At age 70 now, I've had a good time experimenting as an amateur photographer and "pseudo-artist-in the-making” guy. When I reach 80 I'll have developed still further, and by 90 I should really master the secrets of art. By 100, hopefully I'll have achieved a measure of simplicity and economy of expression…  "revealing the truth by not making it explicit", as the truly great artists do. But my final goal will only be reached around age 110…
...then I'll switch to painting!
Craig Toms, Amateur Photographer


Agaves, Santa Barbara

August 2023



Soft Boulders and Sky

April 2023



Station Wagon Door Detail

August 2023


Coachella Valley Preserve Wildflowers, 38th Avenue

March 17, 2024





Lone Palm, Andreas Canyon

March 2024


Andreas Canyon View

March 2024


Grove of Jumping Cholla

March 2024


Sundown, Bombay Beach

February 2024


Farmworkers, Imperial Valley



East Jesus Beauty


Burrowing Owl, Imperial Valley

February 2024


Imperial Valley Geothermal


Streets of Calipat

February 2024


Abandoned Shoes, Bombay Beach



- Tired Owl - 



Sunset View, Mount Signal



Salvation Mountain Scene



Shoreline Treasure, Bombay Beach



South End, Salton Sea


Receding Sea


"Bodhisattva of Compassion"

China - Jin Dynasty (1115-1234)

Am having fun getting ready for the "WOW" competition in my club this summer, this one and the next two are my current efforts :)



"Souvenir Shop"

July 2023



"Time Traveler"

August 2023



"Autumn Colors, Big Morongo Preserve"

November 2019


"A Walk In The Woods"

November 2022


"November Morning, Big Morongo Preserve"

November 2022


"Live Better! Drive a New Car!"

August 2023


"Sky Ride"

November 2023


"Dreamtime Return" 

August 2023



"Desert Queen Ranch Vista"



"Granada Theatre"

August 2023



"Time's On My Side"

August 2023


London Bridge, Early AM 

January 2023



Night Reflections, London Bridge

January 2023



"Kassie"


"Lovebird's Overlook"




"Self Portrait: Homage to Magritte"

December 2021




Three Down, Three to Go!

Desert Horse Park, Thermal, CA
March 19, 2023


"Blood Moon Tableau"

Joshua Tree National Park

October 2021

Note: This photo was taken mid-day with an iPhone. The eclipsed moon (from an earlier image) was added,  plus the nighttime treatment. The rock actually exists!




"Moonrise, Imperial Sand Dunes"





"Autumn Light, Big Morongo"

November 29, 2022



"Sunrise, Big Morongo Preserve"

November 2022





"Cafe Des Beaux-Arts"

November 2022


"Sunlight in a Quiet Room "

August 2022


Bath House, Lotusland Estate

August 2022



"Distant Chocolate Mountains"

January 2022



"Agave, Shadows and Light"

August 2021




"Lifting Fog"

Hope Ranch, CA

August 8, 2021


"After The Storm"

Hope Ranch, CA 

October 5th, 2021 




"The Best Kind of Solitude"

Hope Ranch, California

August 11, 2021


"Santa Rosa Plateau"

May 2015







"Sunrise, Wonderland Ranch"

Joshua Tree National Park

June 23, 2017


"Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara"

1973



"A Perfect Desert Dawn"
Rancho Mirage, CA 
June 18, 2020


My Daily Pandemic Walk at Dawn 
June 2020 
Rancho Mirage, CA


Frozen in Flight
July 2020



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Bio / Contact
Coachella Valley
These images offer a glimpse of some of the astounding landscapes to be found both within and adjacent to Coachella Valley.
Desert Queen Ranch
Listed on the National Historical Register, the ranch is located within Joshua Tree National Park. Bill Key's and family lived here from 1910 until his death in 1969. The weathered vehicles left on the property are among my favorite subjects.
Monochromes
Minimalist
I've been experimenting with Minimalism lately - a kind of "Ironic Mininalism" project I assigned myself. Here's the brief: "Say as much as possible with as little as possible... - Lots of negative space, texture or repetition, simplified subject, bare essentials - Colors, vibrant or subdued, complementary - Appears real, looks "in-camera" - except there's an impossible element... - Off-kilter element creates a question, an immediate reaction in the viewer's mind - The image must ask / say / demand something: "Deal with THIS!" "What does it mean?" "Oh... that's funny!" "Is this real?"
Award Winning Images
Below are images that have been judged in one or more Photographic Society of America recognized competitions. Judges representing the Coachella Valley Desert Camera Club (CVDCC), the Southern California Council of Camera Clubs (S4C), and the Coachella International Exhibition have reviewed and awarded each image as detailed:
Salton Sea
North Shore, The Slabs, East Jesus, Bombay Beach, Dos Palmas Preserve
Portfolio
Joshua Tree Images
Dark Sky Images
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