Life in the high desert is simple, but never easy. The seasons here are intricately woven together in a subtle interdependence that is both sublime and complex. From the rolling summits of the sky island mountains to the wash water of the river of the valley, the secrets of this country ultimately rest quietly in the boughs of the ancient cottonwoods that line the humble San Pedro. Carried by floodwaters that cascade down the Huachuca's steep cliffs and across the parched valley floor, until they finally seep into the grand trees ancient roots, are the stories of this land.

In the xylem and phloem of the cottonwoods travel the remnants of the lands stories of birth and death, fire and flood, muddy swampland and parched desert, vibrant creation and violent destruction, until they come to rest in rings of knowledge, forever silent, forever knowing. These sentinel centenarians have witnessed and withstood it all and still endure. They are the guardians of the land.

To know the high desert is to understand the stories of its parts. At days end I stood on a rise and viewed the grandeur of the tree-lined river. The sky above me erupted in a volcanic display that encompassed the entire spectrum of yellows and reds, while the Huachuca mountains smoldered in a reflective firey glow. As my camera recorded the vision, I could not help but feel overcome by the glory of His creation and humbled by the blessing to be its scribe. And then I realized that I too am interwoven into this land in ways that are both sublime and complex. That I am meant to be one of the guardians and custodians of this land and its secrets. That it is His will for me. In this, I am truly blessed. It is simple, and, for now, it is easy.
Shoot Date: November 14, 2018
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Aperture priority 8.0 sec at f/11 2 ²⁄₃ EV
Lens: EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM @ 28 mm
ISO: 100