Red Rock Canyon

Carol Freshley April 20, 2018

Red Rock Canyon State Park is located where the southernmost tip of the Sierra Nevada converge with the El Paso Range on SR 14. The Natural Museum of Los Angeles provides the following description of the area. "The rocks in the Red Rock Canyon area reveals some of the 500 million-year history of this part of North America. Of greatest interest to the Natural History Museum paleontologists is a nearly mile-thick succession of fossiliferous rocks that geologists call the Dove Spring Formation. These deposits are composed of stream sediments, lake clays, lava flows, and volcanic ashes that were laid down layer by layer in an ancient valley that long ago disappeared. Pressure from successive overlying layers turned the sediments into stone. Pollen, leaves and wood from ancient plants, and the bones of ancient animals were trapped in these sediments and became the fossils we study today. Earthquake movement along a nearby earthquake fault subsequently elevated and tilted the entire area that was once a valley. As uplift slowly progressed, erosion continuously stripped away the hardened deposits. More resistant beds produced the cliffs and badlands that are today found in Red Rock Canyon." It was quite the fun photo-adventure. We hope you enjoy it with us.

If the thought occurs to you that standing real close to these cliffs may not be the best idea . . . At some point each one of those rocks fell down and who wants to bet when the next one heads down?

Notice the 'No Drone Zone' sign.  We see a lot of these now. — Notice the 'No Drone Zone' sign. We see a lot of these now.

There are two places that are reasonably accessible (meaning short hike).  This is the start of the second stop. — There are two places that are reasonably accessible (meaning short hike). This is the start of the second stop.

It is spring in the Park and the following images are just a sampling of the flora on the floor.  These are tiny plants! — It is spring in the Park and the following images are just a sampling of the flora on the floor. These are tiny plants!

Monument Valley

Carol Freshley November 26, 2015

Tom returned to Monument Valley on his way to see me in Albuquerque. I think this is his third time photographing the area and each time it just gets better. These are early morning shots. I have never been there and am looking forward to him taking me now that he has all the good sites, times and lighting scoped out.

We hope you enjoyed these shots. Perhaps they have inspired you to take a trip to Monument Valley.

White Pocket

Carol Freshley May 28, 2015

A short walk from the car on a sandy path and up a slight incline . . . you look over the landscape before you and if you breathe normally . . . well you won't! I had no idea where to start!

In the center of Dave's photo you can see the iconic 'oyster'.

With water I always want reflections.  Not so easy on this day. You can see the rain drops on the pond.  There were times we took turns holding a large umbrella so the other could shoot.  If it was not raining the wind picked up … — With water I always want reflections. Not so easy on this day. You can see the rain drops on the pond. There were times we took turns holding a large umbrella so the other could shoot. If it was not raining the wind picked up and churned the water's surface a bit. Once in a while some semblance of a reflection was possible.

Storms built up, passed by and then a few minutes of sun.  Most of the time we had the scene pretty much to ourselves.  Just before we left a group of about 20 people showed up. — Storms built up, passed by and then a few minutes of sun. Most of the time we had the scene pretty much to ourselves. Just before we left a group of about 20 people showed up.

A closer look at the whirling rock of the oyster.

Whew! A lot of photos! Let me digress. The trip from the paved highway to White Pocket does requires both a high clearance vehicle and one with four wheel drive. It takes a bit over an hour of slow, careful driving, mostly over sand, on a narrow road to get to the site. Signage is non-existant from what I could tell. That is probably one reason that so many people hire a guide. It is not that you would need help with photography or to be shown what to photograph. All of this is in a rather small area. You can't miss any of it. You just want to get there!

The drive to White Pocket is scenic with hints along the way of what awaits you when you arrive at the parking lot. There is a telephone booth rock! It is one place that you can stop and make a cell phone call!! I asked Dave how he knew that. He said that in passing by it he started getting alerts of new mail and messages. He checked. Sure enough, he had service. Fifty feet later it is gone!

We spent about 4 to 5 hours at White Pocket. Storms were still developing in the area when we left and returned to Jacob's Lake to get my car. Dave made the long drive home to Phoenix. I drove to Williams to spend the night with Greg and Ann. Thank you Dave, for sharing this treasure, for driving, for having great optimism when it counted. I want to go back. Next time we will shoot the Milky Way.