Continuing with my visit, I made this image near the Hemingway parking lot. This area appeared to be popular with rock climbers — they were busy climbing the granite rocks that are on the left side of the image. I like this image as a black and white monochrome image because of the long shadows of the late afternoon.
Earlier that same morning, I found this bouquet of flowers that were growing from a fracture in the shaded side of a granite boulder pile near Quail Springs.
While visiting the Cholla Garden, I made several images of the Teddy Bear Cholla. Could not resist those spiny needles backlit by the afternoon sun.
The old parts of the cholla plant have turned a dark-brown color. Hidden in the shaded, dark side, of the plant, were some bright spiny needles. These were complimented by the colorful remains of the flowers and cholla fruit.
About half an hour before sunset, I found a location where there was a Yukka plant and Joshua tree casting very long shadows on the ground. The sun was about to star setting behind the hills to the left, so I hurriedly setup my camera. I made this image about five minutes before the sun disappeared behind the hills. By the time I had reached the truck, about 100 yards away, this area was in shade.
The following morning, I made my way to Quail Springs, heading towards a valley where Joshua Trees stretched out into the distance. This was one image looking back towards the path that I took.
I stopped by another Cholla bush that was catching the light of the sunrise.
Most of this area of the park had lots of live Joshua Trees. However, I did find this dead tree in the shadow of a slight ridge in the ground.
After returning to the truck, it was time to leave for Oxnard, where I had another visit scheduled for the afternoon lunch break!