Prickly

An unexpected encounter with a cholla cactus can be a prickly predicament. The spines are barbed, andone walking among them must be extra careful. On this morning I setup in darkness at 4:30 AM, so theuse of a flashlight was most helpful. Due to the thickness of the cholla forest, it was difficult to see exactlythe scene that would be photographed in front of me. Regardless I setup for a shot and waited for sunrise.As the sun crested the horizon, the gentle touch of its light warmed the skin, and I discovered I had setupthe scene just as planned. Such a pleasurable morning among the prickly plants in Joshua Tree.

++ This image was featured in the Bighorn Gallery at Dead Horse Point State Park September 1, 2015 through February 29, 2016 ++

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