The goal was to photograph some small sunflowers with this beautiful painted bluff. But when I arrived, the wind, in true New Mexico fashion, was high. When movement makes it impossible to shoot scenes with close flowers you look for something sturdier to focus on. These branch-like roots caught my eye. The search for the perfect ones commenced. These seemed to reach out into the scene just as I was hoping. With a few clicks of the shutter, it was done. Now starts the hike back to the truck. It was after sunset but just enough ambient light to walk without the headlamp. Suddenly, a too familiar sound rang out from in front of me. A barely visible rattlesnake coiled and ready to strike! To my relief it felt slithering away was the better option for us both. The trek continued but not without some adrenaline induced caution.
