Journal (Desert)

My old journal/blog commenced in 2006 and was retired in early June 2021. Fifteen years worth of posts - articles, gear reviews, announcements, trip reports, photographs, environmental issues, and much more - can be found here. Please subscribe to my Journal to stay tuned (I recommend Feedly). Thank you for reading.

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Photograph: The Castle

April 15, 2025 | Nevada, USA

Incubation is a vital part of my process. I made this photograph ten years ago but am only now getting around to seeing and printing it with fresh eyes and fresh mind. If there are any downsides to experiential photography - images borne of experience, most often remarkable and exciting ones - is that the images can often be weighted by the thrill of the experience...

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Peace of Desert

March 4, 2025 | Joshua Tree National Park, California

An eroded and arched quartz monzonite rock formation with Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia) and elegant cirrus clouds overhead. Joshua Tree National Park, California.

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Photograph: Eureka Valley Dune Grass (Swallenia alexandrae)

January 26, 2025 | Eureka Valley, California

The unique and elegant Eureka Valley Dune Grass (Swallenia alexandrae) in soft light on rippled Eureka Sand Dunes, Death Valley National Park. Some of these plants were recently harmed when someone illegally drove on the dunes...

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Welcome!

January 22, 2025

Welcome! Whether you're here at the Journal for the first time or a repeat visitor, I sincerely thank you for reading. My goal is to steal attention away from social media platforms and divert it back to my Journal, where there are no ads, fake users, stupid AI photos and videos, nor an oligarchic owner spying on your use behaviors for monetary or political gain...

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Elements Landscape Photography Magazine - Featured Interview

02 October 2022

It is an honor and thrill to have the cover image and featured interview in the October 2022 issue (#20) of *Elements Landscape Photography Magazine*.

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Photograph: Storm Over Cochise Head

27 September 2022 | Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona

Although I hike a great many miles and climb a number of new mountains every year in the pursuit of my photographs and in the best life possible, I rarely talk about my exploits (certainly not online) and typically refrain from location specificity...

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Staying Alive

Summer 2022

It’s that time of year when the body count rises with ambient air temperature.

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You are visiting the Journal of fine art landscape photographer Michael E. Gordon. Please follow the navigation links at the top of this page for additional photographs and information. The old blog (2006-2020) has been retired but is archived and all articles remain available for reading. You can also find Michael on Facebook and Instagram.