Nearly 800,000 acres, Joshua Tree National Park is an immense, vast land shaped by forces of nature: strong winds, sudden torrents of rain, and climatic extremes. The result is a surreal collection of some of the most interesting geologic displays found in California’s deserts.

Photographer Forest Woodward and his friends headed out to Joshua Tree to explore and capture these unique rock formations. His images show the beauty and complexity of one of the country’s natural treasures.

“I find the best adventures are often a result of the companions you bring or meet along they way,” Woodward said. “For this particular trip I was accompanied by my best childhood friend and his fiancé, as well as new friends we met out there. Our inspiration came from the landscape, just looking at the wild Seussian rock formations is pretty awe inspiring, but getting into them and exploring brought out the inner child in all of us.”

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According to the photographer finding the Aiguille, which is a needle-like rock spire, and climbing to stand on the top was a "surreal experience" at Joshua Tree.

"The top is about the size of a microwave, and leans out into space in a way that leaves you feeling very exposed, but also like you’re some sort of ancient sentinel looking out over the wild Seussian landscape – it’s otherworldly really."

Woodward, who grew up in the mountains of western North Carolina, was raised with an appreciation for nature and outdoor adventure sports. This appreciation, he explains, "has led me to engage and explore some beautiful and wild parts of our world."

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When he turned 10 he received his first SLR camera and he has been shooting ever since. Woodward enjoys shooting using natural light, so he is always aware of weather forecasts.

"I pay attention to how much moisture there is in the atmosphere — lots of moisture is great for long warm sunsets and diffuse light — and unique weather patterns that could yield opportunities for an unusual shot,” he said. “I love the hour before and after the sun rises, and the hour before and after it sets. The color pallets are always different, and never fail to inspire.”

But, as much as he loves the sun, he also enjoys capturing photos during storms. "The winds, rains and wild clouds that often accompany a big storm totally morph a landscape into something wild and new; and beyond that there is an energy, an excitement that most of us feel when a big storm rolls in and I love capturing people in those moments as well.”

To see more of Woodward's work visit his website, Facebook, or follow him on Instagram.

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