Out Of Place

El Paseo

Palm Desert, CA



El Paseo is a mile long stretch of high-end shops, galleries and restaurants.  At night, storefronts are stunning.  Galleries highlight their spectacular art.  Dining areas and live music spill out onto the sidewalks.

As I walked from my parking space to the restaurant, I could not help but notice the contrast between this scene and the entire street environment.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f3.2 | 1/160 sec | 40mm equiv | ISO 200

Photographed 3/22/26

Out Of Place

El Paseo - Shop

El Paseo - Gallery

El Paseo - Dining

El Paseo - Music

Dedication Or Smarts?

Palm Desert, CA

Not sure if it is dedication or smarts that caused these gents to play sports at night with daytime temps of 100 and nights dipping into the 80s.  Either way they presented good IRL moments to capture this week's challenge photo.

1:  Sony A7Cii @ f5.6 | 1/200 | 40mm | ISO 12800 [52 Frames - Week 12 - Low Key]

2:  Sony A7Cii @ f4 | 1/500 | 40mm | ISO 12800  [52 Frames - Week 12 - Low Key Alternate]

1 & 2:  Voigtlander 40mm F1.4 Nokton Classic (adapted)

All photographed 3/16/26

Contrasting Views

Photographs made in the urban desert on 11/5/25 and contained in two of my website collections (52 Assignments-Exposure and Visual Notes).

Sony A7Cii | 40mm | ISO 100 and Voigtlander 40mm F1.4 Nokton Classic

Streak Of Light

Abstract Sugaro

Fog?

Palm Desert, CA

In the two weeks I was in Palm Desert, this is the only moisture I encountered in the air.



Sony A7Cii @ f?? | 1/125 | 40mm | ISO 125

Voigtlander Nokton Classic 40mm F1.4 (adapted)

Photographed 11/5/25

Truth

Palm Desert, CA

On this trip, we learned of an art exhibition called DesertX 2025 (https://desertx.org/) consisting of several installations around Coachella Valley.  Unfortunately, I only made it to one of the exhibits this year...and plan to attend many more in future years.

Photos below are of an awesome sculpture in the desert entitled "Truth Arrives in Slanted Beams" by Sarah Meyohas.  For more information, check out https://desertx.org/dx/dx-25-coachella-valley/sarah-meyohas and https://sarahmeyohas.com/.  It was fun to photograph as the sun was setting behind the mountains.

All photographed on 3/20/25

Truth 1

Sony A7Cii @ f11 | 1/500 | 15mm | ISO 100

Voigtlander VM 15mm F4.5 (adapted)

Truth 2

Sony A7Cii @ f11 | 1/2500 | 15mm | ISO 100

Voigtlander VM 15mm F4.5 (adapted)

Truth 3

Sony A7Cii @ f11 | 1/500 | 15mm | ISO 100

Voigtlander VM 15mm F4.5 (adapted)

Truth 4

Sony A7Cii @ f11 | 1/500 | 15mm | ISO 100

Voigtlander VM 15mm F4.5 (adapted)

Migration

Palm Desert, CA

Looking up from the pool deck, we were graced with this amazing scene of snow geese migration.



Migration 1

Apple iPhone 15 Pro @ f1.8 | 1/3800 | 6.76mm (42mm equiv) | ISO 80

Migration 2

Apple iPhone 15 Pro @ f2.8 | 1/540 | 9mm (108mm equiv) | ISO 25

All photographed 3/15/25

Perplexed

52Frames - Week 11 - Egg

EC: Humor

Palm Desert, CA

Driving by this desert sculpture with curving white walls, I knew it would be a great backdrop for an egg photo.

After heading back with an egg & marker, I was able to dodge the rain, draw a facial expression and get off a few shots.

Sony A7Cii @ f4 | 1/4000 | 28mm | ISO 160

Tamron E 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 A071

Photographed 3/13/25

4 Beards from COD

When in Palm Desert, a couple of hours at the College of the Desert street fair usually provides for some good photo ops.  On this visit, I spotted a few more beards worthy of the ongoing "Beard" series.  In each case I asked for a photo and all obliged.

All photographed 11/10/24

Jim

A musician/singer in a band playing classic songs to the crowd at COD.  He's had his beard for a very long time and trims it every 6 months.



Sony A7Cii @ f8 | 1/400 | 28mm | ISO 250

Voigtlander VM 28mm F2 Ultron (adapted)

Brighton

An ethereal, meditative guy who sells crystals of all sorts.  Don't recall how long he's had his beard, but the trim timing is random.

Sony A7Cii @ f8 | 1/400 | 28mm | ISO 1250

Voigtlander VM 28mm F2 Ultron (adapted)

Ryan

Has had his beard for 18 years and trims it regularly to keep it neat.

Sony A7Cii @ f5.6 | 1/400 | 90mm | ISO 1000

Leitz Elmar-C 90mm F4 (adapted)

Craig

Has had his beard for 25 years and trims it when it gets too scraggly.

Sony A7Cii @ f5.6 | 1/400 | 90mm | ISO 1000

Leitz Elmar-C 90mm F4 (adapted)

What Is The Message?

52Frames - Week 46 - Perspective


EC: Optical Illusion



Palm Desert, CA



It was late afternoon and a rare moment of clouds moving through. I glanced up and saw this scene I had never before experienced.  After taking the shot on my phone, it got me thinking about "perspective".



Visually, it is difficult to tell whether the view is above, below or at eye level of the clouds (hence the EC: Optical Illusion).  Spiritually, I had the perspective of gratitude, being in the right place, at the right time to experience this phenomena (hence the Title).



Apple iPhone 15 Pro @ f2.8 | 1/9300 | 9mm (205mm equiv) | ISO 16



Photographed 11/11/24

"Good Morning!!!"

College of the Desert

Palm Desert, CA

Driving a shuttle cart around the flea market, he was booming out "Good Morning" to everyone he passed.  After the 2nd pass, I offered a fist bump to which he obliged...and I captured.

Sony A7Cii @ f8 | 1/400 | 28mm | ISO 400

Voigtlander VM 28mm F2 Ultron (adapted)

Photographed 11/10/24

More Than The Naked Eye Can See

Palm Desert, CA

This is not one of my best star trails photos, but thought it worthy of sharing based on the number of trails that showed up in the processing.  Didn't bring my astro kit this trip so had to improvise.

180 photos, each 30 seconds long, stacked and blended in Photoshop. The colors were a bit funky, and stars not as sharp as I would like, hence the b/w processing for a more striking image.

Sony A7Cii @ f2.8 | 180 x 30" | 28mm | ISO 100

Tamron E 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 A067

Photographed 11/1/24

Calories

52Frames - Week 44 - Baked

J's Deli

Palm Desert, CA

Dinner at the deli so the day's baked goods were already covered.  Streak-saver shot AND a good dessert nonetheless.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro @ f1.8 | 1/100 | 6.76mm (24mm equiv) | ISO 160

Photographed 10/30/24

I Couldn't Help It

Visual Notes 35

Palm Desert, CA

After climbing 2 flights, I emerged from the dark stairwell and was blasted by this display of color, light and shadow.  I grabbed my phone camera and fired away.  It was like the “Jerry Seinfeld” of photography…pictures of nothing, but it was a moment of beauty & interest in my mind, and I was compelled to capture it.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro @ f2.2 | 1/1100 | 2.22mm (14mm equiv) | ISO 25

Photographed 10/31/24

Burning

Sunset or forest fire or both?

Apple iPhone 15 Pro @ f2.8 | 1/120 | 9mm (335mm equiv) | ISO 25

Photographed 3/19/24

The Living Desert

Three of the last four posts have been detail portraits of wildlife present at this wonderful attraction in Palm Desert, CA.  The following images are environmental portraits of other residents.

We Are Family

Mother & child out for a stroll.

Sony A7IV @ f6.3 | 1/500 | 282mm | ISO 250

Tamron E 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 A067

Not A Canine Pet

Menacing glares from this wild dog.

Sony A7IV @ f5 | 1/500 | 71mm | ISO 500

Tamron E 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 A067

Handsome

Mr. Warthog backing into his lair as he kept us in sight.

Sony A7IV @ f6.3 | 1/500 | 273mm | ISO 500

Tamron E 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 A067

All photographed 3/15/24

Snack Time

The Living Desert

Palm Desert, CA

Feeding the giraffes is a popular activity.

Sony A7IV @ f6.3 | 1/400 | 400mm | ISO 500

Tamron E 40-400mm F4.5-6.3 A067

Photographed 3/15/24

Choppers

52 Assignments BW12 - Balancing Act

The Living Desert

Palm Desert, CA

One of the locals just chillin'.

Sony A7IV @ f6.3 | 1/1500 | 323mm | ISO 320

Tamron E 40-400mm F4.5-6.3 A067

Photographed 3/15/24

Collision

2024_CLondon52_March: Texture & Pattern - Contrasting Elements

Two different stone patterns and textures on a building at the Living Desert in Palm Desert, CA.

Sony A7IV @ f5.6 | 1/400 | 138mm | ISO 400

Tamron E 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 A067

Photographed 3/15/24

Eye See You

2024_CLondon52_March: Texture & Pattern - Abstract Textures

Rhino skin textures at the Living Desert in Palm Desert, CA.

Sony A7IV @ f5.6 | 1/400 | 138mm | ISO 400

Tamron E 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 A067

Photographed 3/15/24

First Quarter

Moon phase at 50% according to the PhotoPills app.  One handheld image...can't believe I captured it this sharp without a tripod.

Sony A7IV @ f8 | 1/1000 | 400mm | ISO 400

Tamron E 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 A067

Photographed 3/16/24