Roads of Fire: Photographing Nevada’s Red Rock Desert
A sun-soaked welcome to Nevada’s Valley of Fire State Park, where towering red rock formations and open desert landscapes set the tone for an unforgettable Southwest adventure.
The Valley of Fire State Park sign marks the gateway to Nevada’s oldest state park, surrounded by striking desert rock and endless adventure.
Just an hour northeast of Las Vegas, Valley of Fire State Park feels like a different planet. Rust-colored cliffs, rippled sandstone formations, and narrow canyons stretch endlessly under a wide desert sky. I visited with my camera in hand, hoping to catch that golden-hour glow bouncing off the rock — and the park didn’t disappoint.
Towering red sandstone formations dominate the Valley of Fire landscape, their textures shaped by time and desert wind.
One of the most memorable moments came as I stood on a winding desert road, watching the light spill across the layered ridges. The road itself seemed to vanish into the heat, framed by jagged rock walls that looked like they were glowing. In that stillness, surrounded by nothing but rock and sky, I felt both small and incredibly alive— exactly the feeling I try to capture through my lens.
Golden hour lights up the desert as a winding road leads out of Valley of Fire, with storm clouds gathering in the distance.
Every turn in Valley of Fire offers something photogenic: twisted canyons, petroglyphs carved into rock, sudden arches, and the warm gradient of colors that shift from orange to deep crimson as the sun drops. The textures here are unreal — like fire frozen in time.
A rugged desert valley cuts through the rocky terrain of Valley of Fire State Park, showcasing the raw beauty of Nevada’s oldest state park under a clear desert sky.
This visit reminded me how powerful natural light can be in storytelling. Sometimes, all it takes is a road, a horizon, and the patience to stand still while the desert shows you something ancient.
A scenic drive into Valley of Fire State Park, where the road winds toward fiery red rock formations under a bright desert sky.
Discovering the Ruins of Pecos: A Journey Through Time
Walking through 400-year-old Spanish mission ruins just outside Santa Fe, I captured this quiet, snow-dusted moment at Pecos National Historical Park—before a blizzard rolled in.
My wife watching a snowstorm on a distant mountain
Just 35 miles east of Santa Fe, Pecos National Historical Park offers more than just ruins—it offers a connection to centuries of culture, conflict, and resilience. The site is home to the remnants of a Spanish mission church built in the early 1600s, standing beside ancestral Pueblo ruins that date back over 700 years.
Inside the mission ruins made of adobe as the snowstorm begins
Walking through the crumbling walls of the mission, I felt the weight of time in every step—the texture of the adobe, the coolness of the stone, the silence broken only by the wind weaving through the open arches, creating a soft, hollow whistle that echoed across the site. It was haunting and peaceful all at once—like the ruins were still breathing.
As a photographer, I found endless inspiration in the contrast between man made structure and natural erosion, between sunlight and shadow. I arrived just after a light snowfall, which added a rare softness to the rugged landscape. The light filtered through the clouds, illuminating the earthy reds and yellows with a painterly touch. But with a snowstorm quickly approaching, I had to pack up and leave before the winds and whiteout conditions fully settled in—making the experience feel fleeting and even more powerful.
Me observing the ruins before the snowstorm
This visit reminded me why I pursue photography—to freeze these moments of stillness, history, and beauty. Pecos is a place that quietly commands your attention, and I hope my images from this journey bring that experience to you, wherever you are.