Weekend Break

I think it is very important to un-plug from work and get away to recharge.  I find that taking time to enjoy life helps with my photography and also with my creativity.

This past weekend I ventured four hours away to Mojave with my girlfriend to relax and enjoy nature.  I wanted to photograph the sand dunes at sunset and capture the sunlight play on the dunes during the final hour of light.  I'd tried before but we didn't realize it was an hour hike to get to the dunes and had to turn back before it got dark.  This time I came prepared with a flashlight and we planned our hike, which was a grueling uphill climb the entire way.  When we finally made it to the top I was exhausted, but seeing the dunes from the top took away all my pain.  It was my first time seeing sand dunes with my own eyes.  I have wanted to photograph sand dunes ever since I watched the movie "The Cell" with Jennifer Lopez.  

Capturing the sand dunes at that time of day was incredible for me.  I feel in love with the beauty of the light and the way it danced with the dunes.  We enjoyed the sunset and talked until the sunset afterglow vanished.  It was an amazing trip.......,until we tried to find our way back to the car.  

Walking back from the top of the dunes at night, without the aid of a full moon, was not an easy task.  We soon found ourselves off the path and walking in deep sand and grass instead of just sand alone.  I wanted to get off the grass and looked for our path when all of the sudden I heard the worst sound I have ever heard.  We had walked to close to a rattlesnake and the sound was directly at our feet.  My girlfriend felt it zoom past her towards me and I leaped and tried to roll away from it.  I found it with the flashlight and it was huge!  We got out of the area as fast as we could but were still about 30 min. from my car.  In that moment we found the path made it back to the car safely.  The moment we were in the car I bowed my head and prayed thanking God for protection.  It was a moment we will never forget!

Always Dream Big,............,and never walk in the dessert at night!