Joshua Tree is a magical place from a photography point of view! Linking with Skywatch Friday. Click on the link to check out great skies from around the world.
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Old Cars of Joshua Tree National Park
In my opinion, the National Park Service should be applauded for leaving things "as is". Case in point: The old cars you can find throughout Joshua Tree National Park. They could have elected to haul them off, but instead they've left them intact as part of the Park's history.
One can only marvel at why someone was driving a car in a totally remote and unforgiving area back at a time when the nearest paved roads were probably at least 50 miles away?
Not to mention that cars of yesteryear were much more likely to overheat or blow a tire than cars of today.
These cars were all seen on the relatively short hike to the "Wall Street Mill", an old mining operation in the Park near Barker Dam.
Given the large size of Joshua Tree National Park, it makes me wonder what to total abandoned car count is? I'm guessing it's a large number!
This last one is, I think, my favorite. I like all the Joshua Trees, boulders, and beautiful sky in the background!
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Oh these are magnificent. I had no idea there were that many abandoned cars out there in Joshua Tree. Six more shots like these and you have yourself a calender you could sell. Probably just old guys who like cars would be your only customers though.
ReplyDeletewow. likewise i had no idea about these abandoned cars in joshua tree. the more i'd like to visit now.
ReplyDeleteMy SKYWATCH
What a marvelous set of images. The old cars are a special treat, but the back drop of the park and the sky are just stunning. Really nice work. Have a blessed week-end.
ReplyDeleteWow, cool images
ReplyDeleteALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
=^..^= . <3 . >< } } (°>
Wow, now I'm really intrigued about those cars. I agree that it was a great decision not to move them out of the way. I've seen lots of images of Joshua tree but I have never heard a thing about the cars.
ReplyDeleteFabulous shots! The cars look like works of art.
ReplyDeleteThese old cars are like rusty sculptures, beautiful works of art. I love your photos! Incredible scenery too.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about the beauty of these old wrecks, though I can think of many who would disagree. If there were too many of them they would lose their appeal though.
ReplyDeleteYour images make looking at old cars a joy, wonderful series of shots and skies.
ReplyDeleteGreat set of pic's. I also wonder who have abandoned those car's and what had happened next. Still beautiful to see.
ReplyDeleteThose abandoned cars become attractive photography objects in the park.
ReplyDeleteEnjoying your shots, especially the last pic.
www.womenandperspectives.com/2014/09/the-beauty-of-savanna.html
Fabulous old vehicles.....the disintegrating tyres look very interesting .....and the chrome on the headlights still shines!
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend!
Gorgeous photography of the abandoned vintage cars and the beautiful state park vistas ~ for SWF!
ReplyDeleteartmusedog and carol (A Creative Harbor)
I'm sure those footprints weren't all yours, so these are obviously a photographer's delight! The earth is slow to reclaim these vehicles.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fascinating place, and great images too. Thanks for visiting.
ReplyDeletethey make incredible photo fodder!
ReplyDeleteThose are truly fantastic shots of the remains of those old cars.
ReplyDeleteIt must be fascinating to make a ride overthere. Thanks for sharing this beauty!
Wow! These junks make great subject.
ReplyDeleteAwesome serie! Love it!
ReplyDelete~sigh~ these are fabulous! Love these!
ReplyDeleteI agree. I'm so glad that the old cars were left to be claimed by nature. Interesting photographic subjects.
ReplyDeleteI think I just lost my comment....
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos! I also think it's great that they have left them alone. They are a big part of the history here.
A thought: The truck in the first photo is actually a car that was converted. The green truck in the third photo, is missing its bed. I wonder if the bed was moved to the vehicle in the first photo.
Things last forever out there on the desert; we were amazed at these examples as well. Wonderful pictures. Reminds you that not all adventures end well! Gosh, I am old enough to remember how my dad would have to stop and put water in the overheated engine whenever we drove somewhere out of town. There were watering stations specifically for that purpose in the farm and hill country surrounding our hometown. And that was a lot nearer to civilization.
ReplyDeleteWhat stories must be attached to each of these cars! Your photos are absolutely fabulous, and to my English eyes very exotic, the combination of sky. landscape and the cars like the bones of an animal - you have an artist's eye!
ReplyDeleteThose vehicles look very old, your images are beautiful and interesting!
ReplyDeleteThese are great photos!
ReplyDeleteThey're definitely fun and photogenic.
ReplyDeleteVery good subject matter ! Have a wonderful weekend wherever you are !
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos, and the last has a big WOW factor.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice day,
Mormor
Wow ! It became a kind of museum of old cars !
ReplyDeleteThis is an amazing collection The Park Service did the right thing. These cars are part of the history.
ReplyDeleteThis is so fascinating! I so wish I can go there someday!! Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteOMG, how long are they here...?!
ReplyDeleteSpectacular photos!
How intriguing! If only these old cars could speak, I'd love to hear their stories of how they ended up in such a final resting (parking?) place. Your photos are terrific - the natural scenery is spectacularly beautiful all by itself, of course - but I must say, those old car remains provide a most interesting touch of beauty of their own to the scenes, really adding to the mystery and hauntingly beautiful desolation of the place. Wonderful post!
ReplyDeleteWhat splendid composition and artful processing of these images of the old cars! It really stimulates your imagination to ponder the personal adventures and tragedies of those who ventured there so many years ago.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photography! I would love to go there someday, it's two of my favorite things combined! I adore nature and there's something endearing to me about old, broken down cars & buildings.
ReplyDeleteAgain amazing photos. I love the subject of this post. Oh that we knew the stories of these cars.
ReplyDeleteAmazing shots ... and it's a wonderful place to visit with a camera! Love old cars like that!
ReplyDeleteThat 4th and last pic are fantastic!
ReplyDeleteAnd why can't they make cars like that these days, too? They had so much more character back then.
What a cool collection, I love these old cars.. happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteThose are really cool shots - I love to see how the tires seem to be unraveling. And gorgeous skies to boot! Thanks for sharing these :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great looking wreck! And your right, it would have been some effort to have got the car there in the first place!
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
I love seeing all these wrecks!! I don't see a lot of rust on them, but I love the burnished effects on the metal!
ReplyDeleteI want to visit this park even more! I agree, the wrecks add to the sense of being in the desert.
ReplyDeleteAll of your photos are quite stunning, but I agree that the last shot is my favorite, too. I think it's great the cars are there. Certainly makes for some great photography. You really know how to capture their essence.
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh, i love these! i didn't know there were abandoned cars there but it does remind me of my husband telling me something about finding an old car out there once (we were stationed at 29 palms back in the 80's)...awesome shots! they really tell a story!
ReplyDelete