My November 2015 Photo of the Month is Ohlson House, a sunrise image made in Joshua Tree National Park.
Ohlson House Background
When the weather cools down, I find myself in Joshua Tree National Park a lot more. This was a very cool, crisp morning, in the Wonderland area. This location was called the Ohlson House, and was part of the Wonderland Ranch.
The ruins are quite cool, although I have heard it is a modern-day victim of vandalism. As late as the 1960s, much of the building was somewhat intact, including a metal roof. While time, weather, and erosion have an effect on all of the natural and human surroundings, people are constantly accelerating this deterioration. I wish people would just leave these creations alone.
This was another clear day where I sought a good morning composition. The best I came up with was the first light on the rock formations above the building. The pink house helped provide a little color in the shadows, while the rocks glowed orange and the sky shown blue.
There is so much to photograph in this area, from the Rusty Truck, to Wall Street Mill, as well as the wash near the Ohlson House being the gateway into the farther reaches of the Wonderland of Rocks. This is often a starting point for many an adventure in Joshua Tree.
As always, thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy the image.
T.M. Schultze is a San Diego-based photographer, traveller, and writer. He writes, photographs, and draws things of the outdoors that have inspired humans for thousands of years. He co-authored the Photographer’s Guide to Joshua Tree Park which can be purchased here.