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Desert
Garden
Several years ago while on a day hike with my
wife, daughter, and a friend who lives in the
Sisters area, I spotted a wall of striking lichen
covered basalt columns towering high above the
Squaw Creek basin. I knew there had to be an
interesting composition found amongst these
polychromatic towers. After many return visits
for photographic purposes, Arrowleaf Balsamroot
began to bloom at the base of the columns and
I knew I had the composition I had sought. I
excitedly climbed the steep slope leading to
this location. While crossing a large rock slide
I heard a shrill reverberating noise and thought
"that can't be a rattlesnake, can it"?
I don't dislike snakes, but I don't enjoy being
surprised by poisonous ones either. Three feet
from my right shoe, was my surprise. My heart
nearly exploded with a primal jolt as I raced
away with fear induced determination. After
distancing myself from what seemed to be a 15
foot long man eating beast, I realized I'd actually
seen a 4 foot long rattle snake, who'd given
me a friendly warning. After composing myself,
I composed this image, capturing the rocky high
desert in bloom. |
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