Nude Over The Corazones

Okay, when I looked at this image as a thumbnail, I could definitely make out the opening in the clouds as a nude, with one breast at the very top and the other just below it and to the right, both with very large nipples. You might have to back away from your screen a bit and sort of throw your eyes slightly out-of-focus and . . . Man! I gotta get out more.


Just so you won't think I'm a total lecher (that I am is immaterial; I just don't want you to think it), here's what I was shooting for -- a fish-eye effect sunset. The splaying clouds were just too great to pass up and the possibility of a sky of fire was exciting.


Well, it didn't quite work out that way. It got very colorful, no doubt about that, but the "sky of fire" I was hoping for never materialized. It had all the possibilities, it just didn't come about, I'm afraid. Dang! Still, who's going to knock a sunset like this one, huh? Not me.

The Chimneys

Here's our target: Those standing formations on the near horizon on the right. (On the far horizon is the Mesa de Anguila, with Santa Elena canyon on the far left.) This is actually just before we reach the trailhead, as the view is better at this point. The camera is zoomed in to actual size to show just how far away it is.


I'd seen this strange object approaching me that seemed to get larger and smaller and I couldn't figure out what it was. Finally, this lady hove into view carrying a golf umbrella to shield her from the clouds, so apparently she had been moving it around and the light and dark panels gave the impression of the size diffrential. In all fairness, she was probably sensitive to UV radiation, as she also had her face wrapped -- or she could just be one of those weird desert rats that run around out here.


While stopping to shoot a purple-tinged cactus, I came across this curious thing all wrapped up and suspended between the palms. I studied it for quite sometime, but couldn't come up with any ideas. Cocoon? Meat sack? Alien from another planet? I dunno. The odd thing is, I found another one on down the trail. Huh.


After taking photos of the previous purple-tinged cactus, I came across this almost electric version of it. Some of these guys are really brilliant. And, no, this isn't a regular cactus that has somehow changed color, it's a completely separate species . . . example . . . version . . . Whatever the case, they're everywhere.


Okay, back on the trail. We're almost there, or so it would appear. Distances are funny things out here; you can't trust them. I think at this point we're still about a mile away. It seemed like it took forever to get this close.


"Who Lives Here?" I remember a book by that name and wondered the very same thing when I came across this hole. I put my hand down there to give it some scale, then later thought, "Wouldn't that have been funny if some irritated critter had taken umbrage to my invasion of their personal space and jumped out and bit me?" Ha ha. Yeah, funny!


And we are there. In the previous shots of this area, you saw this tower and a string of other formations, but as it turned out, this is the only one with any rock art on it that I could see. Upon further inspection, I found a dwelling on the opposite side of the tower, as well as one on a rock just downhill from it.


And here we are. These are what are called petroglyphs (rock carving), as opposed to pictographs (rock painting). The Red Buffalo I wrote about in my last blog was a pictograph, and a very fine example of one, too. These -- or this -- seems to me to be just random tracings, except for the medicine wheel on the far right. I can't really make sense out of any of the rest of it. There is one area, though . . .


What struck me about this area was the two circles at the bottom and the apparant bulge of the image just above them. Could this be a depiction of a stagecoach? The fact that all the "images" area all strung together makes it a bit difficult to make anything out, especially to someone so ill-versed in such things. (Me) I'll ask around.


Okay, here we have evidence of the ignorant White Man in action. No self-respecting Native American would have ever performed such a sacrilege as to shoot anybody's Medicine Wheel image, even another tribe's. As I roamed around the area, I came across yet more evidence of the rancher's existence -- barbed wire -- so it just fits, I'm afraid. It does look like a perfect target, I'll hand you that, but what a shame. From the size of the holes, I'd have to say it was a lever-action Winchester, typical for the time.

Well, that'll just about wrap this entry up, as this has gotten quite long enough. Don't worry -- there'll be a Yahoo Photo album with these images and much more coming soon to a computer near you, so stay tuned. Adios for now.

Ahhh!

Now that's more like it! I finally made it out on the trails after what seems a lifetime. (My legs would heartily agree!) It's a flat and easy three-mile hike out to this place -- which is why I picked it; that and the rock art -- and I made it in fairly good time. I spotted the rock art instantly and took several pictures of it, then settled in (see photo) for a little lunch. There were other features in this area I wasn't aware of which were pretty amazing, but I'm afraid you're going to have to wait until tomorrow to see them. I'm about done in right now, but it's a good done in. I just wanted to let you all know I'm now un-bored and un-restless, and feeling pretty good about it. See ya tomorrow!

The Bored and The Restless

Ah, yes. The boots are on, but the feet aren't moving. What with the winter storm activity of the past few weeks, my days off have been spent watching and listening to the rain/sleet/snow slam against my north windows, while my work days have been spent mostly watching the people filing into the park to enjoy nice, sunny days. It just ain't fair! So here is me yesterday sitting in anticipation of a string of days off in which to get my lard butt out on the trails again, and hoping the sunny day outside holds up. Well, it didn't. This morning woke overcast and chilly, but since there's no rain or wind accompanying it, I'm heading out anyway, dammit! It might be a good day to do the Chimneys Trail and check out the rock art there. Just anything, okay? Lemme outta here!!!

p.s. I was SO bored one day, I took my digital camera -- the one seen below -- and filmed a flock of bees attempting to get out through the front window. This did much for my day, let me tell you. Check it out in the Links section to the right.

Mirror, mirror . . .

I don't know what it is about my bathroom, but the local spiders just love it here. Last season, I had a Daddy Longlegs convention that took up residence in varying numbers, the largest amount being 23 of the bobbing little beings at one time. Utilizing my Catch-and-Release program, I relocated them to the abandoned travel trailer out front, but they just kept coming back. I don't know what this one is, but he missed out on the trailer, as they came and disposed of the ratty thing over the summer. He just got thrown outside into a creosote bush in a rather unceremonious fashion. Handsome little fella, though, don't you think?

Warnock Center

This is the Barton Warnock Environmental Education Center, just outside of Lajitas. Named after a prominent area botanist, it's a wealth of information about the local environment, with a lengthy, snaking exhibit called "Una Tierra/One Land" that's a must-see for amateur geologists. As you might be able to see, the building is perfectly square with a sizeable open courtyard, which is slowly being overtaken by various examples of desert plantlife which once served as exhibits themselves.


Inside the Una Tierra exhibit is an awesome relief map of the Big Bend area. This shot does not do it justice, but I just had to put it in. I took it without flash to try to capture the relief.


This is a closer-in shot to home in on the Persimmon Gap area. The little broken oval of a blister is the Rosillos Mountains, with The Gap at about its 2 o'clock position --pretty much dead-center -- showing as a break in the Santiago Mountains. Pretty cool, huh?


We're out in the Center's 2.5-acre garden area now. While perusing the photographs in the auditorium, I'd noticed the photographer moving in close on his subjects and creating abstractions of them. I decided to kick my little camera into Macro and have a go at it myself. I found the danger inherent in this little exercise with these particular subjects, though: threat of puncture. It happened more than once, especially with Senor Ocotillo here.


I'm not really sure of the name of this plant, but I believe it's of the sotol family, although the leaves aren't nearly long enough. I was quite fascinated by the fireworks pattern its leaves produced.


This agave I ran across -- not literally -- sort of reminded me of a great white shark, or possibly a scene out Little Shop Of Horrors. It does look hungry.


Here's my take on one of the images from the auditorium. Taking something like the agave and abstracting it is actually one of my pet things to do, making something so familiar look different somehow. I think this shows off the character of the agave more than a full shot.


Okay, before this thing starts looking like a photo album -- and there'll be one, you can bet on it -- here's one last image. This is a detail shot of a tree whose name I've already forgotten. (Man, I'm going to have to start writing this stuff down!) Anyway, I was totally taken with the color and texture, and couldn't resist capturing a good number of shots of it. But, you'll have to check out the upcoming photo album for them when I get it done, as this has gone on long enough. I'm outta here!

Crazy Sky

On my way over to the Barton Warnock Center in Big Bend Ranch State Park this morning, I just had to stop and shoot this image of the sky. Apparently, there was a lot of wind up there, as a lenticular formation . . .


. . . came about. The whole sky looked like it had lost its mind, if indeed it actually has one. I'll post a few shots I took at the center later on.

The Good Ol' Days

I was reading through a Photoshop book the other day and came across a technique for adding white borders around images, and it reminded me of Paul McCartney's website, where the images look like Polaroids. I miss taking Polaroids. So, in a reminiscent mood this morning, I sat down and applied the technique to some shots I took in Marathon yesterday on an Alpine run. Looks pretty cool, huh? I had to go in and change my blog template to make them stand out more. (I didn't really like the other one, anyway.)


I may have to play with this technique some more and see if I can put little black triangles in the corners so it looks like an old photo album. Or a shadow. Hmm. . . That may or may not accentuate the "handwriting" in the border.


One more just to give this installment the magic number "3" I'm so very fond of. I saw a shot similar to this in a movie (I think it was Dancer, Texas) and thought I'd try it out myself. It needs something more, I think -- something in the background, maybe. I'll have to keep my eye open in my travels.

PJ In Snow

I decided after being snow/ice-bound for a couple of days, it was time to venture forth into the unknown and see what other parts of the park looked like. As I had to attend to some business at Headquarters at Panther Junction (PJ) -- and check my long-overdue mail -- I thought that ought to do. The road down was pretty much okay, until just about five miles there, then it turned to a slush/ice mixture which became total ice in the parking lot. You could've used it for the US Hockey Team's training camp.


Attempts at close-ups of the fine ice crystals on just about everything met with less than favorable results, but I had to give it a go anyway. Here is a collection on a sotol plant in the Panther Path nature walk.


I wasn't the only one out with a camera trying their luck. Here's Angelina Yost, our Volunteer Coordinator, digitally shooting away and grumbling mightily as one after the other shot doesn't come out right. Don't take it personally, Angelina.


I decided to join Angelina in her endeavors to shoot this tree, but this is the best I could come up with. Not too bad, I guess, there's just no oomph to it. I do love the crystalline structures, though. Contrary to what you might think, the crystals are not pointing away from the wind, but into it -- almost straight north. Icicles would've pointed away from it.


On the road back home. As I shot away and got more and more nervous about the mist -- and temperature -- falling, finally the Post Office opened up and I could check mail and head home. I just had to stop and shoot this scene, as the contrast in color was amazing. Without the sun, it was hard to get definition in the landscape, but this area made up for it, with the Deadhorse Mountains in the background.

Winter Desert Wonderland

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow . . . Well, all that's stopped for the time being, but I hear there's a possibility for more in the next few days. We're up to a balmy 25 -- from our low of the teens -- and my water pipes finally decided to spring to life just a few minutes ago, so I'm feeling pretty good about life right now. It was a slightly different story just an hour ago. Anyway, here's a view of my backyard this morning, all snuggled in its blanket of white.


Moving in a little closer, here is the Strawberry Pitaya (I think) which first attracted my eye as I looked out this morning. He's probably wondering just what the heck is going on right about now.


Care to throw some shrimps on the barbie? At least you can get to this one. My little Weber propane grill is pretty much buried in a snowdrift on the front porch.


Looks like about at least a couple of inches to me. Hard to tell, since all this came in in a perpendicular manner. It's enough to enjoy without having to do a whole lot of work.


Home Sweet Nome. Okay, maybe it's not that bad, but look at the buildup on the front of the house. My neighbor, Bob, offered me the use of his shovel, but I told him that's why I came down here from Maine in the winters -- to get away from such foolishness. Let it melt.

Doo, doo, doo . . .

. . . lookin' out my back door. Well, the winter storm that crept into the area yesterday finally came to fruition last night. This morning about 3:00, I was awakened by the wind slamming the bedroom window above my head with sleet, and since sleep was not returning anytime soon thanks to another Lego plane design mulling around in my head, I got up and built the damned thing. As I put the final touches on it and looked out my back door, I noticed it was now light and found this image irresistable.


This is what it looks like out my back door, if you open the door. I think I like the other photo better, don't you? Very impressionistic.


Here's the design that kept rolling around and around in my little bird brain. This is a Japanese Kyushu J7W1 "Shinden," a very revolutionary design for them. They actually got one or two of these into production and flown, but the war ended shortly thereafter and so did production. This plane was meant to be an interceptor for the B-29 Superfortress, like the ones that dropped the A-Bombs. How's that for irony?


Since I could not find any photos of this thing flying, I thought I'd shoot my model "in flight" as it were. This shows off the lines much better than any I did of it on the ground.


And a departing shot, again showing off its lines. Ahhh . . . Now maybe I can get some sleep. Good day for a nap, too.

Winter Storm?

Well, I wouldn't say that. It's been blowing rain since about 1:30am, but no accumulation to speak of. But, hey, the rain was welcome, no doubt about that. It made for a pretty puny icicle, but that's okay. Better that than being iced in and without power, like the poor bastards to the north.


So what does one do on a day like this, you might ask? Well, here's what I do: Play with my Legos! You can see the plans to my upcoming project, a Farman F.121 Jabiru (Stork) from my Odd Duck airplane file. I've been planning this one out in my head for a couple of weeks now, and it's time to start building. The coffee's on, the phone's off, and party's started. Woo hoo!!! I'll be sure to keep you updated on my progress (like you're sitting on the edge of your seat).


Okay, here is what I was striving for. This has been called the "ugliest transport in history" and I'd have to say that pretty much nails it on the head. Let's see how I did.



And here we have it. It took me all of the movie The Aviator (with Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes) and a couple of beers to fuss and fiddle about with this one. Sorry it's so dark, but the black bricks were all I had in the proper amounts.


An overhead oblique shot to give you a sense of the design. I had a 3-view plan to go by from another model of this plane, so the proportions are pretty much there, although I had to re-design the wing a bit, due to lack of sufficient pieces. They're in the mail.


I've moved in a little closer to show you the pilot's cabin (above the wing, and enclosed on my version), as well as the passenger compartment. I didn't have any curved bow pieces, so my version had to be squared off, something that will not do the fuel consumption any favors, I'm afraid.


Engine startup. When I shifted the plane to take the last shot, the 20-25mph wind started spinning the rear prop, giving the impression that we're about to take off. On the real plane, there actually were two sets of tandem in-line engines like this.