The first time I went to Big Bend National Park, I was amazed at how beautiful it was. The timing was right that year with everything being lush and blooming. I loved the contrast between the desert vegetation and the striking Chisos Mountains that run through the center of the park. I was surprised to even find a waterfall there, although I didn’t get any decent shots of it. The day it would have been flowing nicely after an evening downpour, I couldn’t get in because the roads were closed from runoff!

This shot is from a wonderful morning along the road north of the Chisos Mountains. I wandered around before sunrise searching for just the right combination of desert elements to have in the foreground. I thought this group of cactus helped to add a little depth to the scene. The clouds were pretty thick as I got setup, but fortunately they began to lift as the sun cleared the horizon. I like this shot because the light not only glanced the side of the mountains, but also lit up the cactus leaves in the foreground.