Adventure and Photography - Desert Sunrise Edition

Written By Blake Sneed

Arizona summers are not only hot, but they can be dangerous and boring due to having to stay near air conditioning and drinking excessive amounts of water while keeping sun exposure to a minimum.

One early morning this June I was lucky enough to be able to go out and get a nice desert hike in before the sun heated the Earth to an unbearable temperature. Around three in the morning I packed my car up with the essentials, and made my way out to start hiking some mountains by my house at sunrise.

There were not many people out when I got there, and I had a great time filming my experience and everything I got to see. My goal was to get some cool pictures while on my adventure, and I was so grateful I was able to accomplish doing that. Below are some of the pictures I was able to capture and create on this adventure.

The sun had risen and it was peaking in and out behind some pretty dense clouds. I could see the outlines of some Saguaro cacti in the distance and set my sights on getting pictures of them. I could also see some other hikers off in the distance near where the cacti were that I wanted to photograph.

I had to do some patient waiting until the sunlight was coming through just enough to light up the plants, but not enough to where it was out completely, as that would have overexposed the plants and the mountains would have looked too drowned out. Finally, the sun just started peaking out a little bit, and as the sun rays hit the cacti, I began taking these shots:

After taking some pictures of cacti, and watching the other hikers I had seen earlier turn back, I decided it was also probably time for me to head back to my car. The adventure was turning into what felt like a walk in an oven, as the temperature neared 100 degrees. After a few good hours of hiking and having an absolute blast by myself taking pictures in the desert, I made it back to my car and headed back home while it was still early in the morning. I was so glad to have had the opportunity to get some cool pictures of some cacti in the mountains.

Please check out this YouTube video I made of this whole adventure here and check out my Instagram for the posts I made of these pictures. If you want to see the NFT of one of the photos from the adventure, you can see it on my OpenSea!

Thank you all! I hope you had as much fun reading about this adventure as I had this morning - it was truly magical.

Blake Austin Sneed

Blake Sneed

My name is Blake, and I’m a photographer and storyteller based in Arizona, USA.

The American Southwest is where I have spent most of my time exploring, and my photographs are inspired by the natural beauty and magic I have encountered throughout this remarkable region.

The places, plants, and wildlife featured in my photos are incredibly special to me, and I strive to capture and share their unique essence in my work.

I’m generally drawn to anything natural—from the incredibly fine details you can discover when you look closely at a tree leaf, for example, to the complex patterns that emerge when you zoom out and see the whole forest. I love getting in close to see how seemingly small details can connect to something much larger, and how nature can be incredibly intricate and complex, yet still feel simple and peaceful. My work is an exploration of these connections, contrasts, and the quiet harmony I find within them and want to express and share.

I love the spirit of adventure—the open road to somewhere new, breathing in fresh air, and feeling the sun and wind on my skin. My main goal with my photography and storytelling is to connect with others through a shared sense of wonder and beauty—to inspire exploration and a deeper experience of the world around us, encourage people to look a little closer at what calls to them, and create what speaks to their hearts.

As I continue adventuring, I strive to keep learning so that I can do all I can to help protect and preserve these sacred places. Through sharing my work, educating others about what I have learned, and continuing to deepen my own personal connection with these places, I hope to encourage a greater understanding of, appreciation for, and protection of the natural world that is all around us.

I’m forever grateful that photography gives me a way to document my own vision, experiences, and connections along my journey. I hope my work inspires you to stay curious, explore the world, and find a little more wonder along the way.

https://blakesneed.com
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