In my earlier years I used to make solo photography trips to the American southwest. I would pack as much film and large format camera equipment as I could comfortably carry with me on an airplane. My suitcase would carry a small tent and some small camping cookware and a limited amount of clothes for a two week trip. I would rent a four wheel drive vehicle and take off for wilderness areas to hike and photograph from sunup to well after sunset. In those days there weren't cell phones or GPS units to assist me in my travels. I would carry topographical maps and a compass to navigate the back county. My travels would take me far away from towns and paved roads in search of remote locations to explore. When nighttime came I would find a suitable place to setup my tent for the night. Many times, because I like to photograph until dark. I had to erect my tent with the aid of my truck's headlights. This was the case with this photograph. It was taken in the last remnants of daylight and it required a five minute exposure. I made my way back to my vehicle with the use of my miner's light that I wore on my head. I call this image "Quiet Rock" because of the peaceful quiet presence of the surrounding landscape. I enjoy looking back on these times of my personal sojourn into wilderness areas. It may have not been the smartest thing to travel alone, but at the time I had the power of youth to my advantage.
Your description reminds me of many trips I took myself, though I didn't like setting up a tent after dark, and always tried to avoid it. Sometime, though, it happened. The rock is powerful because it mirrors the personality of the hills in the background.
ReplyDeleteThis image is very simple in content but best represented the quiet faraway location I was in. When I view it I can recall the feeling of being there and that makes it a very powerful image for me personally. I recall onetime stepping out of the tent in the early mooring light to see a squashed tarantula right next to the door of the tent. It made me a little more cautious about setting a tent up in the dark.
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