We Went Back . . . With Friends

When you find a great photo opportunity it gets even better when shared with friends!  So, five of us went to the Peralta Trailhead, a new spot for them and a great return for us!  We were disappointed in the light. It was cloudy, overcast and dull. We made the best of it and as the day progressed the sky became a bit more interesting.

We hope you enjoy the images.

ISO 100, f/16, 1/50 at 35mm with Nikon D800 and 16-35mm Nikkor lens.

ISO 200, f/11, 1/320 at 18mm with Canon Rebel XTi and Canon lens.

ISO 400, f/11, at 15mm with Nikon D600 and 15mm Sigma fisheye. Processed as an HDR.

ISO 200, f/8, 1/800 at 72mm with Canon Rebel T4i and 18-135mm Canon lens.

ISO 200, f/13, 1/125 at 5mm with Canon Rebel XTi and Canon lens.

ISO 200, f/16, at 15mm with Nikon D600 and 15mm Sigma fisheye. Processed as an HDR.

ISO 400, f/5.8, 1/640 at 150mm with Canon Powershot SX40-HS.

ISO 100, f/16, 1/50, at 35mm with Nikon D800 and 16/35mm Nikkor lens.

ISO 400, f/11, 1/500, at 15mm with Nikon D600 and 15mm Sigma fisheye. Anyone keeping track of Tom's love of his fisheye lens?

ISO 400, f/3.5, 1/250 with Canon EOS Rebel T4i and 50mm Canon lens.

ISO 400, f/6.3, 1/1250 at 4mm with Canon Powershot SX40-HS.

ISO 400, f/11, 1/640 at 18mm with Canon Rebel XTi with Canon lens.

ISO 250, f/11, 1/500, at 15mm with Nikon D600 and 15mm Sigma fisheye.

There were puddles everywhere and some deep water holes in the road. There was a pond with a small spring along the trail that has not been there in our previous visits. This offered up a whole new photo opportunity.

ISO 250, fl16, at 15mm with Nikon D600 and 15mm Sigma fisheye. Processed as an HDR.

ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/1000 at 30mm with Canon Rebel XTi with Canon lens.

ISO 400, f/11, at 27mm with Nikon D600 and 24-70mm Nikkor lens. Processed as an HDR. (No, that is not a typo . . . . it really is not a fisheye).

Every trip is full of surprises. This was my favorite one on this trip.

ISO 400, f/10, 1/400 at 50mm with Nikon Df and 50mm Nikkor prime lens.

We had so much fun. There were so many wonderful photo opportunities and photos taken. We left many behind.

But, we will be back! When you can drive into this . . . with ohs and ahs and wows . . . how could you not go back.

ISO 200, f/8, 1/400 at 55mm with Canon EOS Rebel T4i and Canon 55-250mm lens.

Thanks for sharing.

We Went Back - Supers

We could not help ourselves.  We went back to the road leading to the Peralta Trail. More magic!  Enjoy.

ISO 100, f/16, 1/20 at 24mm with Nikon D7000 and 24-70mm Nikkor lens.

ISO 400, f/14, 1/400 at 50mm with Nikon Df and 50mm Nikkor prime lens.

ISO 1000, f/11, 15mm with Nikon D600 and 15mm Sigma fisheye lens. Processed in Nik HDR Effects Pro 2.

ISO 100, f/13, 1/40, at 48mm with Nikon D800 and 24-120mm Nikkor lens.

ISO 320, f/8 at 16mm with Nikon D600 and 11-16mm Tokina lens. Processed in Nik HDR Effects Pro 2.

ISO 100, f/8, 1/500 at 50mm with Nikon Df and 50mm Nikkor prime lens.

ISO 200, f/16, 1/125 at 29mm with Nikon D7000 and 24-70mm Nikkor lens.

ISO 400, f/8, 1/500 at 38mm with Nikon Df and 24-120mm Nikkor lens.

ISO 100, f/13, at 15mm with Nikon D7000 and 11-16mm Tokina lens. Processed in Nik HDR Effects Pro 2.

Cory, this one is for you! Cory always reminded me to look at the small things. As I was shooting a time-lapse of the moving clouds, meaning that I could not wander far . . . I found the smallest most interesting items.

ISO 400, f/8, 1/640 at 110mm with Nikon Df and24-120mm Nikkor lens.

ISO 100, at 55mm with old Nikkor 55mm micro lens (No CPU) on Nikon Df camera.  Most likely shot at f/5.6 and 1/50.

And, of course . . . we will go back. Our rains over the weekend have surely cleaned the off the cliffs and cactus,  given flowers additional life made the dust settle just a bit.

Three Sisters

It just might be possible to spend a lifetime exploring and photographing the Superstition Mountains. This was our first foray down a dirt road that leads to the Peralta Trailhead. We are going back, probably many more times.

We hiked for a bit and Tom realized that he had lost the door to the battery compartment on his camera. So, back down the trail to look for it. We did not find it. Instead of going back up, we went back into Gold Canyon for lunch and decided to go back and see whether the evening gold would strike the Three Sisters, a prominent rock structure that is visible for miles. Lighting is key for the rocks to really show off.

Enjoy the photos.  We plan on going back real soon.

This first photo was awarded Photo of the Day on the Capture My Arizona website on February 28. Congratulations Tom!

ISO 100, f/13 at 24mm with Nikon D7000 and 24-70mm Nikkor lens. Processed in HDR Effects Pro 2.

As we returned from lunch Tom spotted a side road. It was not a road that we could take in his car so we parked up ahead and he walked back to the road and hiked it. Good choice. I stayed near the car and set up a time-lapse. His photos rocked and my time-lapse bombed. If you are chuckling by now at lost items, lost photos and bombed time-lapses . . . well I can tell you are a photographer at your core!!

ISO 1000, f/11 at 15mm with Nikon D600 and 15mm Sigma fisheye lens. Processed in Nik HDR Effects Pro 2.

ISO 400, f/13, 1/400, at 35mm with Nikon Df and 16-35mm Nikkor lens.

ISO 320, f/13, at 15mm with Nikon D600 and 15mm Sigma fisheye lens. Processed in Nik HDR Effects Pro 2.

ISO 1000, f/9.5 at 56mm with Nikon D600 and 24-70mm Nikkor lens. Processed in Nik HDR Effects Pro 2.

While the sky was gorgeous when we got in the area, there were times in the afternoon when it was white-out time. The image below was taken at the Peralta Trailhead. The rock is just so interesting and in on the other side of this there are hoodoos. So where are the photos? Well, Tom said he did not get any good ones! I took what I hoped were good ones but then formatted the card accidentally when I set up my time lapse later in the afternoon. Those are two very good reasons to go back!

ISO 100, f/13, 1/160, at 35mm with Nikon Df and 16-35mm Nikkor lens.

ISO 320, f/16, 1/500 at 15mm with Nikon D600 and 15mm Sigma fisheye lens.

That's all folks (for now). Have a fun photo filled weekend. Oh, and if you decide to head out into any desert be warned, both snakes and wildflowers are out in abundance!!