Valley of Fire Part I

Carol Freshley February 8, 2015

Fire Cave and Fire Wave, Seven Sisters, Beehives, White Domes, Rainbow Visa, Mouse's Tank . . . This place is the most unusual place I have photographed. Multi-colored sandstone, rock formations that appear more like extruded rock mixtures that then hardened, caves, balanced rocks that intimidate as you walk below them, and then more and more! Move over White Sands, this girl has a new favorite!!

Another interpretation of Windstone Arch.

Another cave/arch opportunity close to Windstone Arch.

In order for this to work for me I ended up cropping much more than I would have liked. I moved to avoid the overhang that Rick shows in the upper left.  There is not much room to move your camera around.  This cave was not big enough to c… — In order for this to work for me I ended up cropping much more than I would have liked. I moved to avoid the overhang that Rick shows in the upper left. There is not much room to move your camera around. This cave was not big enough to crawl into so we were challenged to shoot from a slit in the end.

Peek a boo!!  Rick trying to concentrate while hounded by the paparazzi!! — Peek a boo!! Rick trying to concentrate while hounded by the paparazzi!!

This is Three Fins, another formation located in the area of Windstone Arch.

Not all arches are in caves.  This is Arch Rock.  Our reference said that the best way to photograph this arch was to stand in the middle of the road.  Yikes.  At least traffic volume is very small along the road and we watched o… — Not all arches are in caves. This is Arch Rock. Our reference said that the best way to photograph this arch was to stand in the middle of the road. Yikes. At least traffic volume is very small along the road and we watched out for each other. Reason? You can see a darker rock behind the arch in the upper right. To get a clean open shot through the arch you have to . . . well stand in the middle of the road!

This is the back side of Arch Rock taken by Rick walking much further back and climbing up on a mound of rock.

What follows are a group of photos that give you an idea of what it might be like to just walk around in this magical place. I will post more specific areas, such as Fire Wave in the next post.

This image was first posted in the Challenge section.  Ann explains this is what happens to your feet when your climb on too many rocks in one day!! — This image was first posted in the Challenge section. Ann explains this is what happens to your feet when your climb on too many rocks in one day!!

I was surprised that there were so few birds in the area.  There are so many great nesting condominiums.  I suspect it is because the surrounding desert is very harsh with little to support many birds. — I was surprised that there were so few birds in the area. There are so many great nesting condominiums. I suspect it is because the surrounding desert is very harsh with little to support many birds.

Sunsets were 'mild' by Phoenix standards but gave an even more surreal look to a place that was already unreal enough.

More to come in tomorrow's post. We all hope you have enjoyed the images.

Robson's Mining World

Carol Freshley January 30, 2015

This destination offers up a full plate of small and large wonders.

L to R:  Phyllis, Gene and Barbara.  I hope you have a model release for each one of them. — L to R: Phyllis, Gene and Barbara. I hope you have a model release for each one of them.

I love rusted walls.  There is another favorite one in Jerome.  As I hurried around, I failed to notice the solar panel and satellite dish on top!!  Seeing more of what was there is the best part about a trip such as this one. — I love rusted walls. There is another favorite one in Jerome. As I hurried around, I failed to notice the solar panel and satellite dish on top!! Seeing more of what was there is the best part about a trip such as this one.

Nancy mentioned that her camera club's challenge for the month was 'circles'.  She hit the mother-lode on this trip. — Nancy mentioned that her camera club's challenge for the month was 'circles'. She hit the mother-lode on this trip.

Why put two images that are so similar?  Good question!  What I hear back from contributors is how much they enjoy seeing what other photographers, there at the same shoot, chose to capture.  The other thing they like is seeing how ot… — Why put two images that are so similar? Good question! What I hear back from contributors is how much they enjoy seeing what other photographers, there at the same shoot, chose to capture. The other thing they like is seeing how other photographers took, essentially, the same shot and then rendered it in post production. So, here you have it. One wheel, and two interpretations.

This car is a bit different than those Tom saw at the Grand National Roadster Show! — This car is a bit different than those Tom saw at the Grand National Roadster Show!

Unfortunately, this old firetruck could not save the hotel and restaurant, which we were told, burned down to the foundation in less than 30 minutes.

This is 'Old Joe' and I imagine in carried many guests over the years.  Robson's Mining World was once known as being a ghost town with antique mining equipment.  It had a hotel and restaurant and advertised horseback riding and vacation s… — This is 'Old Joe' and I imagine in carried many guests over the years. Robson's Mining World was once known as being a ghost town with antique mining equipment. It had a hotel and restaurant and advertised horseback riding and vacation stays away from urban stress. It was also a frequent place for corporate meetings and retreats. The hotel and restaurant burned down several years ago. Plans to further develop the site are underway but the timing for accomplishing them is uncertain.

Needs a sign that says, 'Out of Service'.

I can safely say that this is another perspective.  Or, you could take it as a statement that the car was definitely going downhill. — I can safely say that this is another perspective. Or, you could take it as a statement that the car was definitely going downhill.

Photographer's focused on the mining equipment, old cars and buildings, and a seemingly never ending supply of details can easily miss that the site advertises having the second largest saguaro forest in the state. These cactus look healthy and are surrounded by hills and other cactus. There are several easy trails 'out of town' one can walk to get away from the rust and into the green.

If you want more than mining memorabilia and old doodads you can hike a short distance and be in some very nice, pristine desert.

Down around the corner I spotted two gorgeous coyotes.  They spotted me!  We both stopped, stared, and went on our way. — Down around the corner I spotted two gorgeous coyotes. They spotted me! We both stopped, stared, and went on our way.

This was the last photo Tom took, as we left.  He had to take just one more!!! — This was the last photo Tom took, as we left. He had to take just one more!!!

For me, it was the details that made the place so special, much more so than the big heavy and rusting mining equipment. It is the details that give me an idea of how people interacted in this space. For visitors staying at the ranch, the store, theatre, print and barber shops must have given them a taste of life in a different time.

Yeah!  Right!!  Easy? — Yeah! Right!! Easy?

It actually looks like you could walk right in, sit on a stool and order an ice cream sundae or milkshake.

You could put your nickel in the jukebox while you finished off your root beer float.  There were many items with price tags, but we did not find anyone to take our money. — You could put your nickel in the jukebox while you finished off your root beer float. There were many items with price tags, but we did not find anyone to take our money.

Just look at that torture device.  An electric curling iron chair!! — Just look at that torture device. An electric curling iron chair!!

Shoes were on the lower left in an enclosed case.

I think I could have spent the whole day in just this one place.  With mannequins to give a sense of reality and scale, old typewriters my mother would recognize, and a back room with a linotype, switchboard, cameras . . . . just on and on. — I think I could have spent the whole day in just this one place. With mannequins to give a sense of reality and scale, old typewriters my mother would recognize, and a back room with a linotype, switchboard, cameras . . . . just on and on.

Someone asked Gene, our host, what his favorite thing in the whole place was.  He indicated it was this calendar. Month shown is February, 1930!  Quite a pin-up girl!  The piece of paper below the calendar has printed on it: Sometimes… — Someone asked Gene, our host, what his favorite thing in the whole place was. He indicated it was this calendar. Month shown is February, 1930! Quite a pin-up girl! The piece of paper below the calendar has printed on it: Sometimes Dreams Come True. There's a little old song about the four leaf clover, and part of it runs like this: 'One leaf for hope, and one for faith. And one for love, you know. And God put another one in it for luck, - If you're lucky you will find where they grow.' Keep hopeful, keep faithful, keep loving - do your part and the 'luck' just comes your way. Yes, sometimes dreams come true and the old song tells us why.

Uh?  OK, I want to go back.  I never saw this.  After all, it was a mine! Genie and Jack identify it as the Nellie Media Mine. — Uh? OK, I want to go back. I never saw this. After all, it was a mine! Genie and Jack identify it as the Nellie Media Mine.

After posting nearly 100 messages, there are two images that made my jaw drop. See below.

Proving the photo above was not just a 'fluke' or good luck!

If, after all of these images, you decide to head out there and shoot for yourself, there are a couple of things you might want to know. First, it is a bit hard to find unless you know about the sign along the road (see first image). There is a cash fee of $10 for parties of 10 or more and $15 for smaller parties. There is no food or 'machines' on the property. We found a good place to eat in Aguila (cash only). Normally, our group would head home after lunch but on this trip some decided to go back and shoot some more.

Thanks for sharing.

Grand Nationals Roadster Show

Carol Freshley January 29, 2015

The Grand National Roadster Show is the most revered expo in the hot rod and custom car world. It was started in Oakland, CA in 1950 and moved to the Las Angeles County Fairplex in 2003. Entries this year were from all over the United States, some as far as the East Coast, with two entries shipped over from Europe.

1934 Terraplane.  Very rare.  One of the few pickups designed to compete with cars . . . art deco styling. — 1934 Terraplane. Very rare. One of the few pickups designed to compete with cars . . . art deco styling.

1941 Willys Pickup, awarded top award 50 years ago at this same show.

Classic 1932 Ford Deuce, classic hot rod.

1932 Ford, three window coupe, built as a 1950s style hot rod.

1958 Pontiac built in a style that would reflect it being built as a brand new car in 1958.

1930 Model A sedan hot rod in the green.  1954 Chevrolet custom in the purple. — 1930 Model A sedan hot rod in the green. 1954 Chevrolet custom in the purple.

1954 Chevy with custom van in the background.

Exact replica of a car that was built in 1956.  A hot rod. — Exact replica of a car that was built in 1956. A hot rod.

Copy of historical car from 1950's, a 1923 Model T "bucket".

That is it for now. I am asking Tom to post all of them, when he has finished his edits, on his website. I will keep you posted. Right now he is feeding the HAMB website for Jalopy Journal where he gets about 25,000 views and several hundred comments on the thread created with his images just for this auto show. Thanks for sharing!