Tag: desert

Same Spirit, Different View

Massive saguaros grow beside the Granite Mountain Loop Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on April 7, 2024. Original: _Z728173.NEF

Whether walking Ellie in our old Portland neighborhood or hiking with Bear in the desert, I value quality but compact and light camera gear so I can keep my focus on our time together rather than photography. I love the mementos of these treasured times, even if you don’t see Ellie or Bear in the picture, I do. If the spirit behind why I take pictures hasn’t changed, the view certainly has.

📷: Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 24-200
🗓️: April 7, 2024

Objects In Camera Are Further Than They Appear

A close-up of the head and neck of a western diamondback rattlesnake on the Latigo Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on June 2, 2024. Original: _A674804.ARW

While waiting for the diamondback to fully leave the trail, I took a water break and continued on. I was surprised to see it was still there on the other side of the bush and even more surprised by what was blocking its path. There are many creatures that will kill and eat a rattlesnake but I don’t think the desert cottontail is on that list. The rabbit had hopped across the trail while I was waiting, I was a little surprised since it clearly saw me and it must have seen the snake.

I took some quick pictures, zoomed all the way in on the snake, all the way out on the rabbit. I continued up the trail as I felt I was too close to not impact the outcome of the standoff, whatever it may be (I don’t think the snake was interested in the rabbit). When I passed back by, the only sign of the brief encounter was the thin strip in the sand where the snake first crossed the trail.

📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 100-400mm | Sony 1.4X
🗓️: June 2, 2024

A desert cottontail leans forward with ears at full attention as it watches a rattlesnake (not in the picture) on the Latigo Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on June 2, 2024. Original: _A674804.ARW

Where’s Waldo?

The tail of a western diamondback rattlesnake is visible sticking out of bushes in a sweeping view of the Sonoran Desert in Scottsdale, Arizona on June 2, 2024. Original: _Z729608.NEF

A chaotic landscape rather than a pretty one but I took the picture because of the telltale tail and this view made me laugh, thinking back years ago when we adopted Sam and Emma and when they’d be feeling a little insecure and hide under the bed, only their tail was sticking out betraying their location. I had seen the diamondback stretched out across the trail so hung back to give it time to move into the underbrush, but when it stopped with its tail visible I couldn’t resist a picture.

📷: Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 24-70 f/4
🗓️: June 2, 2024

Backyard Beauty

A female tarantula sits outside her nest in Scottsdale, Arizona on May 32, 2024. Original: _A674748.ARW

Both of our backyard tarantulas emerged from their winter slumber last month though one completely sealed off her entrance again and this one I haven’t seen in a few days, though perhaps I’ve just missed her. She didn’t retreat to her hole one night a week ago when I let Bear out to go to the bathroom, so I grabbed my camera and she sat still for the 2.5 second exposure (sitting still is what she does most of the night).

📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 100-400mm | Sony 1.4X
🗓️: May 31, 2024

The Joy of the Familiar

A male Scott’s oriole sings from atop flower buds on a saguaro in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on May 29, 2024. Original: _A674574.ARW

While I enjoy scenic views my favorite part of hiking is seeing animals and plants, so I love visiting trails over and over and over and over and seeing friends both new and familiar. On this occasion a Scott’s oriole singing atop the flower buds of a saguaro, I had seen it in the area on previous hikes. Nothing exotic about the location, I’m standing on the path between the parking lot and the trailhead structure. But what beauty there was to be seen!

📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 100-400mm | Sony 1.4X
🗓️: May 29, 2024

A Rock and a Hard Place

A close-up view of the head of a common chuckwalla sleeping in the crevice of a large boulder on the Latigo Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on May 28, 2024. Original: _A673895.ARW

A sleeping chuckwalla is happy to be stuck between a rock and a hard place on a warm spring afternoon. It was a beautiful crevice, deep enough to provide protection from the hawks and owls living nearby with hungry mouths to feed. It’s a bit humbling to see for someone who has trouble sleeping even curled up and comfy in bed.

📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 100-400mm | Sony 1.4X
🗓️: May 28, 2024