For those of us that have never been to a desert, the image in our mind conjures a foreboding place devoid of life and color.  For those of you that have been to a desert know that this notion is completely erroneous.  The desert is full of life if you know where to look.  On this day I was looking for a Great Horned Owl in the mountains north of Phoenix Arizona.  The monsoon season was in full effect and I went out after a large storm since the temperature comes down to about 75F from 110F and the sun last longer into the evening giving me a chance to catch an owl in flight while beginning their nightly hunt.  I began hiking off trail straight up the mountain and hit a scree field.  Whilst picking my way through the scree I slipped on some wet rocks and began sliding down the mountain.  The slide turned into a tumble head first down, and I came to an abrupt stop actually on my back looking back up the mountain I just slid down.   Looking back at me was a male mule deer with his harem, as if to say, “…what the hell is this guy doing?”   I grabbed my camera quick out of my pack and squeezed off a few shots getting the entire harem to look straight at me.  The color came off great because the fresh rain had saturated the colors bringing the desert to life.   The moment lasted only a minute or two before he lead his ladies away.   I never did get a pic of an owl in flight, but this picture, and story I will remember forever.