca plant family. They typically grow only in higher elevations (1,300 to 6,000 feet) and grow quite slowly (up to 3 inches per year). They have an average lifespan of 150-200 years but some live much longer.... hmmm, maybe I will too, lol!
Are you wondering, “Why does this image have such strange colors?”. Well, let me explain. A photographer has to wait patiently for blue hour to occur. The sun will have long set, and the air temperature will have dropped before a photographer is ready to shoot. Often times (especially if it's cloudy), the blue hour is fleeting; and then just as quickly as it has appeared, it’s gone. That said, it's important for him/her to find composition first before it's just too dark. So, why the strange colors? Here’s a general explanation; with very little available light during this time period, a tripod and a slow shutter speed is required. That slower shutter speed allows the light that we don’t see to enter the camera, and the colors that we don’t see as well. On a side note; I learned the hard way to leave a headlamp in my camera bag because it can be challenging to find my way back to my RV in the dark!
When I approached this scene, I experienced an amazing sense of awe! The majestic wonder of the blowing snow in such a harsh environment gave me goosebumps (in astonishment, not cold!). I had never seen such a magnificent and inhospitable scene; it was an “awe” moment I’ll never forget. I was in my happy place! Although I wished I could have share this view with the world, it's my sincere pleasure to share it with you here! I hope it leaves you in “awe” too! I named this image “Mountain Dreams” because if I’m not in the mountains, I dream of being in the mountains! 4 images were used to create this panoramic composition (they were later stitched together in Photoshop).
Are you wondering, “Why does this image have such strange colors?”. Well, let me explain. A photographer has to wait patiently for blue hour to occur. The sun will have long set, and the air temperature will have dropped before a photographer is ready to shoot. Often times (especially if it's cloudy), the blue hour is fleeting; and then just as quickly as it has appeared, it’s gone. That said, it's important for him/her to find composition first before it's just too dark. So, why the strange colors? Here’s a general explanation; with very little available light during this time period, a tripod and a slow shutter speed is required. That slower shutter speed allows the light that we don’t see to enter the camera, and the colors that we don’t see as well. On a side note; I learned the hard way to leave a headlamp in my camera bag because it can be challenging to find my way back to my RV in the dark!
"Death Valley Dunes" The weather in Death Valley was certainly challenging when I visited it but I did manage to dodge the rain and capture a few amazing shots, including this one. The sand was wet when I took this photo, and the sand underneath was dry, so walking on it was tough (but good exercise!). Look closely and you'll see I wasn't alone; there were two men off in the distance, to the right. I thought the footprints in the sand were interesting; I wondered who they belong to, and what unique stories they all had This image is available in this panoramic format as well as a full format (which includes the mount tops and threatening clouds). I chose however to showcase this panoramic format because I (personally) loved how it added a dimensional quality to the overall abstract nature of this image. #earthoutdoors #wondermore #roamearth #visualsofearth #escapeandwonder #earth_deluxe #allaboutadventures #travelwithleisure #fantasticearth #nomadict #exploretocreate #passionpassport #stayandwander #roamtheplanet #discoverearth #neverstopexploring #naturephotography #naturelovers #earthfocus #artofvisuals #welivetoexplore #deathvalley #landscapephotography #earthpix #amazingplaces #beautifuldestinations #ourplanetdaily #wildcalifornia #deathvalleynationalpark #nationalpark
Death Valley (California) is known for its extremes; it is America's driest and hottest terrain (with a record of of 134°F, or 56°C). With fewer than 2 inches (5 centimeters) of rainfall annually, I happened to be there when over 1 inch of rain fell (some of the roads were washed out). It too is home to the lowest point in the US (at Badwater Basin), at 282 feet below sea level, yet 75 miles away, Mt. Whitney is the highest point in the lower 48 states, at 14,505 feet. I intentionally composed this photo to make you ( the viewer) question, "What is that?”. It's a barren mountainside, as seen from Zabriskie Point. From here the point offers a stunning and impressive panoramic views of the badlands; it’s various metals have oxidized the clay creating eye-popping reds, yellows, greens, blues, and even purples. I LOVED the patterns in the Death Valley landscape, they were almost moon like! Abstract compositions were everywhere but I chose this on because of the hiking trail (it leads your eye through the image). This is only one, of many photographs that I took in Death Valley. That said, the unique photographic views and scenes everywhere! What a sight to see, and experience too!
With my camera in hand, and Arlo (my 9 month old Australian Doodle) by my side, I set out by foot on a photoshoot in the desert plains of Death Valley. It wasn’t a particularly nice day but I viewed it as an opportunity to challenge myself by taking and using “just” my super wide angle lens. With an enthusiastic attitude, I searched the dry desert landscape for an interesting ground level compositions. I had visions of a gnarly mesquite lying on the ground (as in this image) which would work well with my wide angle lens. To capture this image however, I had to lie down on my stomach, then squiggle around the ground until I found a composition I liked, and then hold my camera steady; mere inches away from the branches. It wasn’t the most comfortable position to be in but I was determined to get that shot I envisioned. Making things more difficult however was that Arlo thought I was lying on the ground to play with him; excitedly licking and jumping all over me. Oh boy, I’m sure that was quite the sight to see, lol! I love both the composition and perspective in this photo, along with the way your eyes are led through the Mesquite tree and the way the sky points to the gnarly tree.
Joshua Tree National Park is a vast protected area in southern California, near the community of Yucca Valley. This high elevation national park is characterized by it's rugged rock formations and stark desert landscapes. Named for the region’s twisted, bristled Joshua trees its uniqueness draws thousands of visitors each year.
Joshua Tree National Park is a vast protected area in southern California, near the community of Yucca Valley. This high elevation national park is characterized by it's rugged rock formations and stark desert landscapes. Named for the region’s twisted, bristled Joshua trees its uniqueness draws thousands of visitors each year.
Death Valley (California) is known for extremes; it is North America's driest and hottest spot with fewer than two inches/five centimeters of rainfall annually and a record high of 134°F. It too has the lowest elevation on the continent (282 feet below sea level) and yet is only 76 miles from the highest point in the country, Mt. Whitney (at 14,505 feet) and two hours west of Las Vegas. I intentionally composed this photo to make you ( the viewer) question, "What is that?”. It's a barren mountainside, as seen from Zabriskie Point. From here the point offers a stunning and impressive panoramic views of the badlands; it’s various metals have oxidized the clay creating eye-popping reds, yellows, greens, blues, and purples. What a sight to see! There's a 2.5 mile loop trail that leads you through gullies and gulches, however because of our time restrictions, we weren’t able to explore it. We’ll have to go back!
