Ancient Bristlecone Forest, White Mountains, CA

Due to thin air, drought, and cold which slows their growth almost to a standstill, The bristlecone pines of the White Mountains of eastern California are the longest-living organisms on the planet, some attaining more than 4,000 years of age. Yet they are not immortal. Framed below wispy, fleeting clouds, this ancient bristlecone skeleton reminds us of the impermanence of even the most tenacious of lifeforms.

Like many desert scenes, the starkness of the bristlecone stands lends itself to black & white.