White Sands National Monument

This is one of my favorite places to photograph. I want to return there . . . tomorrow would be just fine.

White Sands National Monument is located at the northern end of the Chihuahuan Desert in what is called the Tularosa Basin. It is surrounded by the White Sands Missile Range and is just down the road from Holloman Air Force Base. The gypsum dunes cover 275 square miles of desert and is the largest gypsum dune field in the world. It is a fascinating ecological story and I encourage you to check it out.

Tom and I were joined on this short trip by Phyllis and Jon. As we approached the park entrance in late afternoon my heart sank. The wind was about 19 miles per hour and gusting to 25!! In a park that is all sand this is not good! We made the best of it while trying to protect our eyes, our gear and just hoping it would please stop. It did not.

We had better weather the following morning but by late morning the wind had kicked back up so we left to check out two museums in the area (future blog entry). We did not return for an evening shot.  One more try on the last morning was even more interesting photographically.  The wind was not bad at about 3 to 5 miles but the sky was almost white from the wind of the last several days. So, imagine white sand, white sky . . . better still, just enjoy the photos. Phyllis will get you started by showing the effect of wind going over a dune ridge!

ISO 500, f/16, 1/500, 0.67EV, at 170mm with Nikon D200 and 18-200mm Nikkor lens.

ISO 400, f/13, 1/640, -0.67EV at 70mm with Nikon D700 and 28-70mm Nikkor lens.

ISO 100, f/11, 1/200, -0.67EV, at 78mm with Nikon D800 and 24-120mm Nikkor lens. Processed in post with Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.

ISO 320, f/22, at 15mm with Nikon D600 and 15mm Sigma fisheye.  Processed in post as an HDR.

Not surprisingly, the sunset was colorful but very different with all the sand in the air. In some of the photos you can actually see the wind kicking up columns of airborne sand.

ISO 400, f/8, 1/800, -0.67EV at 70mm with Nikon D800 and 24-120mm Nikkor lens.

ISO 400, f/13, 1/640, -1EV at 52mm with Nikon D700 and 28-70mm Nikkor lens.

ISO 500, f/11, 1/320 at 42mm with Nikon D200 and 18-200mm Nikkor lens.

ISO 800, f/8, 1/50, -.67EV at 48mm with Nikon D800 and 24-120mm Nikkor lens.

The next morning was more forgiving and there was even a bit of blue in the sky. Tom asked to be dropped off as he wanted to check out trees he had found in an earlier visit. Trees are not abundant at White Sands and he hiked quite a ways to get his photos. The rest of us stayed closer to the road, enjoying photo opps along the way.

ISO 400, f/11, 1/500, 0.33EV at 70mm with Nikon D700 and 28-70mm Nikkor lens.

ISO 400, f/18, 1/500, -0.67EV at 86mm with Nikon D800 and 24-120mm Nikkor lens.

ISO 500, f/16, 1/250, 1EV at 26mm with Nikon D600 and 24-70mm Nikkor lens.

ISO 400, f/11, 1/800 at 170mm with Nikon D200 and 18-200mm Nikkor lens.

ISO 320, f/22, 1/180 at 15mm with Nikon D600 and 15mm Sigma fisheye lens. Processed in post as an HDR.

ISO 320, f/22, i/350 at 15mm with Nikon D600 and 15mm Sigma fisheye lens. Processed in post with Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.

ISO 400, f/10, 1/400, 0.67EV at 31mm with Nikon D700 and 28-70mm Nikkor lens.

ISO 200, f/13, 1/1000, -0.67EV at 78mm with Nikon D800 and 24-120mm Nikkor lens.

ISO 200, f/13, 1/180, 1EV at 34mm with Nikon D600 and 24-70mm Nikkor lens.

ISO 320, f/11, 1/750, 1EV at 15mm with Nikon D600 and 15mm Sigma fisheye lens.

ISO 400, f/14, 1/320, 0.33EV at 75mm with Nikon D200 and 18-200mm Nikkor lens.

Morning and late afternoon shadows and tracks are just exquisite on fresh sand. I have no idea who leaves tracks such as these.

ISO 400, f/13, 1/640 at 42mm with Nikon D700 and 28-70mm Nikkor lens.

ISO 400, f/10, 1/640 at 50mm with Nikon D800 and 24-120mm Nikkor lens. Processed in post with Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 using Underexposed EV-1 and selection of Fuji Neopan ACROS 100 as film treatment.

We gave up on the dunes before noon, had lunch in Alamagordo and then went to the Missile Museum and the Space Museum. Imagine our surprise the following morning when we awoke to a most unusual sky.

ISO 500, f/11, 1/500, 0.33 EV at 200mm with Nikon D200 and 18-200mm Nikkor lens.

ISO 100, f/11, 1/320, -0.67EV at 100mm with Nikon D800 and 24-120mm Nikkor lens.

ISO 320, f/22 at 15mm with Nikon D600 and 15mm Sigma fisheye. Processed in post as an HDR and then in Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.

ISO 400, f/11, 1/500, 0.67EV at 120mm with Nikon D200 and 18-200 Nikkor lens.

In case you were wondering, the circles are made by the grass moving back and forth in the wind.

ISO 320, f/22, 1/180, 1EV at 32mm with Nikon D600 and 24-70mm Nikkor lens.

ISO 400, f/11, 1/500, at 70mm with Nikon D700 and 28-70mm Nikkor lens.

ISO 400, f/13, 1/640 at 60mm with Nikon D700 and 28-70mm Nikkor lens.

When nature deals you a 'white out' deal with it!! Creatively, please.

ISO 640, f/14, 1/500, 0.33EV at 135mm with Nikon D200 and 18-200 Nikkor lens.

ISO 640, f/14, 1/500, 0.33EV at 105mm with Nikon D200 and 18-200mm Nikkor lens.

The dune ecosystem feels extremely inhospitable. But, there are picnic areas with interesting protective 'back' covers built in, the back protecting people from the usual prevailing wind. There are 'outhouses' built next to parking areas.

ISO 100, f/8, 1/800, -0.67EV at 38mm with Nikon D800 and 24-120mm Nikkor lens.

ISO 100, f/8, 1/800, -0.67EV at 112mm with Nikon D800 and 24-120mm Nikkor lens.

Finally, it is difficult to demonstrate scale in this environment. But, here is my try. That is Jon, headed back to the car. And yes, those are my footprints leaving the indentations in the sand. It is not easy to climb sand dunes.

ISO 200, f/13, 1/1000, -0.67EV at 78mm with Nikon D800 and 24-120mm Nikkor lens.

We will, of course, go back to White Sands. We suspect that the Sand Verbena will be blooming in May. Hope you enjoyed the photos.

Downtown

A good song to play while scrolling down this blog entry would be "Downtown" by Petula Clark!

My brother came into town to celebrate with us the college graduation of my daughter, Erica. When asked what he might want to do, he chose to ride the Light Rail into downtown Phoenix (unlimited day for $3). Here are a few of our photos. One important thing I noticed was the idea of lines, reflections, angles, and art.

There is no metadata this time. Just sit back and enjoy and if the spirit moves you, head downtown on the light rail, to shoot. The downtown area of Phoenix in RICH in photo opps.  Go for it.

This first photo was shot in the courtyard of the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral just off Central on Roosevelt.

There is a sculpture that bears witness to the violence in our community.  It is forged with confiscated weapons and is clearly visible from the Light Rail stop at Roosevelt.

We spotted a mural on the wall of what might be an apartment building. Or?

Tom's secret for success in shooting murals . . . fisheye!!

 I dunno . . . this looks a bit fishy to me!  LOL

Reflections make these images even more multidimmensional than the already are!

Steve took this from the parking garage across from the Comerica Theatre where Erica's graduation ceremony was held. The spring bloom on the trees add a sense of renewal in spite of the flag at half mast.

Tom is messing with me on this one!!  It is from an earlier shoot but I love it even though I have not figured it out.

There is art by Light Rail stations and color lined up just for your camera sensor.

This is a local 'information station'.

Finally, even black and white works.  This image from the stone art at Central and Camelback.

We could have spent much more time downtown, but a graduation party was in the works and we willingly left a whole bunch of photos for another day. There are plenty left for you.

Ah . . . Spring at Desert Botanical Gardens

I can rationalize a full year membership at Desert Botanical Gardens by simply going a gazillion times in March. Spring is everywhere. Flowers are everywhere. Hummingbirds are all over. Chihully is still there. The spring butterflies are showing off. Go with friends.  Life is GOOD!!

As usual, we show up and then disperse. We are like cats stalking a photo prey.  There is a reason we call it 'shooting'. So, when people send me their best photos I wonder if they were there with me!

ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/500 at 250mm with Canon EOS Rebel T4i and EF-S55-250mm Canon lens.

Phyllis showed off her hunter prowess by coming up with the best water droplet yet!

ISO 1000, f/18, 1/350 at 105mm with Nikon D200 and 105mm Nikkor macro lens.

ISO 400, f/5.8, -.33EV, 1/1000 at 150mm with Canon Powershot SX40 HS.

ISO 800, f/8, 1/250 at 70mm with Nikon D700 and 28-70mm Nikkor lens.

Karen did what we often do . . . start with a lens and just make it work! The 100-400mm lens is great for hummingbirds. As it turns out, it is not too bad for flower close-ups either. Had to chuckle, however, as she backed up down the path to get that little flower!

ISO 800, f/6.3, 1/4000 at 400 with Canon 7D and 100-400mm Canon lens.

We go from 100-400mm lens to a fisheye lens! We are wondrous photographers, this group.

ISO 320, f/9.5, 1/180 at 15mm with Nikon D600 and 15mm Sigma fisheye.

I have never seen this cactus bloom.  Not sure what it is as the name I wrote down on from the sign at the Gardens does not look like this plant when I look it up. A very different bloom and rather erotic, don't you think?

ISO 100, f/11, 1/160 at 260mm with Nikon D800 and 70-300mm Nikor lens.

ISO 200, f/7, 1/800 at 180mm with Canon Rebel XTi and 70-200mm Canon lens with 1.4 extender.

ISO 500, f/11, 1/200 with Canon 6D and 70-200mm Canon lens with 2X extenders.

I wonder if Jon knows that you get extra points in a competition if you have more than two butterflies in the same image. 

ISO 800, f/10, 1/400 at 65mm with Nikon D700 and 28-70mm Nikkor lens.

ISO 320, f/8, 1/125 at 15mm with Nikon D600 and 15mm Sigma fisheye. 

ISO 800, f/8, 1/2000 at 400mm with Canon 7D and 100-400mm Canon lens.

ISO 800, f/7, 1/400 at 280mm with Canon Rebel XTi and 70-200mm Canon lens with 1.4 extender.

I see you little green bug!

ISO 1000, f/18, 1/350 at 300mm with Nikon D200 and 70-300mm Nikkor lens.

ISO 800, f/8, 1/250 at 70mm with Nikond D700 and 28-70mm Nikkor lens.

Kati used the big blue Chihully starburst to create a sky for the background!  Clever.

ISO 100, f/22, 1/20 with Canon 6D and 70-200mm Canon lens with 2X extenders.

ISO 320, f/9.5, 1/180 at 105mm with Nikon D600 and 105mm Nikkor lens.

ISO 1600, f/14, 1/250 at 105mm with Nikon D200 and 105mm Nikkor lens.

ISO 3200, f/16, 1/400 with a Canon 6D and 70-200mm Canon lens with 2X extenders.

ISO 1600, f/14, 1/250 at 105mm with Nikon D200 and 105mm Nikkor prime lens.

The bird below is a Cactus Wren, Arizona's State Bird. You can easily spot these at the Gardens and they are busy building nests.

ISO 100, f/11, 1/50 with Canon 6D and 70-200mm Canon lens with 2X extenders.

ISO 1250, f/16, 1/200 with Canon 6D and 70-200mm Canon lens with 2X extender.

We hope you enjoyed these photos. We left thousands behind just for you. Perhaps you will find a real good reason to head to Desert Botanical Gardens, have lunch at Gertrude's and look for me in the wildflower garden.