Ocotillo erupts with both leaves and flowers after a rare desert rain. Anza Valley Outlook/Courtesy photo
Wildflowers occur year-round in Southern California. A local professional photographer has made these wonders of nature one of the focal points for her ongoing image portfolio.Equipped with her faithful Canon 7D digital camera, Chrystie Murphy took to the deserts and meadows to collect stunning, colorful snapshots.A longtime photographer, Murphy’s talent is obvious. She is mostly self-taught, with a course through the New York Institute of Photography.“I started taking pictures with a little Kodak 110 when I was around 10 years old,” she said. “I have always loved photography, but I didn’t choose it as a profession until I was in my late twenties. I fell in love with being able to capture
