Desert Dawn (2007)
Joshua Tree National Park, CA

It was 2:00 on a Saturday morning when I quietly backed my Prius out of the garage and headed out to the desert and Joshua Tree National Park 150 miles away. It takes a while to get away from the city lights here in Southern California. And until you do you are unable to see the magnificent night sky. It wasn't until I arrived in the park that I was able to truly enjoy the wonders of the heavens. And it wasn't until my plans for a sunrise shot were foiled that I parked my car by the side of the road, shut off the light and stepped out into the cool night air. Lifting your eyes to gaze at the immensity of the galaxy is almost involuntary. Our struggles, our wars over religion and ideology which seem so important in the light of day shrink to insignificance. I feel small ... and blessed to be on this earth at this time under this beautiful sky. One star was especially bright, almost blindingly bright. It was rising in the eastern sky as the night advanced and the dawn drew ever closer.

But there is a sunrise to shoot and it's only an hour or so away. With my first plan thwarted I needed a backup and fast. The decision was made. A spot I had scouted weeks before 30 or 40 minutes east of Twentynine Palms would be the place. I had to hurry. I followed the star to the spot I had in mind. When I arrived the eastern sky was already starting to turn gray. I grabbed my gear and began wandering around in the fading darkness. In time I came upon a sandy wash where smoke trees grew. The eastern horizon was now a golden glow. The smoke tree stood silhouetted against the sky. And the star that had guided me, the Morning Star, still stood bright in the gathering blue of the sky. Ah, life is good.