Finding stillness in the desert light.
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Happy Friday, Reader! Words cannot express how much I have enjoyed my time here in the desert, at our little oasis with friends we consider family. We met new people that quickly became friends. We talked. We ate. We made future meet-up plans. Mornings start quiet here with soft light on the mountains and move through busy days to evenings with skies painted in orange and pink. As our time here comes to an end, we are soaking in these last peaceful moments before pointing the truck east and beginning the next chapter of the journey: exploring Route 66! This week's Friday Five captures a few of the moments that have defined our desert stay: still skies, glowing sunsets, unexpected bursts of celebration, and the quiet beauty that lives in the smallest details. 
In a place defined by stillness, this moment of spontaneous celebration felt magical. And, because it was an unexpected end to the evening, I found myself with only my iPhone to capture the memory. I was surprised at how good a job it did! This image, with the silhouette of our pyrotechnician enjoying the show, was my favorite. I used the raw setting to capture as much detail as possible. The blues, greens, and golds exploding against the night sky helped to create a sense of wonder in the desert landscape. I love how the warm orange colors blend with the deep blue of the sky. No movement, no people. Just the desert settling in for the night as the sun drops below the horizon. The silhouettes of the iconic saguaros remind me of why I love spending time in the desert. The sun breaking over the mountains signals the start of a new desert morning. The intense oranges and golds perfectly illustrate how dramatic desert light can be. I often tell people who ask what it’s like to spend time here, “experience a sunrise or two and you won’t be able to stay away!” The landscape is expansive and peaceful as the world wakes up to another day. The desert isn’t just big landscapes though. Sometimes the magic is found in the texture and details. In this image I love how the sharp spines of the cactus stand out against the soft, blurred background. It gives the image depth as the repeating starburst pattern draws you into the structure of the cactus. Do you notice how the warm light catches each spine and creates a glow of highlights? Our time in the desert is coming to an end. Evenings spent sharing food and conversation will always be my favorite part of our stay but the evening sky holds a special place in my heart. Watching the pinks streak across the sky as the sun drops low is breathtaking. And capturing the reflection of the colors in the trailer added to the moment in my opinion. The desert isn’t just a fascinating landscape and quiet evenings with friends, it is the feeling of wide open places. I’m thankful for our RV life and the freedom it brings us. 
This week I noticed that I leaned into silhouettes to help tell the story in my images. I let the majority of the details fall into the shadows in this image with the tree standing out against the beautiful colors of the evening sky. Here are 5 tips to help you capture movement in water:
What will you capture this week? I can't wait to see so tag me on social media or drop me a reply with your favorite image! Until next week!
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