Lori Carey Photography

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Whitewater


Whitewater River in the Coachella Valley, California


It was much hotter than it should've been that day and the wind was gusting to 70mph. The PCT through hikers we met said it was even worse at higher elevations and everyone was heading down to take shelter. I had to concede to Mother Nature and get off the trail and head back home, or at least in a different direction. The jeep was swaying so badly at stoplights that I was getting seasick and trying to keep it on the road over the mountain passes had exhausted me almost to the point of tears. That's when I saw the most beautiful cool blue green water cascading through the desert floor and I had to go investigate. I followed it up until I reached the Whitewater Preserve, part of the Wildlands Conservancy. After hiking around a bit and enjoying the cooler temperature, I hung out out at the visitor center talking with all of the through hikers who were there to hunker down for the night. The ranger warned us that bears have been very active near the water and to be careful...the lake at the park is stocked with trout. It's a beautiful park that I never would've found if I hadn't decided to follow the river.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Drydock


S.S. Vickers, boat suspended from high tension power line pylon in the middle of the Mojave Desert


You never know what you're going to find out in the desert...a boat suspended in midair from a power line pylon on a dry lake bed in the middle of the Mojave...somebody has a warped sense of humor.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Fall Colors in the Eastern Sierras


Fall colors in the Alabama Hills, California


One from a trip to the Alabama Hills last October. I'm fairly sure that is a Cottonwood tree, but if anyone knows for sure and can confirm for me I'd appreciate it.

Monday, February 13, 2012

The Party's Over


All that remains of the Amboy Shoe Tree on Route 66 after it fell over in 2010.


This is all that is left of the famous Shoe Tree on Route 66 in Amboy, California. It collapsed some time in February/March 2010, maybe from too much weight. At one time it was a big beautiful tree (some sources say it was a Palo Verde, other say it was a tamarisk) that provided a rare bit of shade in this part of the Mojave desert. I had always meant to stop and photograph it every time I passed by, and when I finally took the time to stop one day in April 2010 it was too late.

There's a great article at Roadtrip America that has photos of the tree in all it's glory over the years, then it's sad decline as the tree could no longer handle all of the weight from the shoes.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Salton Sea Mist


Salton Sea Mist


The far shore of the Salton Sea was shrouded in mist, and with the sun shining down brightly on it, it looked like some far off mysterious fantasy land. Denise and I couldn't stop ooohing and aaahing over it and I took several different types shots throughout the day trying to capture it just right, most of them high key. This is one of my favorite non-high key because of the way the sunlight sparkles on the water and glints off the back of the seagulls, the way the mountains are layered in the mist, and the birds on the left balance the mountains on the right.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Bombay Beach Street Art


Styrofoam mannequin head street art in Bombay Beach, California


Bombay Beach on the Salton Sea is the creepiest place I've ever visited because some people do still live in this almost-abandoned little town with it's post-apocalyptic vibe. When you're prowling around the broken down shacks and see a person walking in the middle of the road off in the distance, it's hard not to think about zombies. But people really do live in this decaying seaside town where Mother Nature is winning and it's important to be respectful if you visit.

My friend Denise isn't into weird stuff like I am so she waited in the car while I grabbed a couple shots at one spot in town on our way down to the beach where all of the structures are encased in a thick coating of salt, including a piece of bobcat-like heavy machinery. There was some really strange stuff in Bombay Beach, I can't wait to go back when I have more time to explore.


Graffiti, Bombay Beach, California



Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Salton Sea Sunset


Sunset at Salt Creek Beach on the Salton Sea, California


I had an awesome time yesterday roaming around the Salton Sea with Denise Goldberg, a friend I've known for years online and finally got to meet in person for the first time while she was out here on a photo vacation. We met up in Palm Springs and decided to head to the Salton Sea to spend the afternoon wandering all along the east side of the lake exploring a few of the beaches, then wrapped it up with sunset at Salt Creek Beach. Shooting at the Salton Sea is not for the weak...between the beaches made of fish bones, eerie salt encrusted structures, the horrid stench of rotting fish along the shore and the creepy post-apocalyptic feel of the almost-abandoned towns it was a freaky in a good way and definitely wasn't boring.
Thanks for sharing the adventure Denise!