Reflections

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I suppose I could find ways to take interesting photos of the packing process, but I can't get motivated to do that. Instead, I take an occasional break from this life-changing-thing to go back to the shots from the Arizona trip.

That trip seems so long ago now. So many things have happened since then, and so many decisions have been made. I am caught by that trick time plays where an event seems to have occurred yesterday, yet a lifetime ago.

More on The Chicken Coop

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On December 12, I posted a picture of the chicken coop along the West Fork Trail of Oak Creek Canyon. I'm sure you had guessed that I wasn't able to resist taking a look inside. You're right.

Endings

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This sunset image taken at Dead Horse Ranch State Park is another of my favorite shots from the Arizona trip. Since it was one of our last evenings in Arizona, I was already feeling a little sad about that wonderful time coming to an end. I am experiencing some of those same feelings about saying goodbye to this place where I have spent such a huge chunk of my life.

Keeping My Feet Dry

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High on my list of things to do for 2008 is a return to the West Fork Trail in Oak Creek Canyon. This year, it was so new to me that I was a bit overwhelmed. I think I remember correctly that for this shot I was balancing on a rock in the middle of Oak Creek, thinking about keeping my feet dry (not to mention the camera), the amazing color, and hoping to leave a little space in my brain for technical matters. I look forward to the next go at it.

A Revived Ghost Town

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I have visited Jerome, Arizona three times now, and each visit has been to a very different town. In the late seventies, what had once been the fourth largest city in the Arizona territory was not much more than a few rundown buildings threatening to collapse and a handful of inhabitants; in the mid-eighties, there was a growing art community; by 2007, it has become a bustling little town clinging to the side of Cleopatra Hill and filled with visual treats, including a dizzying array of art galleries. From 1876 to 2007, Jerome transformed from copper mining town and "the wickedest city" in the west to charming tourist mecca.

Trees—You Know Me

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So many distractions since the last post that to go into all of them in any detail would be...well, distracting. The brief version is a couple of family members in crises, some travel for us, and some big projects in the works.

The photo above was taken during one of my favorite stops, at Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Arizona. I wanted to move there. Unfortunately, you can only visit. Like so many others, I imagine, I was curious about the odd name for this beautiful park. I found this at the website http://www.pr.state.az.us/Parks/parkhtml/deadhorse.html

"How Dead Horse Ranch Got Its Name
The story of the park's name begins with the Ireys family, who came to Arizona from Minnesota looking for a ranch to buy in the late 1940's. At one of the ranches they discovered a large dead horse lying by the road. After two days of viewing ranches, Dad Ireys asked the kids which ranch they liked the best. The kids said, "the one with the dead horse, Dad!" The Ireys family chose the name Dead Horse Ranch and later, in 1973, when Arizona State Parks acquired thepark, the Ireys made retaining the name a condition of sale."

Drive-by Photography

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When we take one of our road trips, I do quite a bit of what I am starting to call "Drive-by Photography". (The picture above was taken on the way home from our Eastern Sierra trip.) Since my husband is driving on those trips, I don't have to pay attention to traffic while I shoot. I shoot outside the car window, or sometimes through the windshield. Granted most of the shots are throwaways, but every so often there is one I am glad I shot.

A short while back I posted another one of my shots taken through the window and got back a fun response from a viewer who linked to his own examples of this type of madcap shooting. Apparently, Beau Harbin has done his share of photographing scenes while traveling down the highway. Now, I have learned that some of those wonderful images at Doug Stockdale's site were taken from a moving vehicle. Hmmm. I think I will apologize less now for this style shooting and consider myself having joined a growing movement. On a more serious note, Doug Stockdale has a unique style and his work stays with you. (As a bonus, he is a master of shooting from a moving vehicle.) And, speaking of work that stays with you, check out the beautiful black and white titled "Fingers", at Paul Maxim's site. Especially if you are a cloud person like me, you will be hopelessly smitten. (By the way, this photograph was taken from a totally safe and sane position according to Paul's post.)

Borrowing a View

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I thought it was time to change the subject. So I went back to the Eastern Sierra file for this one.

When we spent the night at Brown's Town Campground in Bishop on the the way to Bridgeport, this was the view our golfing neighbors were enjoying. All we had to do was look over the top of the open wire fence and we, too, had a clear view of the mountains to the northeast.

Monuments

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This monument at the entrance to the state park provides, for the visitor, fascinating background on the preservation of Bodie, the once "wild and wooly" gold-mining town in the the Eastern Sierra region of California. I am a newly converted and enthusiastic fan of this state park--you can probably guess that from all the photos you see here featuring old structures, wagons, etc in the town. I could have shot there for a week and still found things to intrigue me. I hope you will click on the image above, and when you get to the gallery please stick around to see some of Bodie, as well as other Eastern Sierra scenes.

Refills

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When we stopped for gasoline on the way to Bishop from Bridgeport, we were treated to this view just across the 395. Not a bad scene to look at while the tank refills.

Home Again!

Around mid-June, Jim and I decided to explore southern Colorado. We trudged across that infernal and interminable California desert (which is most unfriendly to humans during the summer months) and headed straight for the mountains of the Centennial State. Once there, we had to drag ourselves away. We spent most of our time on the east side of the Continental Divide taking day-trips that left us road-weary, but delighted. There are only about four-and-half million people living in the state and don’t ask me to explain that fact. To be more realistic, one does have to deal with snow (I have to confess that would certainly give me pause). Still, the area is so gorgeous I can’t understand why it isn’t crawling alive with people. Mind you, I’m grateful it isn’t.

I want to send a special "hello" and a big "thank you" to all our wonderful and generous new friends. We were bowled over by the warmth of our little family at the Riverbend Campground and the open arms that seemed to welcome us everywhere we went. We came home with our faith in humanity refurbished and our minds filled with images of beauty that will help to sustain us through this hot, dry summer.