Spectacular Sunset In The El Paso Mountains...

   My drone was hovering over the Iron Canyon area.  One of my drone-photography "techniques" is to hover in place, rotate the drone through 360 degrees, and stopping at intervals to shoot still photos.  

Untitled Rock Formation...

    "Untitled" means that I don't remember where I took this photo.  I was going through some of my older (in this case, 2014) work, and I came across this.  It was likely taken during one of my trips into the El Paso Mountains.

Wait; if I call it "Untitled", isn't that a title?  

Red Rock in the El Paso Mountains...

     This photo looks as though it could have been taken at Red Rock Canyon State Park.   There's good reason for this; the Park's boundaries extend into parts of the El Paso Mountains, which is where I was when I took this photo.

Bigh Horn Sheep...

     As sure-footed as a mountain goat, I caught this image of a Big Horn Sheep foraging in the hills overlooking the Whitewater Preserve.

El Paso Mountains...

      This image was taken facing east, on a ledge near the Old Dutch Cleanser Mine.  The winds were gusting to 35 MPH, so I couldn't stand too close to the ledge.  

The sun was starting to set, and its waning light cast a warm glow on the rocky hills.

1/60th sec. @ f/16.  ISO 125.  Nikon D7200.

El Paso Mountains...

       El Paso Mountains.  1/50th sec. @ f/13.  ISO 250.  Nikon D7200.

The desert is my second home...

    This is Black Mountain, which looms over a large area of the El Paso Mountains.  Native Americans used to conduct ceremonies and trade activities at the top.

According to legend, 19th century prospectors claimed to have seen mysterious glowing lights at the top of this mountain.  

My escape from the tyranny of petty things...Joshua Tree National Park.

Between work and some expensive home improvements, I decided to take a break from daily life.  

Joshua Tree National Park occupies a special place in my heart.  For one thing, it is the first National Park that I ever visited.  This first visit was in July, 1989, just after I'd moved to California from my native Long Island, NY.  

I feel so alive when I'm here.  Even when the park is crowded, I can find isolated spots where I can enjoy some solitude.  Staring at these desert sentinels, in the early evening light, with a light breeze rustling through the dry grasses, I can just "be."

  It almost looks as though these Joshua Trees are contemplating their fallen companion.

I parked my vehicle along the Old Queen Valley Road, and shot these two photos as the sun was going down.