I happened to be out in the Joshua Tree area during the nearly full moon in June (AKA Strawberry Moon) so of course I had to make time for some photography! I was a day or two early, but to my eye, the moon looked pretty full. There's a large rock formation out near Ryan Ranch called "Headstone Rock", and that was my destination.
The two photos above: Strawberry Moon, June 2024
Not my best selfie. Weird diagonal horizon!
The stars never really made much of an appearance. Should be no suprise, since a full moon will make the stars much less visible. So I decided to head home, feeling satisfied with my Strawberry Moon photos. Driving through the park, I couldn't resist a little detour. Have you ever wondered what driving the backroads of Joshua Tree National Park would be like at night in an open air Jeep with a full moon? If you answered yes, be sure to check out my video below. What the heck, go ahead and watch it even if you didn't answer yes! Oh, and I don't drive the back roads this fast. The video speed is set to 2X.
Linking with Skywatch Friday.
Thanks for stopping by!!
Nice, like how you framed the moon
ReplyDeleteI love all your photos and how beautifully your frame the moon from all views.
ReplyDeleteJoshua trees are so unique and prehistoric looking--I find them fascinating! Sadly our sun and moons have been red because of multiple wildfire smoke in our air due to wildfires burning in Utah and parts of Colorado. We hope the predicted weather change of :El Nino weather: will bring rain!
ReplyDeleteNicely framed shot.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous pics, as usual! ♥ Well, maybe not the selfie, but it was kind of cool. ☺ And I enjoyed your video as well.
ReplyDeleteYou have created another very beautiful series. I find the photos with the moon and the Joshua trees particularly stunning.
ReplyDeleteFascinating drive through the darkness in Joshua Tree National Park.
...Mother Nature supplied you with some nice picture frames.
ReplyDeleteI loved this journey to a place I would otherwise never see.....and the photos are fantastic!
ReplyDeleteMy fav photo is the last one. I am not sure if I articulate why with this or most photos, but there it is. I am glad that I am not responsible for driving there at night, or probably anytime for that matter.
ReplyDeleteThe moon is artistically framed. Well done as always.
ReplyDeleteWorth a Thousand Words
I don't think I've ever seen a Strawberry moon, I've tried but it always seems to be cloudy here, have a nice weekend.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous shotos.
ReplyDeleteSome gorgeous moon shots. I like that name, Strawberry Moon.
ReplyDeleteDidn´t see the moon in person but your photos are marvelous.
ReplyDeleteDark and desolate drive. But great pictures. Will that make a good Milky Way foreground?
ReplyDeleteYes!!
DeleteThank you for sharing your talent and your eye with us. These are beautiful art photographs. There are one or two that I would enjoy having on my wall and I could see them easily in a show or a gallery. This is excellent work. Thank you so much friend Aloha
ReplyDeleteBeautifully captured! Joshua Tree is such a magical place for night photography, and these photos are gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteSo great and impressive shot !
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment in ma blog ♥
Aw phooey! I've run out of ways to say WOW!
ReplyDeleteHow gorgeous. I've always heard that the desert is the best place to see the moon.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Awe! Saw these incredibly beautiful images earlier on FB and love them so much!
ReplyDeleteWonderful images as always. My favourite has to be 'The Beast' (Joshua Tree) trapping the moon.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos... as always... and as I've come to expect.
ReplyDeleteThat drive? Kind of spooky.
ReplyDeleteThe sunburst moon is cool. But my favorites are where the moon is framed so beautifully with trees. I just haven't gotten very good at that yet! Lots of practice, it shows.
I didn't mind the absence of stars at all. Some nicely framed moon photos more than made up for this and I enjoyed your driving in the dark video. I was almost sorry it ended.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely stunning and creative photos of the Strawberry Moon, Peter and great selfie too ~ Hugs ^_^
ReplyDeleteYour dedicated preparation at Ryan Ranch truly paid off, as capturing the brilliant "sunburst" of the Strawberry Moon framing Headstone Rock makes for a spectacular visual! A stellar series of photos where the moon was framed so nicely with the landscape.
ReplyDeleteLove the selfie. Those pictures are just stunning.
ReplyDeleteSchöne Bilder und das Video ist klasse.
ReplyDeleteGruß
Noke
That is a great rock formation and your moon shots are all wonderful. I love all the different ways you framed it. Your selfie shot is a fun one too. I really enjoyed the ride through the desert. That was fun!
ReplyDeleteI love how you framed the moon in different settings! Great selfie!
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ReplyDeleteThe selfie is perfect!!
The strawberry moon was quite visible and bright.
Looking at the video, it seems like something could happen at any time… just like in a suspense/horror movie. : ))
Wow, such beauty again!!! If Ingo was healthy, off we would go! Just not at night! I am night-blind and even if not... kangaroos, sheep, cows.... no bullbar really helps then! ;-)
ReplyDeleteBut thank you for traveling back in my mind at least. Wish I could explore your place as well. We are so lucky, aren´t we? Please keep sharing. My heart always jumps in joy.
Brilliant photos with the moon!
ReplyDeleteAmazing series of photos, Moon pics just awesome.
ReplyDeleteLoved your moon shots, wonderful and I really like the one in the middle of the tree.
ReplyDeleteWatched the video, obviously there are no big animals there to come out and stand in the middle of the road, or hop out across the road - is there? Here we have to be very careful when driving at night if there are lots of trees about or even not many in the back roads due to kangaroos jumping out.
The area you photographed looks good.
I expected to hear some coyotes yapping in the music for that video, or a herd of wild horses to appear, racing across the road way out in front. The photos are beautiful. As usual. The earth tilted as you selfied. Headstone Rock leans one direction, the Joshuas another.
ReplyDeleteYou Nailed These Photos There Brother Parts - And Totally Dig The Selfie Action - Keep On Hiking About My Man And Enjoy Your Weekend With The Family
ReplyDeleteStay Groovy ,
Cheers
You framed these moon shots quite well. Nice to see you in the selfie!
ReplyDeleteThe moon rising over Joshua Tree feels mystical in your shots.
ReplyDeleteEven with the stars hiding, the desert light tells its own story.
Loved reading about your drive under the full moon.
Stunning photos as always.
I enjoyed the video. Good music, reminds me of Duane Eddy. Headstone Rock is interesting. I like the moon photos!
ReplyDeleteYou got some really great shots.
ReplyDeleteI remember going outside to see the Strawberry Moon, but it looked nothing like yours! I love how you frame the moon in your photos—I'm learning from you. 😊 Your drive looked so spooky, I felt like I was watching The Twilight Zone!
ReplyDeleteGreat pics again. I also saw the Strawberry Moon. But with my mobile the pics that I took weren´t sharp enough to be posted.
ReplyDeleteHave a good time and thanks for your kind visit to my blog.
Violetta
As always fantastic.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos of the strawberry moon and the big rock. You are the maestro of astrophotography!! Spooky drive back in the dark.
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