Mexican Street Photographer

We came across a photographer in San Juan Del Rio, Mx. He was in the city jardin standing around near the water fountain hoping to take portraits of people visiting the park. His simple camera was an old battered polaroid that had a piece of cloth covering the bellows to keep the light out. It is how he makes his living and probably the only equipment he has. I spoke with him for a moment and asked to take his picture. I could tell he was uneasy seeing me with my modern digital camera. After walking away I realized I should have asked him to take our picture and paid him the price for his work. It would have been a simple thing to do and I regret not doing so. I am reminded of this every time I look at this picture. 

Head in the Clouds

We all at some point walk around with our head in the clouds dealing with our thoughts of hopes and dreams, worry, or just a general preoccupation of an on going event in our lives. We fail to completely listen to others while they are speaking because we are more concerned about what we are going to say in response. We are inpatient in our vehicles because we feel our time and space is more important than the person in front of us. Because of our human existence and physical body, we are locked in our little center of the universe. We can easily relate to things or events outside of ourselves if we have experienced them. We can say we understand, but if we haven't experience it ourselves, then how can we truly relate to it?  It is a tug of war that wages in us all, dealing with self while being genuine in relating to others.
I made this photo while walking around in Mexico with some friends. I am use to the puzzled looks I get when I am making pictures of things considered of little value. I found this mannequin intriguing because of the half face and what I felt when I saw it.  It is my interpretation of the term, "an empty suit".

Winding Roads

I enjoy the freedom to roam and drive off the beaten path. It is a privilege to be able to explore areas in the comfort of an automobile. I sometimes have to remind myself how fortunate I am to be able to travel in a comfortable seat and have the ability to control the climate of my vehicle with a touch of a button. Consider the fact that travel has been a hardship for most all of history. It has only been the past few generations that has had the ability to move about as freely as we currently do. We all complain about heavy traffic or a flight being delayed, but what is that compared to what people before us had to endure just to travel a small distance. We have spent a lot of time in Death Valley and have experienced many of the extreme weather patterns of the region. We have been there in 115* temperatures, experience dust storms, and felt the blast of a winter storm. In each case the automobile was the safe haven to provide protection from the elements. This image was taken in Death Valley in Mule canyon.  As we drove this winding dirt road through a spectacular landscape, I was very aware of just how fortunate we are to be living in a time that enables us to travel for recreation and personal enjoyment.

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