Cholla Cactus Golden Hour

As promised, this week I am featuring my second set of Cholla Cactus Garden images - and dare I say, these are even better! Every morning at Joshua Tree National Park, a warm golden light illuminates the spiny cacti, casting an incredible glow over the desert landscape. The scene is nothing short of mesmerizing, especially on a cold and perfectly clear day. I hope the images I have shared here succeed in capturing the magic of the desert in these early hours, and that you love them as much as I do!

Sunrise Over the Cholla Cacti

Nestled in the heart of Joshua Tree National Park lies the stunning Cholla Cactus Garden. This location is home to thousands of cholla cacti, which light up in brilliant shades of orange and gold during the sunrise hours. When I visited this desert oasis at dawn, and I was blown away by the natural beauty of this unique landscape.

As the sun began to peek over the horizon, the sky filled with vibrant hues of yellow, orange, and purple. The surrounding desert landscape was cast in an ethereal glow, and the cholla cacti seemed to come alive in the early morning light. The result was a series of stunning images that perfectly capture the otherworldly beauty of the desert at sunrise. In fact, I loved my images from this spot so much, I’ve split them into two posts - this is just the first half. Enjoy!

Sunrise at Barker Dam

Barker Dam in Joshua Tree National Park is a historic site that was built in the early 1900s to provide water for cattle and mining operations in the area. The dam was constructed using local materials, including boulders and concrete, and was designed to capture and store rainwater. It is named after William Barker, one of the early ranchers in the area who was instrumental in its construction.

During my visit, I woke up early to catch the sunrise at Barker Dam, and boy, was it worth it! The sky turned into a beautiful canvas of vibrant purples, pinks, and oranges, and as the sun crept up the sky, the rest of the desert turned an intense shade of gold. Even though the dam was dry (and so we missed out on water reflections), the Joshua Trees and rock formations more than made up for it!

A Morning Swamp Walk

The images featured in this week’s blog post are from a very early morning walk around the swamps of Tauparikākā Marine Reserve in the West Coast of New Zealand. The soft morning light really transformed this magical place and really brought out all the details in the landscapes…

Sunrise at a Marine Reserve

The Tauparikākā Marine Reserve lies in the West Coast of New Zealand, on the way between the cities of Wanaka and Queenstown and the Franz and Fox glaciers. Although I had been planning to visit for some time, I must admit this spot completely surpassed my expectations. In only a few short walks, it guides you through a stunning beach, a gloomy swamp, and surprising views over the wetlands. It’s almost like someone decided to take a selection of New Zealand’s stunning scenery and collapsed it into a single location. Well worth a visit!

Kaikoura Sunsets and Sunrises

During my visit to Kaikoura, I made my way up to the Kaikoura Lookout a couple of times, to catch both sunrises and sunsets over the harbour. The lookout provides stunning views in all directions, over the town, the ocean, and the countryside. Below are some of my favourite images from this special place.