Joshua Tree
I had a great time in Joshua Tree with a group of photographers attending the Camera West workshop led by my good friend Jason Bradley. We were treated to the tail end of a very unusual bloom with Joshua Tree seed and flower production up about 40 percent as compared to the previous best season in the last 25 years. Some researchers believe that the stress from drought and climate change may have induced the “once in a lifetime” bloom. As a survival mechanism the trees go into high gear in an attempt to boost reproduction. Others believe the unique bloom can be attributed to last year’s late summer thunderstorms and/or cool winter weather.
We spent every evening during the workshop in the field playing with techniques for night photography including light painting, long exposures, time-lapse, and using ambient moonlight, all of which produced some fantastic results. During an afternoon exploring a cholla cactus garden I was fortunate enough to happen upon a unique wildlife encounter that a couple photographers from our group had discovered. A gopher snake had climbed up a cholla cactus and invaded a cactus wren’s nest. The wren parents were desperately trying to chase off the snake and protect 2 chicks inside the nest. Ultimately they were unsuccessful and the snake got it’s dinner. By the time I arrived, the snake had already done it’s thing and the wrens were still attempting to chase it off. I felt awful for the birds of course, and somewhat happy for the snake, but mostly I felt privileged to witness a day in the life of these creatures so well adapted to the harsh desert environment.
