In the desert of Cataviña, the oldest geological area of the Peninsula, dinosaur fossils and granite boulders rounded by wind can be found. The vegetation is limited to cacti and the Fouquieria columnaris, called "Cirio" for its resemblance to a church candle. This cactus, reaching up to 20 meters in height, is the second representative of an ancient family. Cataviña is a crossroads between Baja California and Baja California del Sur, with interesting excursions, including remains of a mission, clear water pools, and indigenous polychrome paintings. Away from inhabited centers, it offers a night sky free from light pollution, perfect for star observation.
The photo offers an intimate look at these giants of the plant kingdom, highlighting their unexpected elegance. The golden rays of the sun accentuate the details of the spines and outline the imposing profile of the plant, giving it an aura of majesty.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Giovanni Simeone
Born in 1968 and the son of an artist, Giovanni Simeone studied photography in Milan, where he began contributing to Bell’Italia magazine from its very first issue. In the early 1990s, he moved to Germany to work for a photo agency, then spent nearly three years traveling the world before settling in Paris. There, he started an exclusive collaboration with Le Figaro, producing more than fifty feature stories. During frequent trips back to Italy, he founded Simephoto (www.simephoto.com), a photography agency specializing in travel and landscape imagery. Thirty years later, Simephoto brings together around fifty of Europe’s top photographers and is recognized as a leading agency in the field. Its portfolio includes clients such as National Geographic Traveler, Le Figaro, Outside, Geo Germany, Stern, la Repubblica, The Sunday Times and The Guardian, as well as major international publishers including Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, and Fodor’s. In 2011, Simephoto launched its own publishing house, Simebooks, with photography at the heart of every project. As an author, Giovanni Simeone has published Not Food for Old Men (2015) and Los Angeles Cocktails (2017). Forthcoming titles include Baja California Peninsula (as photo editor) and Los Angeles (2025). Simebooks releases about a dozen new titles each year, with a strong focus on promoting local culture and landscapes through unique, original photographic campaigns.
