Many that know me well, know that I am a planner by nature and not very spontaneous. This has its disadvantages when photography is concerned. So, this December, I decided I would go on a New Mexico Photowalk with several friends from Google+.
I had the trip all planned and was ready to go and then work changed my plans by extending the PCI Audit I was working on. As a result, I made other plans. I decided my son and I would drive to Big Bend National Park, hang out, hike and take pictures for two days, visit my parents and then head home.
So…. we were off…
First stop was a Google+ Photowalk in San Antonio hosted by my friends Jackie Burroughs Anderson and Lotus Carroll. We had a blast shooting the San Antonio River Walk and architecture. We spent the night in San Antonio and left early the next morning for Big Bend.
That’t when the trouble started…
You see, Mother Nature wasn’t cooperating and there was heavy cloud cover, winds, rain and some really ugly light. We drove for hours, getting closer and closer only to see the weather get worse. When we arrived at the park we had decided that if the weather didn’t look promising, we would head for Alpine, Texas grab a hotel and stay the night and shoot the next day.
The weather stunk… off to Alpine we went. The back-up plan (because I ALWAYS have a back-up plan) was to get to the hotel, eat and then go to Ft. Davis and see the McDonald Observatory. Afer all it was still early and we had plenty of time. We got to Alpine, checked in and called the observatory (39 miles away) only to discover it closed in 45 min. With ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do in Alpine, I decided to call Mom and Dad and see if we could come on through. So…. we left.
As we were leaving Marfa, Texas I pulled over and took what is the ONLY landscape shot I have taken in 2011. The weather still stunk, the wind was terrible and the skys were real ugly. The sun was well into sunset when I took this shot. It had just dropped below the cloud line and was throwing some really amazing color. I had to hurry to find anything to use to compose a shot. This little mountain/hill thing was it.
I set up my tripod, composed with the highway as leading lines and shot directly west into the sunset.
Leaving Marfa
</David>
Nice shot and background story. I’m sorry your weekend got rained out, but glad you were able to grab at least one capture.
I know what you mean about being uninspired to shoot the landscape around you. I get tired of seeing the same ole’ thing here. I can’t wait for Vegas! It will be the first trip I have ever taken to just shoot photos.
Thanks Tisha! I appreciate the note. Im glad you like the shot. The trip was fun, though I wish I had gotten more. Either way, nothing like quality time with my son and visiting my parents. Thanks for coming by and taking a look. – David
I had a feeling Mother Nature would be unkind to you as we said our goodbyes after the Photowalk. But as you said, it was quality time with Ryan. I need to make a long road trip with my daughter. It might take a crow bar to pry her away from her mom. They are joined at the hip.
Merry Christmas, David. — Doug
[...] Leaving Marfa – A Lem 's to.. story about a recent trip to west Texas … [...]
What a beautiful shot you did get! I love adventures and the stories left behind, especially when things don’t go as planned! Thanks for sharing this on G+ for me to see!