About 100 images submitted in the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Photo Contest illustrate the diversity of the landscape bordering the cities of the Coachella Valley. From close-ups of wildflowers to grand vistas high above the desert floor, the tableaus presented a visual cornucopia for a panel of judges that included representatives of Palm Springs Life and professional outdoor photographer Tom Brewster. Entrants’ names were disclosed only at the conclusion of judging.
The top three photographs — by Janice Kleinschmidt, Janet Cass, and Tim Wood — appear on a poster commemorating the monument’s fifth anniversary. Other fine entries are shown on the following pages. Together, they inspire awe and encourage us to preserve the natural setting for the plant life and creatures, including ourselves who inhabit this special place.