“If seeds waited for perfect conditions to grow, there would be no plants in the desert.”
— Matshona Dhliwayo

Photo: Agave on the Franklin Mountains Ridgeline. Imagine the conditions this has seen, from the hottest desert sun to 60+ mph winds to snow and hail. Amazing.

#franklinmountainsstatepark #texasstateparks #texasparksandwildlife #texasphotography #stateparks #franklinmountains #mountains #desert #chihuahuandesert #southwest #agave #plants #desertlife #outdoors #desertvibes #rugged #naturerocks #nature #outdoorphotography #hikingphotography #hiking #hikemore #getoutside #landacape #landscapephotography #naturephotography #plantphotography #desertphotography #Spiked #Plant

It’s amazing how a change in perspective can turn a problem into an opportunity.

Photo: Looking south down the Franklin Mountain Ridgeline in Franklin Mountains State Park

#franklinmountainsstatepark #texasstateparks #texasparks #statepark #desert #chihuahuandesert #franklinmountains #desertphotography #hikingphotography #hiking #ridgeline #naturephotography #nature #naturerocks #landscapephotography #landscape #mountains #viewsfordays #outdoors #outdoorphotography #hikemoreworryless #desertlife #desertvibes #zen #peaceful

Minimalism.

Photo: Sierra Blanca viewed from White Sands National Park.

#sierrablanca #whitesandsnationalpark #newmexico #outdoors #outdoorphotography #landscapephotography #landscape #desert #desertphotography #desertvibes #desertlife #naturephotography #naturerocks #hikingphotography #hikemoreworryless #getoutside #minimalist #minimalism #peaceful #viewsfordays #zen

The last of my Algodones Sand Dunes set.

#algodonessanddunes #sand #dunes #sanddunes #sonorandesert #landscapephotography #landscape #desert #desertphotography #desertlife #desertvibes #outdoors #outdoorphotography #getoutside #naturephotography #naturerocks #nature #aeolian #geomorphology #alone #serenity

These beautiful clouds at dusk reminded me of the late and great Douglas Adams, who brought much joy to my young adult life with his literary humor.

“The ships hung in the sky in much the same way that bricks don’t.” - Douglas Adams in the Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Photo: Clouds at Aguirre Springs Campground in the Organ Mountains catching the last light of the sun.

#ScenicsNature #MountainRange #TranquilScene 
#aguirresprings #organmountains #clouds #purple #pink #landscapephotography #landscape #outdoorphotography #outdoors #dusk #naturephotography #nature #douglasadams #mountains #mountainphotography #desertphotography #desert #desertlife #desertvibes #chihuahuandesert #tranquility #Sky #Cloud #getoutside #hikemoreworryless

Hello there!

Photo: Seagull at La Jolla Shores near San Diego, CA

#seagull #lajolla #lajollashores #beach #gull #birds #birdphotography #beachphotography #outdoorphotography #outdoors #coast #wildlifephotography #birdphotography #naturephotography #wildlife #naturerocks #beachlife #getoutside #hellothere #Bird #AnimalWildlife #Nature #OneAnimal

I’m a sucker for curves.

Photo: The wind swept formations in the Algodones Sand Dunes just west of the California-Arizona border off of Interstate 8.

#algodonessanddunes #sonorandesert #desert #algodonesdunes #sand #dunes #aeolian #geomorphology #curves #landscapephotography #landscape #desertphotography #desertvibes #desertlife #naturephotography #nature #outdoorphotography #outdoors #getoutside #naturerocks #SandDune #Tranquility #ScenicsNature

Eye candy.

Photo: Sunset in the Chihuahuan Desert somewhere between Alamogordo, NM and El Paso, Texas.

#sunset #chihuahuandesert #desert #viewsfordays #landscapephotography #landscape #outdoorphotography #outdoors #naturephotography #naturerocks #getoutside #lifeisgood #desertvibes #desertlife #red #orange #desertphotography #tranquility #Cloud #Sun #Evening #TranquilScene #Nature

A house sparrow reminds me to stop and take in the moment at a busy rest stop on I10 in Arizona.

Thank you Mr. Sparrow for the shared moment of peace, I sincerely hope you avoid getting eaten by a hawk.

#housesparrow #sparrow #birds #birdphotography #outdoorphotography #naturephotography #sharedmoments #peace #tranquility #zen #outdoors #getoutside #naturerocks #bird #nature #wildlifephotography #wildlife

“This is the sense of the desert hills, that there is room enough and time enough.”

— Mary Austin, Stories from the Country of Lost Borders

Photo: Algodones Dunes in the Sonoran Desert just west of the Arizona/California border along I8

#algodonesdunes #desert #desertvibes #desertlife #sonorandesert #desertphotography #landscapephotography #landscape #outdoorphotography #outdoors #getoutside #naturephotography #nature #naturerocks #aeolian #geomorphology #dunes #sanddunes #minimalism #minimalist

“Normality is a paved road: It's comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow.” — Vincent Van Gogh

Photo: Scree-laden route through the Franklin Mountains in Franklin Mountains State Park, El Paso, Texas

#scree #elpasotx #chucotown #franklinmountains #franklinmountainsstatepark #texasstateparks #texasparksandwildlife #rocks #rocky #outdoorphotography #outdoors #hiking #hikingphotography #landscapephotography #landscape #mountains #mountainphotography #desert #desertphotography #desertvibes #desertlife #naturerocks #naturephotography #greatoutdoors #taketheroadlesstraveled #getoutside #hikemore #onestepatatime #beyourself #wilderness

Aeolian geomorphology at work. 

Photo: Wind-formed patterns in the Algodones Sand Dunes just west of the California-Arizona border. 

#minimalism #landscapephotography #desertphotography #naturephotography #outdoorphotography #sand #aeolian #algodones #algodonesdunes #minimalist #ripples #geomorphology #dunes #sanddunes #desertlife #desertvibes #getoutside #naturerocks #hikemore #shadows #patterns #Nature #Outdoors #ScenicsNature #Tranquility #TranquilScene #Pattern

Another shot of cottonwood springs in Franklin Mountains State Park in El Paso, Texas on a recent hike. I need to remember to come back in the fall when the cottonwoods are bright yellow!

Love these southwestern views!

#elpasotexas #chucotown #franklinmountainsstatepark #franklinmountains #texasparksandwildlife #texasstateparks #chihuahuandesert #desertlife #desertvibes #viewsfordays #views #cottonwood #landscapephotography #landscape #desertphotography #mountainphotography #mountains #naturephotography #naturerocks #outdoorphotography #thegreatoutdoors #hikingphotography #hikemore #getoutside #Sky #Tranquility #Wilderness #TranquilScene #Cloud #Outdoors

Some views never get old. 

Photo: Looking east from Mundy’s Gap in the Franklin Mountains.

#franklinmountains #franklinmountainsstatepark #texasstateparks #texasparksandwildlife #mundysgap #chihuahuandesert #desertlife #desertvibes #viewsfordays #view #mountainphotography #desertphotography #hikingphotography #outdoorphotography #landscapephotography #trailphotography #getoutside #hikemore #sky #clouds #chucotown #elpasotx #Tranquility #TranquilScene #Outdoors #Cloud #ScenicsNature #Nature #naturephotography

Family. We all will choose our path, but we all share a common core that will forever be our bond.

#franklinmountainsstatepark #franklinmountains #texasparksandwildlife #texasstateparks #agave #landscapephotography #naturephotography #desertsouthwest #desertphotography #plants #plantphotography #hikingphotography #hikemore #getoutside

Gaia finds a way.

Photo: Cottonwood Springs in the Franklin Mountains. The water just trickles out on a good day, and oftentimes the ground is just damp with no discernible flow. But it is enough to sustain these Cottonwoods that provide a shady respite in the middle of desert mountains.

#franklinmountainsstatepark #texasstateparks #texasparksandwildlife #cottonwoodsprings #franklinmountains #chihuahuandesert #desertlife #hikemore #getoutside #desertvibes #oasis #southwest #landscape #landscapephotography #desertphotography #mountainphotography #naturephotography #naturerocks #hikingphotography #outdoors #outdoorphotography #Desert #MountainRange #Nature #TranquilScene

Slow down. Breathe. You only get one chance to be in the moment.

Photo: My campsite at the City of Rocks State Park, New Mexico while comet hunting a few weeks ago.

#cityofrocksstatepark #newmexico #tent #camping #night #stars #starrynight #nightsky #outdoors #greatoutdoors #landscapephotography #landscape #astrophotography #astrolandscape #naturephotography #nature #outdoorphotography #desertphotography #desertlife #desertvibes #chihuahuandesert #nightphotography #hikemore #getoutside #ScenicsNature #Sky #Star

One of my favorite views when descending from North Franklin Peak. Apparently I like it so much, I have a near identical picture from last summer haha!

Photo: Franklin Mountains extending northwards.

#texasstateparks #franklinmountainsstatepark #franklinmountains #chihuahuandesert #mountains #views #desert #desertlife #desertvibes #getoutside #hikemore #mountainphotography #landscape #landscapephotography #greatoutdoors #outdoors #outdoorphotography #nature #naturerocks #naturephotography #hikingphotography #desertphotography #RockFormation #MountainRange #TranquilScene

In the outdoors I hunt. I hunt for solitude, I hunt for quiet, I hunt for peace. 

Photo: A barely perceptible outer rim of the Milky Way at the City of Rocks, New Mexico

#cityofrocksstatepark #cityofrocks #newmexicostateparks #newmexico #stars #starrynight #starrysky #sky #outdoors #outdoorphotography #astrophotography #astrolandscape #landscapephotography #landscape #naturephotography #nature #nightscapes #nightphotography #night #desertphotography #chihuahuandesert #desert #desertsouthwest #desertvibes #desertlife #campmore #hikemore #campingphotography #camping #getoutside

After a night of subfreezing temperatures, this was a welcome sight indeed.

Photo: Sunrise at City of Rocks State Park, New Mexico

#sunrise #newmexicostateparks #newmexico #cityofrocks #cityofrocksstatepark #sun #sky #outdoors #outdoorphotography #landscape #landscapephotography #desertvibes #desertlife #desert #desertphotography #chihuahuandesert #naturephotography #nature #naturerocks #sunrisephotography #camping #campingphotography #getoutside #hikemore #TranquilScene #ScenicsNature

Another picture from a recent sunset hike on Sugarloaf Peak in the Franklin Mountains, this time with a structure in frame. I think it adds character to the shot, do you agree? Disagree?

#sugarloafmountain #franklinmountains #franklinmountainsstatepark #texasparksandwildlife #texasstateparks #elpasotx #chucotown #blue #bluehour #hiking #hikingphotography #outdoors #outdoorphotography #mountains #mountainphotography #landscape #landscapephotography #nature #naturephotography #sunset #sunsetphotography #trail #trailphotography #clouds #sky #viewsfordays #citylights #getoutside #hikemore #Cloud

“Life breaks free. Life expands to new territories. Painfully, perhaps even dangerously. But life finds a way.” - The character, Ian Malcolm, in Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park

Photo: Texas Rainbow Hedgehog Cactus in the Franklin Mountains

#franklinmountainsstatepark #texasstateparks #franklinmountains #chihuahuandesert #cactus #succulents #rainbowcactus #hedgehogcactus #desert #desertphotography #outdoors #outdoorphotography #hiking #hikingphotography #landscapephotography #plants #plantphotography #naturephotography #nature #naturerocks #hikemore #getoutside #lifefindsaway

Clouds gathered over distant mountaintops, furthering their magnificence into the heavens. 

Photo: Looking at the northern end of the Franklin Mountains during a recent front that brought chilly temperatures and a light snow.

#franklinmountains #clouds #sky #chihuahuandesert #desert #landscapephotography #landscape #atmosphere #desertwinter #winter #desertphotography #mountains #mountainphotography #hiking #hikingphotography #chuckheinrichpark #naturephotography #naturerocks #hikemore #getoutside #Tranquility #Cloud #Nature #Outdoors #MountainRange #TranquilScene

“You cannot pass," he said. The orcs stood still, and a dead silence fell. "I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udûn. Go back to the Shadow! You cannot pass.” - Gandalf in Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

Photo: Yellow flagged barbed wire near the Chuck Heinrich Park Trailhead, Franklin Mountains State Park, El Paso

#barbedwire #yellow #desert #franklinmountains #franklinmountainsstatepark #texasstateparks #teamcanon #canonphotography #outdoorphotography #trailphotography #desertphotography #hikingphotography #landscapephotography #sky #clouds #depthoffield #shallowdepthoffield #hikemore #getoutside #hubris #Outdoors #Wire #WireFencing #FocusOnForeground #Fence

The many shapes and sizes that life has manifested never ceases to amaze me. What other marvels remain unseen out there?

Photo: Budding plant in one of my neighbor’s yards.

#flower #flowerbud #plant #pink #outdoorphotography #plantphotography #flowerphotography #naturephotography #shallowdepthoffield #naturerocks #nature #closeup #macrophotography #getoutside #Outdoors #Growth #Leaf

These constructions tower above us, a testament to human engineering and the sheer willpower to dominate the natural world. As magnificent as these are, it’s only a matter of time before Mother Nature reclaims that which is hers. We are but a blip on the long memory of the Earth, a brilliant blip, but a blip nonetheless.

Photo: Part of the Las Vegas Strip at dawn.

#skyscraper #building #skyline #vegas #lasvegas #lasvegasstrip #earlymorning #dawn #patience #engineering #architecture #architecturephotography #outdoorphotography #cityphotography #streetphotography #getoutside #vegasbaby #Sky #Metropolis #OfficeBuildingExterior #CityLife #LowAngleView #Downtown #City

Waning light is an opportunity to be your own brilliance. 

Photo: The sunset blue hour over El Paso and Cd. Juárez. Viewed from Sugarloaf Peak, Franklin Mountains State Park in El Paso, Texas

#elpaso #chucotown #ciudadjuarez #eptx #elpasotexas #sugarloafmountain #sugarloafpeak #texasstateparks #franklinmountains #franklinmountainsstatepark #franklinmountainstatepark #sunset #mountains #borderlands #outdoorphotography #mountainphotography #landscapephotography #naturephotography #viewsfordays #hikingphotography #hikemore #getoutside 
#TranquilScene #Cloud #Landscape

“Talk to me goose.” - Maverick, Top Gun

Photo: Canada Geese leaving Ascarate Park, El Paso, Texas

#ascaratepark #ascaratelake #elpasocountyparks #elpasocounty #elpasotexas #chucotown #canadagoose #geese #birds #birdsinflight #wildlife #wildlifephotography #nature #naturephotography #outdoorphotography #outdoors #birdphotography #getoutside #earlymorning #wings #Flying #SpreadWings #Motion #AnimalWildlife #Animal #Bird

My first star trail image.  Next time I’ll add some light to the foreground, but overall I’m pleased.

Photo: Stars rotating about the North Star, Polaris, at City of Rocks State Park in New Mexico. Created by stacking 25 images using Sequator, then further processed in Affinity Photo 2. Temperatures were below freezing. 🥶

#cityofrocks #cityofrocksstatepark #newmexicostateparks #astrolandscape #astrophotography #landscapephotography #outdoorphotography #camping #campingphotography #desertphotography #chihuahuandesert #nightphotography #starrysky #canonr6 #getoutside #hikemore #campmore #teamcanon #nightview #amazingplanet #naturerocks #Sky #Tranquility #TranquilScene #Nature #Astronomy #Night #Science #ScenicsNature

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