Waiting for the Rain

WHEN THE SKY TOUCHES THE DESERT

A PORTFOLIO BY

WHEN THE SKY TOUCHES THE DESERT

I find Arizona's Sonoran Desert an amazing landscape to photograph. The play of textures, patterns, and colors produces a creative playground with an endless number of images. On average there are 350 days of sunshine a year in this climateblessed land. Even so, some of the most striking scenes I have photographed appeared on those rare days when the rains came, a time when the sky touched the desert. I had only to wait and watch. Sunrise and sunset are always the best times for dramatic light. Combine this with breaking storms and a saguaro forest, and you have some unique scenes. I can almost hear a sigh as the desert drinks in the moisture.

(PRECEDING PANEL, PAGES 24 AND 25) The arms on these cactuses in Saguaro National Park indicate that the specimens are at least 75 years old. (LEFT) Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument shelters many kinds of cactus, including saguaros and chollas, as well as other cactus species found only there and in Mexico.

WHEN THE SKY TOUCHES THE DESERT

(PRECEDING PANEL, PAGES 28 AND 29) Fog bestows an otherworldly aura on this stretch of Sonoran Desert. (RIGHT) Organ pipe cactuses seem to hide in the shade in this play of light and shadow.