Morning Light on Joshua Tree Granite
Joshua Tree National Park, California
While the morning light illuminates the highest portion of these granite rocks, the light trails off into shadows in the deeper recesses. The transition from light to dark appealed to me, and the square format was perfect for this shot. Even though it may appear calm, the wind was howling on this particular morning. I was standing on the edge of a rock about 20-feet high, bending my knees slightly to be able to respond quickly to the gusting winds, and never letting go of my tripod lest it be blown over. The effort was worth it -- this has become one of my favorites from the entire 6-week trip to the southwest. Photo © copyright by Stephen Penland.