Thorny Issues

Gallery: LandscapePosted January 22, 2013110 views10 comments

I don't know if this fits in the landscape category, but this is definitely a big part of my local landscape. It is an ever present reality on the ground or piercing through my shoes.

For anyone not familiar with cholla cactus...it sheds little balls of thorns that blow around & wait for someone to walk on them.

Comments, suggestions welcome(even if you think it piercingly boring!)

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on January 22, 2013 at 5:47 PM

Yikes! I'll bet it looms large anywhere it's found. Lots of nice details here

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on January 22, 2013 at 6:22 PM

Eirini, it looks like a very exacting close up of these little devils. The detail and sharpness works well. Might be considered more closeup / macro category, but regardless a good job with this.
I know exactly what your talking about here. I just got back from Joshua Tree NP and stopped once again at the cholla cactus garden out there. I was more careful this trip and only spent about 10 minutes in the garage this time with needle nose pliers digging them out of my boots. The previous trip and being in the dark lead to 45 minutes in the garage cleaning up the boots.

Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on January 22, 2013 at 7:21 PM

Nice work on this Eirini. This shows them off really well. Kind of look like a much more powerful version of the sandburs we have here...

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Chet Dowell on January 22, 2013 at 7:26 PM

Eirini, these guys look armed and dangerous. Good detail and you have almost made them into little fierce creatures. Chet

Registered on December 3, 2012, 237 Posts, 1171 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on January 22, 2013 at 10:57 PM

Ouch! Nice detail and DoF Eirini. Something to avoid next time I visit the southwest.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on January 23, 2013 at 12:04 AM

My first impression was that these looked like two spike clad aliens facing off on some desolate planet, maybe because the thorns appear directed to the center. I sure remember these from my years long ago in Arizona. Great shot.

Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on January 23, 2013 at 10:51 AM

A fun study of these "pointed" subjects. I like it.

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on January 23, 2013 at 10:52 AM

Ouch!! Very nice. I think you handled the DoF perfectly, although I might crop a smidge off the bottom.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Robb Hirsch on January 23, 2013 at 6:19 PM

I've pulled too many of those out of my legs traipsing around the desert. I have tremendous respect for cholla. Nice example of one waiting to hitch a ride.

Registered on February 15, 2011, 16 Posts, 70 Comments

Comment posted by Tim Butler on January 27, 2013 at 8:42 PM

Yes, I lived in Tucson for 5 years and am very familiar with these little devils! Exemplary detail and superb DoF.

Registered on October 12, 2012, 17 Posts, 155 Comments