Camera and Lens: Sony A7II, Sony 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens
Settings: 70mm, ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/800sec

I made this image on the way back from my first visit to Death Valley. I will never forget that sunset, I've never seen clouds like those forming above the Eastern Sierra Nevada that evening.

Still admiring the skies, something caught my eye on the side of the road: a lone Joshua Tree. I had to pull over and stop to take this exposure.

I pointed which at the time was still my camera, a Sony full-frame, and took the exposure. I knew I had gotten something special but for some reason I kept this image away for a while.

So many things have happened since that moment and still, it's been only a year and a half.

See more images of California.