Through the Desert Pass

The night here in the desert had a feeling that time had slowed to a stop like these light trails left by the passing cars.

Ever since my first visit, I’ve always had a love for the Sonoran desert in Tucson. The rough, rocky mountains in shades of brown, reds, and purples broken by the saguaro cactus standing guard.

find it here:  32°13’21” N;  111°6’6” W

desert racers

Usually my work travel takes me to the Pacific Northwest or Midwest but a meeting in Phoenix let me get to Tucson for a couple days.  I was lucky enough to live there for w few years (15 years ago) and interestingly it hasnt changed much.  The funny thing is the city and the people remind my very much of Portland if you ignore the climate differences.

This awesome place is just outside Tucson, AZ (city lights off in the distance). I scrambled up a rocky hill in the dark to get to this view point and used a wide angle lens capture both the up and down sides of the pass. It was an awesome view with a near full moon out to illuminate the bluffs and cactus!

I thought I was sure to run into a rattlesnake but after an hour and seeing nothing I started flipping over rocks trying to at least see a scorpion. Believe it or not, I couldnt even find one of those - I felt a little let down, ha ha!

A combination of 6 exposures - one for the night sky and city, two for foreground and mountains, and a few for the car trails all hand blended in Photoshop.

Find it here:  32°13’21” N;  111°6’6” W