Description
Joshua Tree Nature Photography
This image has a funny story behind it. I live near the Park, and as such have opportunity to photograph it more than others might. As such, there are some shots and views I have come to know and want; the want being of the desire to capture a decent incarnation of the vision of some particular view. On this particular day, it had just snowed, and was still snowing here and there, and I was driving through the park, stopping at will, and also at pre-desired locations. This tree I have shot several times before, because I like the foreground compliment, the background splendor, and the composition of the tree. As I wandered intently toward my spot, and neared it, another intrepid, and photographically oriented, couple made way toward my intended vantage. Somewhat shocked, in the vast openness of the desert, and myself having thought I had some small right to this tree, knowing its composition as I do, deferred and changed course. Eventually, after shooting this very tree, that couple made its way off, and I moved in for the shot. It only took one snap to know it was not quite right, and I turned to walk toward what I supposed might be the right spot. Being as focused as I was on the image to be made, it is easy to see how I could be surprised when upon turning toward the subject – that being the tree – there was already, yes, another arm of a photographing couple in my shot. Somewhat flustered, unexpectedly un-urban in some close personal contact situation – I turned away, and feigned interest in some other thing. The story would start to get hard to believe if it had happened a third time. At any rate, eventually I got the shot I wanted.
I very seldom shoot with any lens that might distort the image. I consider myself mostly an artistic journalist photographer in that I like my images to reflect what I see close to as the eye sees it. This image has a fisheye view on it. This particular lens keeps the center of the image in focus, while widening and blurring the peripheral. I enjoy the power a fisheye lens gives the photographer, because it allows focus to be strongly directed.
