The Chihuahua Desert blankets the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas and bits of the southern region of New Mexico that are in the United States; however, the majority of the desert covers northern Mexico. As much as I was looking forward to experiencing hiking and camping in North America’s largest desert, nothing could have prepared me for all the beautiful textures that came with it.

Typically, I like to keep a steady pace during my hikes, but I also wanted to practice taking time to explore details throughout my travel. It was tough at times, but I managed to force myself to slow down and pay attention to the fine details that filled the vast landscapes my eyes were soaking up. Thankfully, I was with a friend who not only understood this self-assigned concept, but always encouraged me to dive deeper into my work in landscape, nature, and travel photography. With much of her direction, I found exactly what I was looking for, affording me the opportunity for more practice in my craft. I am grateful for friends like Katie that push me to exceed my limits and find peace within my creativity.

I only managed to pack my 50mm (nifty-fifty) and ultra-wide 10-22mm lenses for this trip. Having just purchased an upgraded body, the Canon 90D, just three months before embarking on this new photography adventure, I didn’t want to add more weight and learning curves to my travels by renting a telephoto lens. These two lenses were perfect for capturing small details and unparalleled vantage points throughout this desolate landscape. The following images were taken throughout Big Bend and Guadalupe Mountains National Parks.

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