PHOTO OF THE MONTH - JUNE 2003

BLOOMING SAGUAROS, SUPERSTITION WILDERNESS AREA, ARIZONA

Nikon F4s, Sigma 17-35mm Lens, Polarizing Filter, Kodak E100VS Film

Only now heading into my second year of living in the Southwest, I am still enjoying the experience of being able to explore this highly sought out sector of our country in intimate detail. Indeed photographers from around the globe travel here in search of vast landscapes that encompass and shelter harsh yet delicate inhabitants in their seemingly inhospitable environments. Alas, anyone who has born witness to the beauty of the desert knows that it is far from inhospitable, harboring all manner of well-adapted life, allowing it not only to exist, but ultimately flourish.

Perhaps no other species personifies more our collective image of the Wild West more than that of the tall, stately figure of the Giant Saguaro (pronounced sa-waro) cactus. These magnificent cacti are endemic to the Sonora Desert region of Arizona, and are found nowhere else on earth. They are unique among cacti and are particular to the area in which they grow, needing a surrogate parent tree such as a paloverde to shelter them against damage from the intense sun throughout their first years of life. Growing to heights exceeding forty feet, these giants dominate their desert landscape and can watch over it for several centuries. In fact it is said that it takes nearly a century before a Saguaro will grow its first arms.

If you embark on a journey to Arizona it goes without saying that you must capture on film these rare and majestic icons. But if you are fortunate enough to visit during the Saguaro's bloom between May and June, you are in for a real treat. Their bloom consists of densely clustered white flowers that crown the tips of each arm. From a photography standpoint the ideal scenario is to find a Saguaro that has a down-turned arm. This allows easy, close-up access to the flowers, as normally the height of the vertical arms makes this physically impossible, unless you are willing to erect a very tall scaffold.

I found this amazing specimen on a hillside deep in the Superstition Wilderness Area. Fortunately it was in peak bloom, as this does not last very long. As a matter of fact, I drove by this same Saguaro exactly one week later and no blooms were left. I chose to approach it with a wide-angle lens so as to place a strong emphasis on the flowering tip of the arm, while still being able to include its body and other saguaros in the distance. This angle provides a strong starting focal point that then leads the eye throughout the rest of the frame. The down-turned arm afforded me great macro opportunities as well.

If you do get a chance to visit the Southwest, the Giant Saguaro will not disappoint in any season. Nor will the rich diversity of desert life if you are simply willing to take the time to open your eyes to the land around you and your mind to the possibilities!