For our founder, Joy Pan, a love of nature extends far beyond herbs and supplements. She spends time outside of product development, photographing the natural world; mostly its beauty but sometimes its devastation. This collection of images, featured in Sierra Rec Magazine from a recent trip, contrasts the beauty of the night sky with damage from the recent coffee pot wildfire.

Milky Way Over Sequoia National Park

Joy's stunning photograph above showcases the Milky Way arching over Sequoia National Park, a sight familiar to Dark Sky Festival attendees. The towering Sequoia trees are silhouetted against the cosmic canvas. The last image adds a human element with the warm glow of a cabin's light cast on to the surrounding trees. 

In contrast, Joy also captured ominous images of smoke billowing from the Coffee Pot Fire, which has darkened the skies of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park. The smoke not only impacts the parks but also pollutes the air in southern California, a stark reminder of the fragile balance between nature and disaster. Still, Joy and her family found time to enjoy some of the unique features of the park and marvel at the enormous features Sequoia is well known for such as Moro rock and the Giant forest.

Burnt Tree and the Coffee Pot Fire

This photo features the silhouette of a lone tree scorched by a previous fire overlooking a beautiful landscpae obscured and choked by devastating wildfire smoke.

Overall, Joy’s images document the beauty and fragility of nature.