Ernie Cowan began his love affair with the desert as a young reporter for the Evening Tribune, covering Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. He's captured thousands of images of the desert's unique beauty, which have been used in state park brochures, greeting cards, and numerous publications including Desert Magazine, Western Outdoor News, and the North County Times. Cowan, a former Mayor of Escondido, is VP of Government Affairs for the North San Diego County Association of Realtors.