Cool Springs Arizona is Very Cool!

• Image Processing

During our winter wanderings through Arizona we discovered Cool Springs, Arizona along Route 66. From a photographic standpoint, this was a must-shoot location. It is now a vintage museum of memorabilia from the bygone era of Route 66 and interstate travel in general.

It is out in the desert and on the slopes of the Black Mountains and while we enjoyed a 85 degree day, this location is no doubt a harsh environment during hotter times of the years. Built in the mid-1920’s, the road was designated Route 66 in 1926 and as you head west from Cool Springs the road gets steep and windy.

You cant help but wonder what it must have been like to travel from Los Angeles to Chicago in August. Cars slogging up the hill in intense  heat and travelers thirsty and dehydrated. Cool Springs would have been a wonderful site.

I thought this was a perfect location for a light grunge HDR image. I did not like the distortion I got with my super wide, so I shot this with a 35mm, vertically, and in sections. I then did the HDR processing in Photomatix and finished by stitching the 6 image

The Magic of Discovery

• Architecture Photography, travels

I was on a walk, with camera in hand of course, when I discovered this door and entryway. It stands out very well and obviously I had to shoot it. I love the color contrasts that the painters chose. Everything snaps!

I tried various angles really skewing the lines and perspective and I like those, but keep coming back to this one-the first frame I shot.

This is the way of my ‘artists mind’ in that I like symmetrical and angles as they should be with everything in order. The skewed perspectives are cool and I will process those later, but am drawn to the straight looking down angle.

Maybe that will change later!

Shooting in Sajuaro National Park

• Nature Photography

Sajuaro National Park is a very cool place to photograph! A very diverse plant population, Native American petroglyphs, and beautiful desert light.

I passed through a few weeks ago and had about 2 afternoons to explore and photograph. The light was perfect and then it wasn’t. You know how it works: you want overcast and the sky is clear. You want clear skies and it’s overcast. No worries, there is no such thing as bad light, right!

In Sajuaro West, I was driving the road and hoping for blooming cactus but I was to early. I believe, at least this year, that mid_April to May will be the best time for blooming cactus. At least that is my guess.

The Ocotillo were doing well however, so I looked hard at those and I did find one blooming Hedgehog Cactus. As you can see it was overcast skies and I worked within the limits of that light. This image still has directional light or that back-lit feel and the image benefits from the softer contrast.

This is the Hedgehog Cactus that I found blooming, the only one. I was very happy to find this one blooming, anything blooming, but I have since found hillsides of them blooming (mtk). I shot it and was happy at the time, but in hindsight I am not that fond of all the clutter; the grasses and such.

The Barrel Cactus

• B&W, Nature Photography

I was just hiking around Sajuaro NP really hoping to find blooming cactus, but it is to early still. They will be blooming in the next few weeks, but I am an impatient traveler choosing to move to new locals and scenery. I did however grab a lot of other images including this detail of a barrel cactus which I then converted to B&W using Topaz B&W Effects. It seemed more interesting than color image.

The Cactus Are Blooming

• Nature Photography

I have been looking for flowers and blooming cactus in Arizona for a while and the flowers are out and even expiring in many locations. The cactus are blooming and have been in a number of areas. Finding them can be a challenge. I shot this Claret Cup about a week ago near Tucson.

Old Truck in The Desert

• B&W, Special Effects

We recently visited the Desert Bar outside Parker Arizona and if you have not been there it is worth the visit. It’s an old mine that someone bought and turned into a huge bar. Very cool!

On the property are many old vehicles like this one. I shot it and then converted it using Topaz BW Effects. They just came out with version 2. I then brushed back some of the color.

Arizona Wildflowers

• Nature Photography, Software Techniques

I am still wandering around Arizona and photographing flowers as I find time. I stumbled on these beautiful purple flowers and am beginning to see these everywhere. I guess they are called Blue Bells and in some locations they carpet the ground.

Blue Bells

I was out a few nights ago when I found this rocky area and the flowers were protruding form the rocks and I thought ‘how cool.’ Rough rocks that would shred your skin if you fell, covered with dainty and delicate flowers.

Wandering Around Arizona

• Nature Photography, Software Techniques

Wow, does time fly. I have been in Arizona for the last month enjoying the sun and working on non-shooting photo projects while parked in  my RV. It’s been great: t-shirts and flip flops for the last month. Not sure I ever got to do that this early in the year.

I have tried to get some photography done and finally got out last week as the flowers are showing up all over the place. Here is a no-name place north of the Kofa NWR in Western Arizona.The brittlebush has exploded in bloom.

Near Bouse

One technique I have been using a bunch is the focus stacking technique of focusing on the background for one shot and then focusing on the foreground for the next, then blending in Photoshop.

Shooting in Kofa Natl Wildlife Refuge, Arizona

• Nature Photography

Last night I drove into the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge to photograph the desert and mountains. I am searching for wildflowers displays and to see if anything is showing up yet. I have seen some color along the freeway, but nothing in the mountains yet and I have more areas to explore.

Here is some Cholla Cactus and the Kofa Mountains.

Cholla cactus and Kofa Mtns.