Surreal Landscapes

I came upon this surreal landscape in Bend Bend N.P. in Texas. It is an area of the park that rarely gets visited because of the remote access to the location.  The ground appears to be covered in snow but it is mineral deposits that cover the valley floor.  The winter time provides some of the best atmosphere for making photographs, with the cold fronts that move into the area from the North.  On this particular day the heavy clouds were moving quickly by and gave a very diffuse light to the overall scene.  While walking around in this mysterious landscape it was easy to imagine what the surface of the moon would be like.  Not far from here I located some Indian petroglyph panels at the base of the mountains. Certainly this land looks desolate and without life but at one point in time it must have provided food and water to support the large group of people that lived in the valley.
   

Solitary Tree in Mexico

One of our favorite places to stay when traveling in Mexico is the town of Tequisquiapan. It is located in the state of Queretaro. This is the geographical center of Mexico and is surrounded by some beautiful mountains. We spent many days traveling the back roads in the mountains enjoying the magnificent views and the small mountain towns we entered.  We were always able to find some great food and meet some interesting people. We have a healthy awareness about being out in the wilderness traveling in unexplored regions and the dangers that can exist. We certainly have had our moments of despair with car problems or being lost in the mountains. Despite the unexpected problems we have encountered, we have always felt that the rewards of taking some risk out weight the few problems we have had to deal with in our travels. This scene of the solitary tree was taken while traveling many of the back roads we were on in Mexico.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quer%C3%A9taro

Presidio Texas

Traveling in the extreme southwestern part of Texas along the Rio Grand I came into the small town of Presidio Tx. It is located on the Mexico border across the river from the town of Ojinaga Mx.  I often ask myself why I choose traveling to remote areas just to wander in a vast and empty land. I have always been drawn to such places and think about them when I am not there. I guess it is because I like the quietness of the land and the originality of the local people I come in contact with. Traveling down a dirt road I came on this little shack sitting out in the middle of the wilderness. The ground was nothing but rock and sand and offered little opportunity for farming, yet someone staked their claim here and built a home. These places and the rugged people that live there amaze me and it is probably the reason I keep exploring and photographing these locations.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidio,_Texas

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Presidio,+TX&ie=UTF-8&ei=_RClUpmrK6HJsQTw44HIDA&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAg

Lajitas Texas

Lajitas Teaxas is a remote place in the U.S. southwest, and one of my most favorite places to go photograph and explore. The small town sits on the banks of the Rio Grand just a few hundred yards from Mexico. The ride along the river on route 170 going west from Lajitas is one of the most beautiful in the country. It takes you through a rugged mountain region with spectacular views of the Rio Grand River. This image of the old church was made on this road. It is the remnants of the movie set "Lonesome Dove". I have always had a fascination with old Western movies and novels. I am certain it is because of my early childhood watching old black and white cowboy programs on TV.  I originally processed this image in color because of the colorful landscape and the intense blue sky. The image was a good representation of the day and the location but it did not fulfill my vision I had of the scene. With the conversion to black and white I am able to work more freely with my interpretation and create an image that most represents my true feelings of the location.

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Lajitas&state=TX

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonesome_Dove_(TV_miniseries)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m44NQUIOaiQ

Quiet Rock

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.

Alabama Sunrise

I was looking through my numerous files of digital photographs last night and came upon a folder of pictures I had taken three years ago. It was like opening up an old box of photographs and recalling the time. We were in Alabama at the Gulf shores and it was the start of our wandering life in a motorhome.  I had forgotten about making any pictures while camped there and was surprised when I opened the folder. The storage of digital images can become disorganized and a huge mess if not maintained constantly. My problem is compounded by being mobile and not having a permanent setup to organize and store my images. Usually when I make new images I download them on my laptop and later transfer them to an external storage device. When we are parked for any length of time I will get out my desktop computer and spend a few days organizing and backing up my images. Making images with a digital camera has an instantaneous element that makes taking and then seeing your  pictures fun in the field. The downside is that it requires a lot of work on the back end to stay organized. I made this image standing on the roof of the motorhome as the sun started to rise through the fog.

http://www.alapark.com/gulfstate/Camping/

Architectural Photography

I have always been fascinated with modern architecture when visiting cities. I have lived all my life in rural small towns, and rarely ever traveled to a large metropolitan area. We were in the city of Charlotte N.C. to visit the Nascar Hall of Fame a few months ago and I made this photo just outside the entryway to the museum. I am amazed with the bond between art and engineering that is achieved with creative architectural design. Charlotte is a beautiful city with modern architecture that provides plenty of opportuinty for photography.

http://www.nascarhall.com/

http://www.charlottesgotalot.com/