Saguaro National Park (East)

During the COVID-19 pandemic I, like many others, found myself exploring US National Parks with great enthusiasm. During a recent trip to Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona, I found myself fascinated by the magnificence of the Saguaro cacti which famously define the Sonoran Desert landscape. To bring the viewer to the park, I include close-up shots to portray the cactus’ varying patterns and textures, full shots of cactus to showcase their various shapes and configurations, and landscape photos of the majestic cactus in their natural desert environment. It was a conscious decision to transform these color photos to either a black and white format, or to nearly desaturate all color in the images. This shift allows one to then focus on the dramatic cacti themselves, and not be distracted by the harsh green color against the bright blue sky and the warm desert landscape. While the Saguaro cacti were once dwindling in numbers, conservation efforts have reversed this trend – and now the cacti are flourishing. I hope this portfolio of images invokes appreciation in preserving this iconic species.