Champion Joshua Tree, a photo from California, West

Photographer's Note

Champion Joshua Tree

Joshua Trees are particular favorite of mine and this is one of the finer specimens I've come across while exploring Southern California's desert areas.

This one is about as far as you can get off the beaten path in southern California. In the far west corner of the Superior Valley in the Mojave desert north of Barstow after driving nearly 40 miles on dirt or mud (depending on the time of year) roads you'll come to this lonely, deserted landscape . It's the type of place you'll want to make sure you have a good map, compass, and an extra spare or two before setting out. While the road is generally good, it can quickly become 4 wheel drive material if wet. I've been here a couple times now but have yet to see a soul in the long two hour off pavement drive each way. It's nice to know places like this still exist in California.

My main point for visiting was not to find the perfect Joshua tree but to find the location of one of California's most prolific prehistoric rock art sites - Inscription Canyon. If you're a fan of rock art sites this is one you'll want to seek out. Some of the rock art here dates to 10,000 years old and the main petroglyph area is very concentrated with many patterns painted right on top of one another. The artwork is attributed to the Kawaiisu, a Numic-speaking group of Native Americans who lived in the central Mojave Desert. I hope to share some shots of the rockart here in the days ahead.

This particular shot was taken at sunrise as I was heading back out to civilization after spending a lonely night camping near the rockart site. The shape of this specimen was just too good to pass up.

Regards,
Doug

mehmetemin, Floydian, salvator, pboehringer, fulvio52, gunbud, adores, syd1946, zeca, kmarscher, jwmunro, bakes888, stego, robertosalguero, branley, plimrn, denisn72 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

mehmetemin (7231) 2007-11-11 22:29

hi douglas
excellent sunset
Amazing view and colours!
It is perfect...!
Greetings
mehmet emin

aadilj (18102) 2007-11-11 23:07

A lovely composition with some lovely colours and remarkable textures. The light manageent is superb as well and so are the pov and perspective. The depth is well highlighted. Great work.

Floydian (30970) 2007-11-12 0:06

Hi Doug,
Oh man, this is nice. The heat of the day that is passing by is still lying over the land. The glow behind the tree is wonderful, but it's that gradient in the sky which does it all for me...truly wonderful photo.
Regards, Henk

[2]

clic (76) 2007-11-12 6:49

Hello Douglas
Early birds get the best lightings for spectacular photographs!!
The smaller silhouette of tree counterbalances well the larger one judiciously located right on a tiers-line for an appealing composition.
A mystic mood is convied by hidden sun wich illuminates distant surrounding mist.
Best regards.
Robert

pboehringer (770) 2007-11-12 11:09

Doug,
it seems that you performed perfectly here. The settings of the camera are totally tuned for this one. Difficult light conditions that you managed top notch. The sun provides enough light to see the tree completely in silhoutte and yet taking a huge portion of the brightness of the sun allowing to differentiate the mountains in the far background.
I'm very curious to see your following posts with the petroglyphs!

[2]

fulvio52 (8314) 2007-11-12 11:14

Awesome capture, Doug!
That gradient light in the sky is simply beyond belief...
And of course, I love Joshua trees!
You have a great day & thanks for sharing.
Ciao,
Fulvio.

gunbud (34066) 2007-11-12 19:08

Hi Doug,
Very beautiful lonely landscape with the lovely Joshua silhouetted against the wonderful purple and gold sky that sit above the distant hills and desert floor. Excellent colors and sharpness to this soothing view.
Regards, Tom

salvator (19110) 2007-11-13 0:28

Hi Douglas,
Very nice composition of this lonely tree, with great colors and superb details. Nice silouette too.
I wish you a great week. Best regards. Salvator.

baba_flies (8829) 2007-11-13 4:35

But you did find the perfect Joshua tree :))) making your desert sunset photo to a little spectacle. I really love the shape of this tree, and without seeing the title I would have recognized it. So much California ... dreamland in many ways, and I hope that some areas can be protected and stay as they always were. Lovely photo indeed. Have a good day, Barbara.

adores (46979) 2007-11-13 17:36

Hi Douglas!
Very beautiful tree. The silhuette is perfect and I really like the sunset colours. Very good shot!

syd1946 (1167) 2007-11-14 9:50

Hello Doug,
Very atmospheric shot for sure.It could be a scene from a movie...I can imagine the soundtrack...The way you hide the sun behind the tree makes the big difference here...

Wishes,
Thomas

zeca (19762) 2007-11-14 14:29

Hi Douglas!
Beautiful silhouette! The tree is great and you扉e used it very well to have this nice sunset captured. Well taken!
Regards,
Zeca

kmarscher (2887) 2007-11-15 16:38

Spectacular sunrise shot that uses the stunning silhouette of this giant Joshua Tree to shield the bright sunlight while preserving the full spectrum of colors in the sky. I can only imagine the feeling of actually being there. The off center tree creates a nicely balanced composition that treats the space to its left just as importantly, and rightly so. The smaller tree also leads the eye into the distant mts. You must have been waiting with your camera for the sun to come up; it is so close to the horizon. Nice job of anticipating the exposure settings. I know how quickly this moment is GONE. Wow!
Regards,
Kathy

jwmunro (286) 2007-11-16 7:04

Doug, this one is a real keeper!

Capturing the Joshua Tree in silhouette is a perfect composition. The sun masked by the tree adds a mystical quality to the scene. I think I can feel the heat of the day just beginning. Well done!!

Just as a note if you like Joshua's. When Joanne and I were leaving the TE Summit in June we crossed the mountains on SR 178 (Walker Pass I think) and on the east side of the pass is a wonderful Joshua Tree forest. I did not stop because I had my trailer in tow and it was a rather steep road; also, the sun was too high to produce acceptable images. Another forest is east on I-15, near the Nevada border, at Cima Dome. Try visiting when the trees are blooming in the spring.

Thank you for sharing.

John

angelsimon (2466) 2007-11-17 3:01

Hi Douglas.
"Have you found what you're looking for?". Yes I think you have found a very interesting example of this type of tree that we don愒 know here in Spain, but as you see I know it by the U2 song. A very warm and nice picture friend. Regards.
Angel.

bakes888 (18499) 2007-11-17 18:43

Hi Doug. How could anyone resist! Nice work. I love the colours and subtle edges in the BG hills. Well captured and thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.

isabela_sor (47748) 2007-11-18 0:25

The placement of sun behind of the tree was a good idea,the light is very special now
Well composed shot
Have a nice weekend

stego (24132) 2007-11-22 12:09

Hi Douglas,
It's easy to understand why you like those trees so much; they are gorgeously photogenic! Add that to a fantastic sunset sky and a talented photographer... And there you go, a stunning photo!
Hats off.
TFS, Jos�.

robertosalguero (292) 2007-11-27 21:45

Hello Doug,

This type of tree look very attractive. I don't think we have them in Canada but in the middle of the desert they definitely seem right. Good point of view with the mountains creating a splendid background. Thanks Doug :-)

Roberto

branley (3681) 2007-12-02 2:34

Hi Greg,

The Joshua Tree was probably U2's finest album and you were right not to pass this shot up. It's full of warm, soft colours and you've caught the glow behind the tree perfectly. A truly wonderful capture, well done.

Regards

Stephen

ps. Many congratulations on the new addition to your family....there will be many sleepless nights!

plimrn (21344) 2007-12-12 15:36

Hi Doug,
Looks like you have pleny of wonderful photos in your files. The scanner work is great giving you excellent sharpness, and smooth, noise-free gradient. Of course you had the great photo to scan in the first place with the balance of the two trees against the mountaings and the sharp sihouette.
HLJ, Pat

denisn72 (8314) 2007-12-15 5:14

Hello Douglas
That Joshua tree reminds me the very popular U2's album released in 1987 俊he Joshua Tree�. Great silhouette of the tree and the sun behinds produces an good effect of colours and contrast. Calm atmosphere and thanks for sharing.
Best regards
Denis!

rossy85 (2879) 2008-01-03 2:38

Hi Douglas

A really nice sunset! I enjoy this silhouette of the tree through the lovely colors of the sky.
Greetings from France

Rossy

napdsp (744) 2008-02-09 22:34

Stunning color and silhouette. Wonderful decisive moment. Very atmospheric. TFS.

Nap

tulemarcius (10) 2008-02-22 20:27