It's been years since visiting what I call "stamp rock" in Joshua Tree National Park.
If my memory can be trusted (probably not!), I seem to recall the artist took some liberties with that large Joshua tree. Either he added it just to enhance the painting, or it was there at the time but has long since fallen over and disappeared. I thought I knew right where stamp rock was, but as it turned out, I didn't, and Mitch and I did a lot of hiking around the Hidden Valley area of Joshua Tree National Park before finally finding it. That's OK, there's lots to see! Toothy grin! Can you guess what the white stuff is on the "teeth"? That's climbers chalk. They put it on their hands to help them grip the rock.  |
| Delicate balance! |
We came across some incredible pictographs, although not in this area. I'm sharing it here so as not to give away its true location.
Old dam built by the early ranchers. And thanks to recent rain, it was full of water. What a nice surprise!
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| Alien Rock!! |
And finally we found it... stamp rock!! But if you look closely and compare it to the stamp, it's definitely the same rock formation, but it's inverted. Like looking at a mirror image. Very strange!
So I used Photoshop to flip the image horizontally, and I used AI to add a Joshua Tree. Now if you compare this to the stamp, there is no doubt this is the rock formation the artist used for inspiration. Pretty cool!  |
| Later that evening, enjoying the stars. |
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| Until next time!! |
Thanks for stopping by!
I knew you were going to find it!! And you did.
ReplyDeleteStrange how sometimes an inverted photo looks better. I've had painters ask for photos and then they show me what they come up with. About half the time they inverted the image.
Outstanding effort to find and re-create the "stamp tree". I really love all the incredible rock formations. And once again, you have provided motivation for me to get out to see what I can see in the night sky.
ReplyDelete...you always find amazing beautiful in this barren landscape, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThe middle section of stamp rock in your photo looks like a cat face and the cat's right ear is tipped. Your photos are so beautiful. Like the second from last. And also the very first. I would never have guessed climbers chalk. It looks like my mouth when I forget to wash my face after brushing my teeth.
ReplyDeleteBack in the days of slides, I would often get some inverted and then struggle to figure out what I was looking at until I realized the mistake. I never have that issue these days with digital pictures.
ReplyDeleteGlad you found it. Wonder what happen to the tree.
ReplyDeleteWOW these are wonderful photos :-D
ReplyDeleteI am happy you found it. Beautiful photos.
ReplyDeleteVery cool rock formations. You always find interesting things in the desert!
ReplyDeleteWow - these are all beautiful photos!
ReplyDeleteWow! Awesome inversion of Stamp Rock ~ fascinating ~ and great pictographs too ~ Always a great post and photographs ~ thanks ^_^
ReplyDeleteIt's a magical place which you bring out wonderfully well.
ReplyDeletewhat a unique target (the stamp) for hiking search.
ReplyDelete