desertlandscape

In my solo wanderings in the Big Bend region, it doesn’t take much for me to experience a deep drama about simply being there in that spot at that moment. I attempt to translate that in a visual way with my camera. Hopefully it’s worth sharing.

All Ansel Adams had to do was explore, be in the right place at the right time, expertly compose & expose, and then process as far as his technique could go to portray his artistic impressions. This is a 70mm short telephoto slice of a vast landscape that was before me one late afternoon in the Big Bend. I don’t describe myself as a landscape photographer; but I do explore, set myself up for good fortune, and use my acquired skills.

The Phoenix landscape is full of Palm trees, stucco, and gravel. The interesting thing the sky was full of clouds that day, which was an oddity. My eye is pretty use to this texture in the southwest so my images, if I print, or transmit digitally, they are bumped up in detail to reflect on the vivid granularity of the subjects.

This photograph is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes. The light, the textures, and the colors compelled me to make this picture. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

Landscapes and sunsets are hard to put your own finger print on the image, and I have very few to share. These quests for the holy grails are usually a long distance from home so you find yourself driving a long time till you see the goal in site. The road is the only course but the choice of when to stop and set up the camera is constantly on your mind.  Roads twists and turns while the object of interest gets closer and closer.  The fence line that runs adjacent does not change course from the road and a reminder you can’t just hike anywhere.  You take the only turn in the road to get closer and find yourself in a turn about, with a state information marker letting  you know this is the best view.  Jumping out of the car in the late afternoon you realize you have little time before the light leaves the small rock in the shadow of a large formation.   Camera in hand you avoid stepping on the tripod holes left by other photographers.  A quick bracket and the shot is done, the light has moved off the small rock.  The only thing I did differently than others previously there is the post processing, the choice of contrast, dodging / burning, darkness of the vignette, the amount of structure & clarity to use and not to mention the elimination of color. I do feel this is a good shot, and that my years of looking & seeing have paid off this time.  And I suppose that is my tiny finger print that I have placed on a large cosmic creation. Such a small imprint that I find it hard to claim it as my image.

My wife was released from the hospital yesterday after a three day stint. We are waiting for test results.  A stressful time which makes me want to vegetate and look at non stressful images void of political and sociological content.  This was shot on a fun outing with photographers / friends, exploring all styles of photography.  It may not be in the portfolio that I finally carry to the Pearly Gates, so as to prove my worth of entry. But it does provide a purpose and a place in my overall work.  It does provide the balance that is useful today.

Solo road trips are always deep experiences. After all there is no one to disagree with your choice of music, and no one to distract you or otherwise influence your senses. Most of all, there is no one to complain when you constantly want to stop to take pictures! A lot can also be said for having a traveling partner to enrich your travels, but every moment of my solo trips are experiences that are all mine and thus, they seem to make a deeper and more lasting impression. After six or seven hours of driving alone across wide open spaces and through small towns, every moment is private. This image was shot when I was in a gleeful state of mind knowing that I was the sole spectator, but I did not stop. I slowed down and carefully aimed my iPhone as I slowly passed the telephone poles. The music was right, and I had just left the gorgeous Palo Duro Canyon near Amarillo, TX where I had not run into a single solitary soul. The depth of my feelings at times like these usually require my taking pictures to try to grasp at least some semblance of the experience.