On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
Today we have another treat – two sets of photos from the same location. This morning’s photos were taken in the daytime. The photos in tonight’s On the Road After Dark will be night sky photos of the same location. Seems fitting, no?
If you haven’t had a chance to catch them yet, check out the On the Road After Dark posts. ~WG
BillinGlendaleCA
Three years ago I had just joined the local photography group meetup and was excited to see a meetup scheduled at Joshua Tree National Park for some dark sky photography. The organizer of the meetup, Hami, had scouted locations in the park during the day prior to meeting at a location outside the park. He chose a location with ample parking for the trail that lead up to Ryan Mountain.
Ryan Mountain is in the center of the northwestern portion of park and affords a pretty good view of the park and even Mts. San Jacinto and San Gorgonio on clear days. The area around the trailhead has some nice rock formation that would make for good foregrounds and isn’t one of the more popular locations in the park for astro photography so it wouldn’t be too crowded.
While waiting for the sun to set and darkness to engulf the desert landscape, I took some photos of the rock formations that were just off the parking lot for the trailhead and two large rocks turned out to perfectly frame the setting sun. As golden hour turned to blue hour, the photographers gathered by the a rock known as the Indian Cave to await the rising of the Milky Way.
A Joshua Tree is flanked by two rock formations facing the setting sun at the Ryan Mountain trailhead.
A rock formation at the northern part of the Ryan Mountain trailhead area. This photo was taken from the parking lot, with Park Blvd running behind the rocks.
A Joshua Tree along the Ryan Mountain trail.
The setting sun is framed by these large rocks. This photo was processed using a Kodak Portra film emulation.
The sun has set and it’s time to head back down the trail to get our cameras ready for the Milky Way lightshow.
Golden hour among the Joshua Tree forest of Lost Horse Valley.
The light of the sun has gone from golden to red, casting a red glow over the Joshua Tree forest. You can see Park Blvd crossing the right side of the shot.
Golden hour has given way to blue hour as we setup here waiting for darkness to fall and reveal the Milky Way over Ryan Mountain. The large rock is left rock in the sunset picture.
Wanderer
Beautiful pictures. Looking forward to this evening’s post.
JPL
The colors are amazing and it will be fun to compare them to the pictures that will be published tonight.
Baud
We’re done with Virgin Week?
Really beautiful.
Van Buren
In the 4th picture, the sunset framed by two large rocks, what is that thing floating/flying in the upper left corner?
Mary G
I miss Joshua Tree. These are beautiful – I bought some of Bill’s prints of these and enjoy them muchly.
SiubhanDuinne
Magnificent, BiG. Looking forward to the light show tonight.
arrieve
Wonderful as always, Bill.
Wag
Fantastic. Especially the framed sunset shot
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Wanderer: Thanks.
@JPL: Golden/blue hour in the desert really does bring out the character in the features in the landscape.
@Baud: Thanks, it’s gone from virgins to after dark in one week.
@Van Buren: A B-2 bomber. Just to make sure y’all are paying attention.
@Mary G: Thanks, I’m glad you like my work. I’m going to try to get back there this time tomorrow.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@SiubhanDuinne: Light show? Good thing I brought my own light, it’s dark there.
@arrieve: Thanks.
@Wag: I liked that shot so much I went back and shot it again last year.
Albatrossity
Golden hour among Joshua trees. That is really special!
Thanks!
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Albatrossity: You’re welcome, I’m gonna try for moonlight next, that should be interesting.
Erin in Flagstaff
I love sunset over desert images. These are especially gorgeous!
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Erin in Flagstaff: Thanks, I’m going to try sunrise next.
Dmbeaster
@?BillinGlendaleCA: Full moon walks at Joshua Tree are great.
JustRuss
@Van Buren: I’m not saying it’s aliens, but……
Nice photos Bill, thanks.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Dmbeaster: I’m thinking more of star trails. Generally for astrophotography, you don’t want the moon out.
@JustRuss: Nah, just me throwing something in to see if you noticed. Thanks.