This photo was birthed out of a tragedy. My wife’s uncle died unexpectedly in Pasadena, California. Getting flights from South Florida on short notice to attend his funeral was immensely challenging. We had great difficulty securing any reasonably priced flights into any of the Southern California airports, but we found one that fit our schedule and budget from Florida to Las Vegas.
But it required a four-hour drive, including crossing the Mojave Desert partially after nightfall. A quick roadside stop to capture this image, with the sun disappearing behind a Joshua tree and the mountainous terrain, resulted in this beauty.
With experiences like this along the journey, my wife and I came to love the spontaneity of the adventure as we traveled to spend time with her grieving cousins and celebrate her uncle’s legacy. This photo is a reminder that even in the desert moments of life, beauty can be found.
