Despite being 15 metres below the sea level, it was hot, dry and windy. I was trying to get to some nice-looking dunes a few hundreds metres from the road and it wasn’t easy.

That’s how I remember Mesquite Sand Dunes in Death Valley, which we visited about 9 months ago during our American Southwest trip. After a long drive from Yosemite, Death Valley welcomed us with dry +40C (nothing special for us, fans of Australian Outback). That day we had just enough time for a brief visit to Badwaters and Zabriskie Point, I was also hoping to get to these dunes before sunset. Unfortunately, I had underestimated Death Valley distances and was late…

Download Mesquite Sand Dunes, Death Valley wallpaper for free for your screen size here: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1600×1200, 1920×1200, 1920×1440

This image of Tidal River in Wilsons Promontory (Victoria, Australia) was taken just a few hours before 2010. I had my camera set to 30 seconds exposure, but I felt that it was the longest exposure time in my life – I was surrounded by millions of mozzies, they were practically everywhere and I was absolutely unprepared. After this shot I ran from that river back to our camp. Just 40 minutes later a strong storm with heavy rain and strong wind came from the west and we spent the night celebrating the New Year Eve inside the tent.

Download this free Tidal River wallpaper for your screen size here: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1600×1200, 1920×1200, 1920×1440

Since I started my monthly free desktop calendar program in September, I noticed that dark or blue wallpapers attract much more attention. I must admit that I prefer them as well – they distract less and it is much easer to find icons on desktop.

The main calendar for January 2010 features beautiful rocks at Mimosa Rocks National Park, located about 400km south of Sydney.  Rocks were named after Paddle Steamer (P.S.) Mimosa which ran into them in 1863. Two lives were lost. More images from this location you can find in this photoset: Mimosa Rock National Park.

Read more…

I hope you will enjoy my latest free desktop wallpaper calendar for December. I found this dead tree near artificial lake Pamamaroo in New South Wales outback during the very first trip to that region back in April 2006. More outback images can be found in the “Deserts and Outback” album.

Download wallpaper for your screen size here: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1600×1200, 1920×1200, 1920×1440

You are more than welcome to distribute this wallpaper among your friends, collegues or readers.

November is not far away, and I’m happy to present a new free desktop wallpaper calendar.

This month, I’m using an image of the Barrenjoey Lighthouse located in Palm Beach, north of Sydney. More images from this place are available in ‘Barrenjoey Lighthouse’ Photoset (browse/slideshow) and in the blog article Barrenjoey Lighthouse, Palm Beach.

Download wallpaper for your screen size here: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1600×1200, 1920×1200, 1920×1440

As usual, if you like this wallpaper, you are welcome to distribute.