Desert WiIdflower: Coso Range...

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A subtle treasure in the wilderness.  Here, I used a larger aperture, so that the background is blurred.  When photographing close-ups of flowers, the background can be a distraction.

Remember, the smaller the number, the wider the aperture.

The settings used in this photograph were:  1/500th sec. at f.7.1.

Mojave Desert Photography: Valley of the Joshuas....

Nikion D70.  1/100th sec. @ f.18.

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Don't be a lazy, "snapshot" photographer.  If you have a single-lens-reflex camera, stop your vehicle, get out of it, and take the time to compose your photographs.

Mojave Desert Photography.....

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Ever since I stopped shooting weddings, the only setting I ever use on my camera is "Aperture Priority."

The photograph on the right demonstrates the depth of field that is achieved when using a small aperture.

My aperture was set at f.18, and the camera selected a shutter speed of 1/160th of a second.

Notice that the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the distance are in fairly sharp focus.

 Understanding depth of field is an absolute necessity if one is to progress beyond the "point and shoot" level of photographic skill.

More Coso Mountains photography...

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Deep in the heart of the Coso Mountain Range, I shot this photograph with my Nikon D70.

1/200th sec. @ f.13.

Four Wheel Drive Exploration in the Coso Mountains...

Photograph by Scott Schwartz.  Camera:  Nikon D70, 1/125th sec. at f.18.

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Lying on the east side of the Owens Valley is the Coso Mountain Range.

Trails meander all through the area, as prospectors have been searching for minerals here for over a century.

Most of the trails here are accessible with unmodified four-wheel drive vehicles.  Of course, it is the individual driver's responsibility to determine whether he (or she) or his (or her) vehicle is suitable for travel in any of the areas that I discuss.

Mysterious Rock Drawings in the Coso Wilderness..

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All photographs by Scott Schwartz.

Two Jeeps In The El Paso Mountains...

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Into parts unknown...

The new Wranger in the foreground belongs to my friend Joe; this was his first off-road trip in his new Jeep.  Note brooding Black Mountain in the distance.