In Europe, National Park means "preserved authentic wilderness" and beautiful vistas are often the reward of sweaty treks with a pack on the back. I currently live in Finland, and that is true here more than elsewhere. So I was a bit confused by the notion that in the US, there are asphalt roads in National Parks to help people move around, like in Joshua Tree N.P., California. Like an avid consumer, I shamelessly enjoyed the vistas, cut from the environment by the structure of the car: while what I saw was beautiful and the ability to move quickly certainly helped a lot in bringing back good images, I felt that the whole experience was rather superficial, and I miss the memories that true immersion in the wilderness brings.

This was a lucky day. I had spotted the place during the afternoon, and came back just in time for sunset. Some clouds had formed in the sky and, illuminated by the sun some minutes after it had set, formed the perfect background for the silhouette of this impressive Joshua Tree. I was so impressed by the beauty of the scene that I kept shooting until night had come, and barely found the way back to my car.