What a weekend! John and I spent just one night camping in Joshua Tree National Park and I feel like I’ve experienced so much in that short time. Believe it or not, Joshua Tree is less than two hours from where I live and I’ve never visited. I pass by it all the time on my way to somewhere else in California, but never took the time to drive through it. I won’t be making that mistake again as I plan to visit this place as much as possible from here on out (except in the summer of course).
I understand why people flock here for hiking, mountain climbing and spiritual retreats. I also get why some of the greatest bands came here to trip on acid. It’s just that kind of place. When you’re in the presence of these prehistoric monadnock mountains there’s some need within us to have a spiritual experience. It feels otherworldly and demanding of your upmost respect. Despite the campgrounds being completely full and the hiking trails as busy as any I’ve seen, it felt tranquil. The whole park is also immaculate, shockingly so actually. I didn’t realize how accustomed to litter I’ve become until I was somewhere there was none.
We spent Friday and Saturday scrambling over the boulders and basking in the sun. I experienced one of the most beautiful sunsets ever. That’s saying a lot coming from a girl who grew up in the Mojave Desert. There’s a moment during sunset when you’re amongst the boulders that the light changes. Every sunset has this moment, but here it’s almost tangible. It’s like someone placed a pair of rose colored glasses on my face. Everything seemed to have a glow that came from within itself. The boulders felt alive. I had wondered about all the veins throughout the boulders (pictured at the end). I’m no geologist so I’ve been studying up on this area since arriving home. I know these are white quartz veins but I like to think of them as the life blood of the park. Maybe even the backbone with each vertebrae exposed.
I am a true desert dweller, a sun worshipper, and I’ve never felt it so acutely as I did here. I can’t wait to go back.
I was so excited to do this session since it was definitely a different type of portrait session than I normally do! We were lucky to have found this spot since it took quite awhile to find a beach to use because the tide had come in and the waves were hitting hard. Keri told me that the rock she was standing on was vibrating with the force of the waves hitting. Sometimes you make the best plans and figure out all the quiet beaches you’re going to use and then nothing works out, but it’s for the better! The photos turned out perfect! We couldn’t have picked a better day/sunset for this shoot.
It’s been a good year. Actually, it’s been a great year. It’s been incredibly busy and stressful at times but so rewarding. I’ve photographed my heart out, traveled all over, met many new people and friends and learned heaps and heaps. I feel very full at the end of this year and am ready to take on 2015. I will literally be starting fast out of the gate (flying to Seattle on Jan. 4th for a week).
Thank you thank you thank you to all my clients, friends and family for being the best ever.
I am loved.
I am supported.
I am ready. C’mon 2015.
Enjoy this little slideshow I put together of some of my favorite photos from this past year. It was so hard not to share everything. I love it all too much! Haha! Keep an eye out for a few selfies, a sneaky shot that John got of me and vice versa. Muah!
The desert is a beautiful, extreme and often volatile place. This weekend we spent the weekend in Southern California enjoying a much needed little getaway. We spent some time with family in the San Bernardino mountains and also had the chance to spend some time on the beach in Santa Monica. I’ll post some photos of our travels soon but first I wanted to share our trip home. We managed to skirt around the edge of what may be one of the largest storms we’ve had in my hometown in years. You can visit the news story at ParkerLiveOnline. We were hoping for a little adventure and boy did we get one. We ended up spending a couple hours on the I-10 due to part of the right hand lane being destroyed by a running wash. We debated spending the night in the first motel we could find because of the weather. When you grow up in the desert you appreciate fully the dangers of a running wash. We were lucky though and the washes were mere trickles by the time we arrived. The drive was absolutely stunning though. I’ve never seen clouds quite like these in my hometown, so low. We arrived home to a town without power and will probably be out for quite a few hours yet. Tomorrow is the first day of school and there’s the chance it might need delayed. Power lines down, bridge closed, Highway 62 shut down, nearly ever wash running and plenty of home damage from this storm. Go big or go home should be our storm seasons motto.
Quick iPhone camera snap of the damage to the I-10 as we passed by.