Barker Dam 1 Photo

Photographer’s Note

I will be posting a mini series from Barker Dam, an amazing location in Joshua Tree National Park a short distance north of Indio, California. My wife and I had been in the park before but this was our first hike to Barker Dam. It was absolutely stunning - the weather was gorgeous, the colors splendid, and the sky and clouds more interesting than anything I have seen in a long time.

Barker Dam is a water-storage facility located in Joshua Tree National Park in California. The dam was constructed by early cattlemen, and is situated between Queen Valley and the Wonderland of Rocks near the Wall Street Mill. It is a gathering place for desert wildlife, including many species of birds and Desert Bighorn Sheep. Visitors can reach the dam via a short trail from a nearby parking lot and can see Native American petroglyphs a short distance to the west. There is also good bouldering on side trails near the dam.

The Barker Dam Loop trail is 1.5 miles roung trip and has very little elevation gain. It goes from the parking lot at Barker Dam and goes past the dam and several good bouldering areas and a wall of easily visible petroglyphs. The trail also offers good birding both near the lake and at several spots along the trail that are surrounded by brush. It is a very popular trail and can be very crowded during midday.

abanibi, dareco, parbo, feather, leo61, hgupta, calexica, carper, delkoo, pablominto, fulvio52, chpp, lilimih33, gunbud, mvdisco, papagolf21, pasternak, josepmarin, Dyerco, ahaberal, PixelTerror, Gerrit, Cricri, robertosalguero, Tue, JCG, Henryk_Bilor, adores has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

aftabxt (68) 2008-03-08 7:17

Beautiful sharp and colourful image. The reflections in the water are perfect.

abanibi (747) 2008-03-08 7:23

Hi Gerald! Very neat and clean image! The reflection is exceptional, and the light is very well treated. However, the sky doesn't look natural, it should be lighter according to the light on the rocks.
Very attractive, though!
Regards,
Inés

dareco (17104) 2008-03-08 7:29

WOW!! Stunning is right!! Colors ARE splendid, and the reflection is incredible!!! TFS

parbo (10970) 2008-03-08 7:41

Hello Gerald,

Gorgeous contrasts between rock formations and sky and you very cleverly used the perfect effect of cpl. Great reflections on water surface too. I like it especially with dried trees. A wonderful one, congratulations.

Best Regards,

Ertugrul

leo61 (43438) 2008-03-08 8:16

Hi Gerald!
Great reflection shot with very well contrasting colors.
Good composition with the curve of the shore in the left bottom corner.
Regards,leo

mimagica (617) 2008-03-08 8:25

Hi Gerald,
very nice riflections and splendid colouur.
Congratulations,
Michelangelo

hgupta (1320) 2008-03-08 9:03

Hi Gerald,

Very nice colors and lovely light., The view looks great simply fantastic.
Regards.

Hemant

calexica (1243) 2008-03-08 9:07

Hey Gerald,
This shot is simply amazing!!! The reflections in the water are excellent, the colors superb, details & sharpness couldn't be any better. I love the contrast between the white rocks and the blue sky. Congratulations!!!
Greetings,
Natasha

izmirli (3219) 2008-03-08 9:19

merhaba gerald
excellent reflections and excellent colurs.well done.
best regards.
gürkan akçakır.

anesugur (16926) 2008-03-08 9:29

Hi Gerald,
Beautiful landscape, very nice light, colors and very good POV.
Very well done.
Best regards. Uğur

carper (65106) 2008-03-08 9:56

another fine shot out you fantastic country Gerald,
good composition. fantastic quality, fine too look at, very good photojob here, well done, have a nice weekend.
gr. jaap

delkoo (34442) 2008-03-08 10:29

hi gerald,
what a moment you caught there ! In such a remote place and marvelous one, i guess the moment was magical and you share well this feeling with us.

best regards
didier

pablominto (40876) 2008-03-08 10:31

Hello Gerald,
This is a beautiful corner of the National Park!
I like the light giving such wonderful colours, and the blue sky reflects nicely off the calm water...
Pleasant composition and fine details in the rocky landscape!
Greetings,
Pablo -

Bartleby (4944) 2008-03-08 11:02

Hi gerald,
a superb reflection, crytsal clear with beautiful contrasting colours. Well done!
Yours,
Philippe

Cormac (26449) 2008-03-08 11:05

Wow, fantastic shot! The colour is amazing, as is the clarity. This gives the impression of being very clean and pure. Interesting landscape too, with the bare rocks and the reflection in the water. An interesting sky always helps too!
Well done!

fulvio52 (8314) 2008-03-08 11:34

Wonderful view featuring wonderful colors, Gerald!
I've been in the neighborhood before but never made it up to Barker Dam. Well, it's on the agenda now...
Have a great weekend, I'll see ya soon.
Ciao,
Fulvio.

chpp (3995) 2008-03-08 12:21

Hi Gerald
very nice reflection and great composition.
The light / exposure is very nice, the colours are very natural. top quality image
cheers
C

Signal-Womb (11711) 2008-03-08 14:05

Hi Gerald, Beautiful landscape, love the formation of these rocks. You did well with the composition and exposure. Very nice work..

lilimih33 (9874) 2008-03-08 14:33

Hello Gerald!
Nice colours and beautiful light in your picture!
Lovely reflection!
Good perspective!
Best regards!
Lili

gunbud (27975) 2008-03-08 16:45

Hi Gerald,
Brilliantly clear colors with a striking reflection in the calm pool. The light brwon rocks and sand frame the image while the contrast wonderfully with the vivid blue sky.
Regards, Tom

mvdisco (11557) 2008-03-08 20:46

Hi Gerald,
Nice composition and reflection in the water, beautiful colors and sharp landscape, very well done.
Michel

papagolf21 (56483) 2008-03-09 0:57

Bonjour, cher Gerald,
L'on se demande parfois si de tels endroits existent tant la beauté du paysage est magnifique.
Excellente gestion de la lumière.
Très belle mise en image d'un endroit étonnant.
Amitiés.
Philippe

feather (49868) 2008-03-09 3:04

Wonderful image Gerald with some glorious reflections. The rocks are a pretty colour and provide a great colour contrast with the lovely blue sky. I like the way you composed it with the little bit of shore in the bottom left. Well done
Kath

pasternak (13400) 2008-03-09 6:44

Very well executed reflection shot in deep colours, clarity and light are fantastic!

Cheers
Alexander

gilou530 (35350) 2008-03-09 6:44

salut gerald
déja la vignette etait belle mais la photo normale est géniale, un petit coin de paradis pour faire de la photo, des reflets bien capturés et bien nets
amitiés
gilbert

gracious (20017) 2008-03-09 10:11

Hello Gerald,
This is a beautiful composition of light and shadows displayed! perfect contrast of colouration!
good pov with superb sharpness, vivid colour and details!
well done and TFS
best regards
Tony

josepmarin (33837) 2008-03-09 10:33

Hi Gerald,
Beautiful image with great horizontal symmetry by the reflections in the water.
The composition is simple and has strength, is very well seen and has a good work with the exposure, and a great result in the quality of the image and of the colors, with an excellent use of the polarizer.
Nice shot.
Best regards,
Josep

Dyerco (9126) 2008-03-10 6:03

Hi Gerald.
Well done. The rocks remind me of those in Buttermilk country along Movie Road. They alsmost have a soft texture to them.
Phil

markstaples (15670) 2008-03-10 9:36

This is such a beautiful image where the rich colours are really pleasing to the eye. Well composed and the reflections are well seen. Nice one.
Best wishes
Mark

danyy (69029) 2008-03-10 16:13

Bonjour Gerald,
le paysage est simple et désolé mais il en ressort une telle force alliée à la tranquilité qui l'habite.
J'aime beaucoup les couleurs que ta photo rend très fortes, un ciel somptueux dont le bleu s'oppose aux couleus chaudes des pierres.
Un cadrage intime qui nous fait profiter des reflets magnifiques.
Best from Belgium.
Daniel.

PJE (19461) 2008-03-10 20:41

Gerald this setting here with the rocks in reflection has made a wonderful captured scene here. I really like the streaked clouds with deep blue sky background. These elements really helped make this a memorable capture!

vincz (19043) 2008-03-11 1:14

very very nice catch. Light and colours ar fabulous. I love the contrast between the deep blue of the sky and the light on the rocks. Excellent.

Rosa (4147) 2008-03-11 1:38

Hello Gerald,
Magnifique !!
ce paysage est de toute beauté.
Une excellente gestion de lumière.
Un cadrage parfait qui nous font voir des reflets magnifiques.
felicitation tres bon POV.
Amitiés,
Rosa.

ahaberal (6455) 2008-03-11 1:44

Hi Gerald
very nice riflections and splendid colouur.
Congratulation
asim

Nicou (45101) 2008-03-11 2:31

Hello,

Quels mangigiques reflets, cetre coche de très belle couleurs avec un ciel divin, de toute beauté.

Bravo et amitiés

Nicou

gildasjan (23915) 2008-03-11 2:54

Bonjour Gerald
Le ciel bleu et son reflet sont parfaitement équilibrés par la jolie teinte chaude des roches.J'aime également le contraste de cette composition.
Bonne journée.
Amicalement
Gildas

PixelTerror (86282) 2008-03-11 3:05

Hi Gerald,
A pleasant image with nice reflection, funnily it reminds me of similar ponds I have seen in Australia's Northern territory ! Beware of the crocs ;-)))
Have a nice day JY

anducina (8113) 2008-03-11 3:24

Beautiful colors and reflections, I like the wild beauty of this scene...

TFS,
Andreea

Gerrit (35861) 2008-03-11 5:54

Hi Gerald,
beautiful barren landscape in fabulous colours. Fine reflections.
Regards, Gerrit

ifanik (20542) 2008-03-11 6:56

Hi Gerald and thank you for your critigue
Very beautiful place, very nice photo with wonderful colours
Very well done
Best regards
Nick

jemaflor (39487) 2008-03-11 9:52

Hi Gerald,
Lovely landscape, perfect light and reflection to give a wanderful shot, well taken.

westozman (2877) 2008-03-11 13:39

G'day Gerald!
This one's very much 'a keeper'! Great lights and clarity - if this is 'normal' for the 18-200 VR lens, I just might have to raid the piggy bank - again!
Well done.
Best wishes,
Jeff

keribar (42756) 2008-03-11 23:01

Hello Gerald,
The sky is OK as it for me and it is certainly a picture I will remember - Excellent in other words. - Izzet

Cricri (43220) 2008-03-12 7:02

Hi Gerald,
Un endroit qui mérite d'être visiter, tel le paysage est de toute beauté avec des couleurs et une lumiére splendide, trés belle image
Have a nice day for you
cricri

robertosalguero (110) 2008-03-12 22:13

Hello Gerald,

The view is pretty. I like the sky because is properly saturated and the clouds add a nice touch to the blue. I wonder what is like to camp in this place and wake to beautiful sunsets every morning. The light in the image is very effective to reflect itself on the rocks. THanks Gerald.

Roberto

jrj (34779) 2008-03-13 5:31

I looked at the 2 variants of this dam and must say this one was most in my liking. A well disposed compo with the delightful reflection of the still water. A most attractive landscape detail G.

Tue (25608) 2008-03-13 8:31

Hi Gerald,
Gorgeous photo of the Barker Dam. The colours are wonderful and have nice warm hues thanks to the pleasant sunlight. I like the lovely blue tones of water and sky in particular. The reflections are also beautiful. Thanks for sharing this view!
Regards,
Lars

JCG (25469) 2008-03-13 9:23

Hi Gerald,

This landscape is marvellous and this park is a true paradise for in love ones with wild nature. These rock formations are very interesting. I like much the contrasted colors of the image and this superb reflection, the mirror effect is surprising, I like much. A very beautiful photograph and thank you for the instructive note.

With all my friendships and with soon,

Jean-Charles

Henryk_Bilor (20367) 2008-03-16 0:41

Hello
Amazing place, capture, light and reflections in the artificial lake. Lovely image.
Regards

jmcl (13963) 2008-03-22 11:03

Hi Gerald,

Beautiful stillness .. meditative even with these vibrant tones .. wonderful place .. usually I hate jet trails .. but here all horizontal lines in the sky work wonderfully with this ..
very nice.

take care,

John

kiks (6107) 2008-05-21 13:44

Incredible beautiful saturation of colors you get here. The composition with the reflection is even more stronger.
Best regadrs
KIKs

adores (15609) 2008-05-28 18:01

Hi Gerald!
Very good shot, with a very good exposure and composition. I really like those dead trees, the reflection on the water and the colours. Very good work!