Painting the desert

We had waited too late. Just at the point where we started to climb up the switchback trail at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the sun seemed to get hotter.

We stopped to take a photo part-way up the trail and decided on a whim to switch the camera setting to “watercolor.” The soft brush strokes would be a better way to display the subtle colors of the mountains and desert floor with its muted green plantings.

The sharpest color contrast was looking east at the bands of greenery and beige sands right before the mountains.

When we looked down at the crisscrossing paths across the desert floor, we could only guess where following them might take us.

The narrow path continued to wind upwards until (finally!) the path ended at a scenic lookout. Time to rest and take in the view – but not for too long. Beth popped up to snap more photos; Joe recorded our efforts with a panoramic image.

We hiked back down to the desert floor. Why does it seem to take so much less time to return? We strolled by nature plaques and then to an expansive desert garden.

The chuparosa bloomed with a flaming, brilliant color.

We had discovered a favorite bench near the visitor center. There’s shade and a lovely view. We took the time for one more visit to the bench and a photo, before we walked home through the desert.

We love the watercolor setting on the camera. It turned pretty plain photos, snapped on an easy hike, into something much more.

 

February 2017