_

The vast and dangerous American desert has always fascinated me. It may seem boring to the people that live there, but to me it is beautiful. Driving west, the snowy peaks and pine trees slowly fade away as the sands and brush begin to take over. By the time you reach the Colorado River, the green and gray has all turned to shades of brown. The sun is unbearably bright and hot during the day, but gives way to the complete blackness of night. I took these pictures while wandering through the mountains and canyons of Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and California.