Images of Texas

Flood on the Clear Fork

2009-10-25T07:07:00.003-05:00

Floodstage on the Clear Fork of the Trinity River in Fort Worth.

The Clear Fork normally flows clear on a shallow rock bed. This was a June flood that put it several feet above that.

El Paso Sunset

2009-10-02T19:27:00.003-05:00

A sunset near El Paso, Texas. The mountain ridgeline is the Franklins. The city of El Paso wraps around the southern end of the chain, out of the picture to the left.

Find Texas on Flickr

2009-08-23T13:28:00.003-05:00

I have made the move to putting more of my images on Flickr. It has a great gallery and tag feature that can really highlight work and make it easy to find. So I made the move!

Find my Texas images on Flickr. Follow this link to all my Texas work.

Then Be sure to check out my other places and even my website.

Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildernessphotographer/tags/texas/

My Website:

http://www.wildernessphotographer.net/

The Sun Rises.......

2008-10-15T09:32:00.002-05:00

The sun rises on the Rio Grande and the Chisos in Big Bend NP.

In addition to the sunrise starting a new day it also marks the start of my new website. After blogging here for several months I took the next step and got a domain.

As such I'll be changing how often I'll post here. I do not want to say this is the last post, but they will not be a regular as I was doing. So I still should put up an occasional image. After all-notice I chose a sunrise and not a sunset.

So you can expect there to be an occasional addition here. I'll also make some posts on The Traveling Camera. You will also find that in addition to the website featuring galleries of my work that it has a companion blog for my travels. Hope you follow along.

Check it all out at:

www.wildernessphotographer.net

Happy trails!

-D

Sand Dunes

2008-10-01T13:19:00.002-05:00

Sand Dunes in late afternoon light.

This image is of the Salt Basin Sand Dunes on the western side of Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

Cactus in the Big Bend Country

2008-09-26T19:16:00.002-05:00

A prickly pear cactus in Big Bend National Park.

This image is taken in the volcanic section of the park west of the Chisos Mountains. The dark colored rocks are a testament to the fiery past of the area. The cactus to the dry desert climate of today.

Salt Flat Patterns

2008-09-23T19:04:00.004-05:00

Patterns on the salt flats of west Texas. These are the Salt Basin Flats west of the Guadalupe Mountains. The dry basin extends for miles north and south. The are visible from the air (see older posts) and are a sight from above, next to and out in the middle of.

Here at the edge of the salt, dirt and gravel have washed into the flat pan bottom of the basin. A few patterns drift out into the salt and then flat white salt is all one sees.

Lions...And Bears...Oh My!

2008-09-20T14:59:00.004-05:00

As you drive through Green Gulch on your way into the Basin in Big Bend National Park you see this sign to remind you to be cautious as bears and mountain lions roam the Chisos.

I have yet to see a bear, but I have walked up on a lion before. Exciting stuff!

Something nice about still having them out there. I hope they continue to thrive.

Wildflowers of Yellow

2008-09-14T20:31:00.002-05:00

Wildflowers of yellow in the spring.

Texas is a land of many wildflowers. The spring brings the best and best known display-the bluebonnet. However, the flowers are many beyond that and even though the main ones bloom in the March-May time frame (like these) there is more throughout the summer and the 5th season of late summer brings a second spring (especially in the western part of the state).

This field of yellow and red is in the May time frame.

Stormy Sky

2008-09-07T18:07:00.002-05:00

Stormy sky rolls across north Texas. We see some great stormy skies here at the bottom of tornado alley.

I saw these low ominous clouds in the middle of my day and snapped a pic.

Windmill Sunset

2008-09-02T20:24:00.004-05:00

Windmill at sunset. Few things say Texas like a windmill. Here is one as the light of of a classic big Texas sunset lights up the sky.

Lost Peak Mountainside

2008-08-27T20:17:00.002-05:00

Tree trunks on the side of Lost Peak in the Guadalupe Mountains.

To reach this hike you have to first goto New Mexico and then drive back into Texas at Dog Canyon on the north side of Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

The trail works it's way up the side of Lost Peak as it ascends into the high country of the Guadalupes. These tree are high on the flank of the mountain.

Santa Elena Canyon Sunset Glow

2008-08-24T16:03:00.002-05:00

The "V" notch Santa Elena Canyon at sunset.

It was the end of a very heavy overcast day. The sky was so heavy there was no chance of a sunset (or so I thought). As such, I was out looking for locations to photograph the next morning when I noticed that the western sky was starting to glow. I was not at a very good location for the sunset and I knew it would likely be over before I could get to one so I watched the light in the "V" of the canyon.

Santiago Peak and the Dead Horse Mountains

2008-08-20T16:49:00.002-05:00

A panorama of Santiago Peak and the Dead Horse Mountains. The Dead Horse Mountains run from the eastern side of Big Bend National Park north west toward Alpine.

This view is from US385 somewhere south of Marathon looking toward the park.

Oasis

2008-08-15T16:35:00.003-05:00

A Longspar Columbine with bee at a hidden oasis in Big Bend National Park.

In the desert a place with water is bound to be special. There are several springs, seeps, etc that have neat things to be found there. Usually shade, flowers, birds, wildlife, etc.

After a hike across an open sunny hillside, one finds this small shady oasis with water flowing for at least a few dozen feet. Nestled among the rocks here one finds bright yellow Longspar Columbine.

I just happen to find one with a bee in it.

Rio Grande in Santa Elena Canyon

2008-08-10T18:09:00.003-05:00

Rippled water in Santa Elena Canyon-Big Bend National Park.

On a hike into Santa Elena I noticed the ripples on the water and the shadow of the canyon wall. It had a certain simplicity to it so I made this image with a bit of rock in it for good measure.

Castolon

2008-08-06T20:25:00.003-05:00

The Castolon complex on the western side of Big Bend National Park.

Castolon was both a farming and military center in the desert. Flood plain farming was done along the Rio Grande. This place also became an Army outpost during the Mexican Revolution. Most of the buildings in the complex date from the post.

Today it is fairly well preserved and serves the only cold beverage for 40 miles.

Prickly Pear and Mule Ears Peak

2008-08-03T09:02:00.002-05:00

A large clump of Prickly Pear cactus with Mule Ears Peak in the distance.

The western side of Big Bend National Park is a great place to explore the mountains, canyons, and desert lowlands. One such area of neat vistas and hidden places is Mule Ears Peak. A maze of trails leads into the desert and countless finds. This clump of pear cactus was one I spotted on the way to Mule Ears Spring (a great destination).

It stood a good 5' tall and had dozens of pads.

Goat Mountain

2008-08-01T08:14:00.002-05:00

Goat Mountain in Big Bend National Park.

Goat Mountain is a peak of volcanic origin on the western side of the BBNP. It is visible from the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive between Sotol Vista and the Mule Ears Overlook. The road passes right beneath the big "V" notch on the western face. A field of tuff and boulders lies at its feet. It is a great location to see the forces of geology in action.

The Wind

2008-07-27T19:22:00.002-05:00

Windmills in the Delaware Mountains of west Texas.

Texas can be a windy place, especially in the western part of the state. In several places around the state giant wind farms have sprung up where dozens or hundreds of windmills harness the wind to create electricity. Texas leads the country in the generation of wind power and is set to take the next step forward with even more huge wind projects.

These mills have been up for several years and line the ridgeline of the Delawares. The Delawares are just south of the Guadalupes and the wind can howl through this area so these are sure to be generating power almost non-stop. To let you know how windy it can be here I have camped at GMNP when the National Weather Service has clocked 75mph winds in Guadalupe Pass (yes, that is hurricane force). I sure am glad I have a good tent!

Mule Ears Peak

2008-07-24T18:48:00.005-05:00

Mule Ears Peak in Big Bend National Park as seen through the spindly shadows of an ocotillo.

I had looked for different vantage points to photograph this peak with it's distinctive "ears". The overlook parking lot is the standard view, but I bushwacked through a lot of lechiguilla up one of the nearby hills (was it ever fun coming down in the dark) and found this view.

Autumn Path

2008-07-21T10:48:00.003-05:00

Trail through the fall woods of McKittrick Canyon in Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

The fall colors of the Guadalupes a vivid hidden surprise of these desert mountains. Maples from the last ice age, still survive in a few remote west Texas ranges. McKittrick Canyon is the best area in the park and has been called "the prettiest spot in Texas".

This scene is deep in the canyon near the Grotto.

Abandoned on the Roadside

2008-07-19T08:21:00.004-05:00

Abandoned buildings and an old adobe wall in Culberson County.

There are places in the desert where people once tried to make a go of it and then decided it was not worth it. A few abandoned buildings are all that remain.

This is the remains of a old motel. Perhaps it was a thriving location on the highway once, but with the coming of the interstate things changed. Now it is a quiet ruin.

Moonset

2008-07-10T18:49:00.002-05:00

Moonset on the sand at Monahans Sandhills State Park.

I arrived in the park early one morning to see the moonset right before the sunrose. I was only able to make a couple of frames before it was gone.

Dune Sunrise

2008-07-06T14:57:00.004-05:00

Sunrise on the dunes at Monahans Sandhills State Park.

The Sandhills are found in the Permian Basin west of Odessa near the town of Monahans. From the Interstate one can see some sand but most of the highway roadside area has been stabilized by vegetation. It is not until you take the exit and get into the state park you see the open sand and the larger dunes. There you will find that some of the dunes are 60+ ft tall.

Western Chisos at Sunset

2008-07-02T17:02:00.004-05:00

The western Chisos Mountains of Big Bend National Park at sunset.

This image was made off the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive of the western side of the Chisos on a clear afternoon.

The rock of the Chisos is reddish to begin with and the early and late light on it makes it glow orange.

Cerro Castellan by Moonlight

2008-06-30T19:59:00.006-05:00

Star trails and moonlight on Cerro Castellan. The clear skies and full moon in Big Bend make me approach photography in a whole different way. Photographing at night, making long exposures and letting the moon light up the landscape.

It is slow going with 15 minutes being a short exposure, and sometimes longer being used. I often work two cameras but still have plenty of time to look up at the skies and wonder.

Rio Grande Sunset from the Big Hill

2008-06-28T16:59:00.003-05:00

The Rio Grande looking west from the top of the Big Hill at sunset.

The ribbon of river comes out of the distant Colorado Canyon and makes it way downstream toward the small canyon at the Big Hill.

The view from the hill is great anytime and only gets better at sunset. Hope for some clouds and then take in the show. I got a great one this day. I sat here until the land went dark and the river glowed with the last light of the day.

Cerro Castellan at Sunset

2008-06-25T15:55:00.005-05:00

Cerro Castellan is a prominent landmark on the western side of Big Bend National Park. It is also something normally photographed from the west. with the Chisos beyond.

This is done a little different and is photographed from the northeast. The view is toward the Sierra Ponce wall late in the day. I liked the way the yellow afternoon light gives nice backlight to the mountain.

The Big Hill Sunset

2008-06-22T08:59:00.002-05:00

Sunset light from "The Big Hill" looking toward the Chisos Mountains.

If you have ever driven FM 170 in west Texas then you know what the Big Hill is. This stretch of highway is one of the most scenic in Texas.

It is a great place in the middle of the day (when I normally seem to pass by) but it is best at sunset when the view to the east toward the Chisos lights up in the late afternoon light.

If you can catch a big west Texas sunset you get a "double feature".

Sierra del Carmen

2008-06-18T16:54:00.002-05:00

The Sierra del Carmen range actually lie in Mexico, south of the Rio Grande. The view of them dominates the eastern part of Big Bend National Park.

Here the winding road is heading toward to Rio Grande Village and its terminus at Boquillas Canyon-the end of the road.

Chisos Mountains Storm

2008-06-15T13:38:00.004-05:00

Chisos Mountains from Desert Mountain Overlook on a stormy day.

Another day, another trip, same overlook. This cold windy storm was raining, dropped some sleet, and even had some lightening. It was impressive to watch. When the worst finally passed over the area I was able to make a few images.

The Chisos-Dawn Over the Mountains

2008-06-13T18:38:00.004-05:00

Dawn over the Chisos Mountains as seen from the Desert Mountain Overlook in Big Bend National Park.

Every day is different here. Every sunrise is different than the day before. I visit this view often and have been rewarded with many different views, conditions, and images.

Here is the awesome orange sky and clouds over the mountains.

Tornillo Creek

2008-06-10T19:32:00.002-05:00

Tornillo Creek is the stream that drains the eastern side of Big Bend National Park. The water funnels down into this small almost canyon right near Hot Springs where it flows into the Rio Grande.

Here you can see the water is just a small stream. When the rains come, it could easily be 12 feet deep here (or more).

Ocotillo Sunset

2008-06-06T17:48:00.002-05:00

The tips of an Ocotillo reach into the sunset of west Texas. The "V" notch of Santa Elena Canyon can be seen in the distance.

The end of another day.

The Hot Springs

2008-06-04T18:58:00.002-05:00

The hot springs in Big Bend National Park are right on the Rio Grande. As you can see in the picture, they were walled off some time ago. The water flows out at a perfect 105 degrees and fill the old foundation of the ruin before spilling over the low spot in the wall into the river.

I am standing in the middle of the "pool" and the image is taken looking downstream toward Hot Spring Canyon and the Sierra del Carmen.

Old Ruins By Night

2008-06-01T13:48:00.003-05:00

Old border ruins by night. I was photographing old ruins near the Rio Grande in Big Bend at night. Star trails make a great subject on a clear night.

As I was photographing a friend was using his red penlight in the distance. I could not make out any light from it on the ruins but the camera "saw" it.

I like the different look and the way it lit the building and the old chimney within.

Closed Canyon

2008-05-30T19:03:00.003-05:00

Closed Canyon in Big Bend Ranch State Park. The steep, narrow walls of red rock remind one of a slot canyon in Utah. To find it in Texas is a nice bonus.

I have made several hikes through here, it is an easy one but always draws me back. The curves and depth of it are always interesting. On my last visit we saw desert sheep along the rim of it.

This is a great desert experience.

Looking to Mexico

2008-05-28T19:36:00.002-05:00

Here is a viewpoint overlooking Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park at sunset.

The far side of the river is Mexico. In the distance the tiny village of Santa Elena sits on the plain. The mountains are the start of the massive Sierra Ponce wall that Santa Elena Canyon carved out back upstream from here.

Pictographs

2008-05-26T15:04:00.002-05:00

Pictographs in Big Bend National Park.

Pictographs are rock art that is painted on. To compare a petroglyph is rock art carved into the rock.

This area of Big Bend has both.

This is the sheltered underside of a large boulder. It could easily have been and likely was a place people lived. There are several images painted on the rock.

Desert Ridges

2008-05-23T10:14:00.002-05:00

Desert ridges in Big Bend National Park. These ridges are in the low hills west of the Chisos on the road to Santa Elena Canyon.

The late afternoon light gives a nice defining shadow and texture to the hills.

Sunrise in Big Bend

2008-05-15T16:22:00.002-05:00

Sunrise on a clear day in Big Bend National Park.

The first light of day as the sun rises over the hills and mountains of west Texas.

Melete Stone

2008-05-13T21:07:00.005-05:00

At a hidden location near a forlorn mountain is a place with many pictographs and petroglyphs. There are many surfaces of smooth rock with rock art. There are also several places where the tumbled rocks have created covered shelter like areas. This one has a melete stone at one end of it. You can see the depression in the rock. The work of rock on grain over time wore that hole. The roof of this shelter had several brightly painted pictographs too.

It was one of several sites we found in this area.

Terlingua Creek

2008-05-10T08:05:00.002-05:00

Terlingua Creek is a clear flowing stream that empties out of a vast area of land that goes from the Chisos up to almost Alpine. There seems to always be water flowing in it. Most of the year it is a small band of water, but when it rains-watch out. This rivulet becomes a raging torrent several feet deep.

On this early spring day in the dry season, the creek is only a few inches deep and running over rock and gravel.

The streaks black made an interesting pattern and I decided to try to make a decent image of the creek and planned on a return trip for first light.

Santa Elena Canyon

2008-05-07T08:56:00.004-05:00

The view from deep inside Santa Elena Canyon. This is one of the narrowest points in the canyon. There is a trail that goes into the canyon but as you can see the walls and river only allow it to go so far. Beyond that it is only for rafts and canoes.

Hazy Ridges to Mexico

2008-05-04T10:00:00.003-05:00

Hazy ridges looking toward Mexico from the Sotol Visa Overlook in Big Bend.

You can see down through the grasslands and foothills to the desert and the mountains in Mexico beyond.

This is a great location for sunset as the view takes in the entire western half of the park.

Border Grave

2008-05-01T12:52:00.003-05:00

A single grave of a US Army soldier from the days when the army patrolled the Big Bend country.

The mountain is Cerro Castellan, it is part of the volcanic activity that occurred in the western half of BBNP.

Old Ruins

2008-04-29T08:13:00.003-05:00

Old ruins along the Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park.

This old adobe wall is slowly eroding away under the harsh desert sky of the Big Bend country.

The view from here is great, it takes in the Sierra Ponce, Santa Elena Canyon, and the Chisos.

Ocotillo Red

2008-04-26T14:04:00.003-05:00

A companion image to a post earlier this week. This is the flowering red tip of an Ocotillo in bloom.

The sharp spines of the branch blur away below.

The scarlet of the flower is visible for a long distance and brightens the dry spring this year.

Western Chisos

2008-04-25T04:55:00.002-05:00

The western side of the Chisos as seen from the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive.

Like an island in the desert, the Chisos rise up off the desert floor to well over 7,000 ft. The mass of the mountains is just great enough to create more rain and cooler temps. That milder climate supports pines, aspens, wildlife, etc. Think of it as the southernmost reaches of the Rocky Mountains.

Ocotillo Sharp

2008-04-23T15:58:00.002-05:00

The ocotillo is a hardy desert plant (they say it is not a cactus). It has long spindly spines that are used to makes fences. It sits looking dead for months but a rain can make it bloom full of green leaves or it sens out flowering red tips so scarlet they are almost impossible to photograph.

Here is a closeup of one. This one is not in bloom, although many in the park were. Like most desert plants it is covered in sharp points to keep others away.

Watch you step and tread lightly here.

Ocotillo Moonset

2008-04-19T08:18:00.004-05:00

Moon set through the spindly branches of an Ocotillo in Big Bend National Park.

The clear sky and full moon were made for this found image. I was there to photograph a mountain and I found this image.

Cactus

2008-04-16T18:19:00.003-05:00

Cactus high on the canyon wall at the Big Hill. From the top of the Big Hill one stares down several hundred feet into the Rio Grande.

Down about 30 feet from the top is a small ledge with a prickly pear thriving in the vertical realm.

Across the Desert

2008-04-14T18:21:00.003-05:00

Cerro Castellan and the Sierra Ponce as seen across the desert from Maverick.

The 1500 ft tall wall of the Sierra Ponce are visible for miles across the desert in Big Bend. Cerro Castellan is also a well known and easily spotted landmark.

Both are usually shown from the area around Santa Elena Canyon. This view is a bit different. It is in the predawn light looking south from Maverick towards Mexico. Cerro Castellan must be 12 miles as the crow flies and is some 35 miles by road.

Big West Texas Sunset

2008-04-11T19:18:00.004-05:00

West Texas has some of the biggest and best sunsets I know of. When you are out here, you have to stop and watch them.

This is sunset off the Big Hill. It is the highpoint on the river Road, that's FM 170 that runs between Presidio and Lajitas.

I happened to be there right as the sun was setting so I scrambled to the top and caught one of those classic west Texas sunsets.

This is the view west at the very end of the light. The Rio Grande is the glowing ribbon in the dark rocky canyon below. The perfect ending to a great west Texas day.

Colorado Canyon

2008-04-09T19:28:00.003-05:00

Colorado Canyon is a canyon of red igneous rock (Colorado is Spanish for red). This is the last free turn before the river makes the full passage of the canyon.

This is just one of many canyons on the Rio Grande in the Big Bend region. Float trips are possible on this section of the river.

Looking Toward Terlingua

2008-04-06T10:16:00.003-05:00

A view west from Maverick toward the mining town of Terlingua. The mountains of Big Bend Ranch State Park rise in the distance.

Shafter Ghost Town

2008-04-04T17:46:00.002-05:00

The Shafter, Texas ghost town. Sitting on the edge of the Chinati Mountains between Marfa and Presidio-Shafter was once a silver mining town.

Now there is not much there.

The High Plains of Marfa

2008-04-02T05:50:00.002-05:00

The high plains near Marfa. This is the land of "Giant".

The big sky and open range here create a huge canvas on which to paint life. A single image just cannot do it justice.

Look at the bigger image and take it all in.

Monahans Sand Hills at Twilight

2008-03-31T20:06:00.003-05:00

I made it back from a week in the Big Bend country. I spent a day and a half in Big Bend Ranch State Park and the rest of the week in Big Bend National Park. No matter how many times I visit I just cannot get enough of the place.

I also finally happened past Monahans right near twilight so I was able to photograph sunrise on the dunes. In the past I always seemed to be there about 2pm, but after spending the night in Big Spring I got there right about 7:30am and went in to catch sunrise.

Here is one of the dunes at twilight.

Blooming Ocotillo

2008-03-19T08:53:00.003-05:00

The red tips of a blooming Ocotillo in Big Bend National Park. The spring brings wildflowers, blooming yucca, flowering cactus, and of course that endless west Texas landscape.

I am on the road to Big Bend tomorrow. It is spring and the desert is calling!

See ya!

Volcano Country

2008-03-17T19:00:00.003-05:00

Volcanic Tuff and rock near Cerro Castellan in Big Bend National Park.

This scene is fro the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive as it winds around Cerro Castellan on the way to Cottonwood Campground. As you can see the road goes right through the tuff.

This is part of the volcanic history on the western side of Big Bend.

Ranchero Ruins

2008-03-15T16:16:00.002-05:00

Old adobe ruins in Big Bend National Park.

The ruins sit on a hill overlooking the Rio Grande. The big cliff wall behind them is in Mexico.

The light on these ruins is fantastic in the morning and it is also a great place to visit by moonlight.

Santa Elena Canyon

2008-03-12T06:56:00.002-05:00

The glow inside Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park.

A friend I took a canoe up into Santa Elena Canyon. The canyon is deep and narrow. It also gets some wonderful light in the afternoon as one wall will light up and the other one will glow from the reflections.

This is the view only a few hundred yards into the canyon, it gets better and better the farther one goes. For the full experience, you need to take a raft trip through the entire canyon.

Dry Wash

2008-03-09T18:04:00.006-05:00

A dry creek bed in Big Bend National Park. With a few exceptions, the waterways of the Big Bend region are mainly dry washes that only see water during the brief and often violent flash floods of the rainy "monsoon" season. Then they fill rapidly and roar with water, shutting off roads and racing to the Rio Grande.

But for most of the year they are bone dry.

This is one such wash not too far from the Cottonwood Campground as it crosses the road. It is wide and gravelly. In the distance one can prominently see Cerro Castellan, the remains of a volcanic peak and the Chisos in the distance.

Hidden Desert Oasis

2008-03-07T09:33:00.005-06:00

A hidden desert oasis in Big Bend National Park. There is a waterfall, nice shade, flowering plants, etc at this location. I once saw a mountain lion here too. It was all of 40' away from me. Quite a great moment and neat animal to see up close.

This is the base the falls in the dry winter season. As you can see there is still a seep of water spilling down the rocks and a pool at the base. The water cascades down over some rocks into several small pools under tall trees before it seeps back into the ground the you return to the desert. All in all this is maybe an two acres of oasis in a harsh land.

Keep these places pure. Tread lightly.

Big Bend and the Chisos Widescreen

2008-03-05T10:27:00.003-06:00

Another wide screen pano of the Chisos Mountains. This view is from the north near Tornillo Creek. One can see home of the hoodoos along the creek in the middle distance.

It will soon be Big Bend season again as I will be leaving for the park in just a couple of weeks. Cannot wait-spring in the desert.

Graves and Ruins

2008-02-29T17:15:00.002-06:00

Graves and ruins in Big Bend National Park. These old ruins are at Terlingua Abaja on the western edge of Big Bend NP.

The big cliff wall is the 1500 ft Mesa de Anguila through which the Rio Grande has carved Santa Elena Canyon.

Terlingua Abaja is a few miles upstream from where the Terlingua Creek flows into the Rio.

This is a tough land but the view is fantastic.

Hoodoos

2008-02-27T18:34:00.002-06:00

Hoodoos along the River Road in Big Bend Ranch State Park.

Hoodoos are normally associated with Utah and a place like Bryce Canyon, but here are some found in the Big Bend country.

As I posted in some images a few weeks ago BBRSP also has some Utah like canyons so I guess you can find a little bit of Utah style adventure right in your own Texas backyard. It's a whole lot closer and a whole lot less crowded too.

The Big Bend Country in Wide Screen

2008-02-25T18:46:00.005-06:00

The Big Bend country is wide screen country. It is the perfect place to truly make a big image. It is also the kind of place John Ford would have loved to use as a movie set.

Here is a big wide view. It is taken just off the road between Lajitas and Terlingua and takes in the western side of Big Bend National Park. You can see the Chisos in the middle left distance. You can see the volcanic activity that left Cerro Castolon. You can see the Sierra Ponce in which Santa Elena Canyon is carved where the Rio Grande has cut through the Ponce wall.

Be sure to click for the full sized image so you can take in the big country.

Terlingua Creek

2008-02-23T17:56:00.002-06:00

Looking south along Terlingua Creek in Big Bend National Park. The Sierra Ponce wall is visible in the distance.

The shallow clear waters of Terlingua Creek flow south bound along the western edge of Big Bend NP joining up with the Rio Grande at the moth of Santa Elena Canyon.

For the most part the creek meanders as a small braided waterway over gravel and mud banks. At times the creek can fill and roar through here during the wet season, but it is normally just a small stream.

Chisos at Dawn

2008-02-21T09:18:00.004-06:00

The eastern side of the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend National Park at dawn.

Look at this image with the flowers and blooms and you would think it would have to be a springtime image. But that would be very wrong. This was taken at Thanksgiving. The Big Bend country has it's rainy season from mid summer through fall. This was at the tail end of that rainy season and there were not only blooms but also fall color in the mountains. It is quite a feast for the eyes to see fall color and fresh flower blooms.

It is not to bad as a photographer either.

Cactus in Santa Elena Canyon

2008-02-19T08:02:00.003-06:00

I was photographing in Santa Elena Canyon on a trip to Big Bend National Park when I looked at the rock above me and saw this cactus sticking out of the side of it.

I thought it might make a nice image framed against the "V" of the canyon.

I am constantly amazed at how many different things in the park can make a great photograph, even a single cactus.

Old Ruins

2008-02-17T12:49:00.003-06:00

The old adobe and stone ruins are in Big Bend National Park. It is a partially standing adobe house with a stone fireplace in the center.

The ruin sits on a hill overlooking the Rio and the Sierra del Ponce in Mexico. There are also views to the Chisos Mountains and Santa Elena Canyon. It must have been quite a place to live.

The walls of the ruin have some nicely framed windows and this door. The double frame of it really sturck me as a neat feature. I also greatly admire the stone fireplace that was once the centerpiece of this home.

I framed up the fireplace through the door with just a hint of the Ponce wall beyond.

Ghost Mountains

2008-02-15T10:16:00.004-06:00

The Chisos Mountains in Big Bend National Park actually mean ghost mountains. It is an apt term. When viewed on a foggy or cloudy morning the ridges, and peaks take on a hazy view of stacked layers. Even on a sunny morning they can take on a great backlit view as the sun rises.

Ghostly indeed.

This image was made from a hilltop near Santa Elena Canyon looking back east one morning in soft colorful light. The highpoint on sees on the left is Emory Peak, the highest point in the park and one of the tallest in Texas.

Cactus

2008-02-14T11:59:00.002-06:00

Cactus and volcanic rock in Big Bend National Park. The western side of the park is full of volcanic activity and has left red rock across the landscape.

This view is off the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive.

Moonrise Over the Sierra Del Carmen

2008-02-12T09:19:00.000-06:00

The Sierra Del Carmen range is visible all across the eastern part of Big Bend National Park. By the time one gets to Rio Grande Village, the Carmens are the major visible landmark that tower to the east.

These mountains are actually in Mexico. They are part of a range that is called the Dead Horse Mountains in the United States after crossing the Rio at Boquillas Canyon the range rises to new heights in Mexico and takes on a new name.

This is the view from near Rio Grande Village.

Sunrise in West Texas

2008-02-10T10:09:00.002-06:00

Sunrise across the open range of west Texas.

I was on a trip to the Guadalupe Mountains in far west Texas and watched this sunrise one morning.

You get one every day. No two ever look the same and you never get a second chance at it.

Ripples

2008-02-08T05:03:00.000-06:00

This rippled sand is from the dunes in Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

The dunes are pure white gypsum sand, just like at White Sands, New Mexico but not as well known. As such I have never seen another person here at the same time I was. The fact they they are 45 miles from park HQ and that they are not really advertised helps keep them that way. Still if you ask the rangers at HQ, they will give you a map and a gate key to get to them.

Be prepared for an hour drive, a mile and a half walk. Hope for dry conditions or the road there will be slop and impassable. Finally, hope for calm wind or the blowing sand will chase you back to your car. But if it all works out you can walk alone across the sand.

Stay for the sunset, bring a headlamp, and hike out in the dark.

Winding Road to the Christmas Mountains

2008-02-05T07:40:00.000-06:00

This is a view of the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive in Big Bend National Park with the Christmas Mountains in the distance.

I thought was an appropriate entry for today as this is the day the State Land Commission will decide their fate.

As I posted a couple of weeks ago, the Christmas Mountains (about 9,000 acres in size) were donated to the state for inclusion in a park. I think the idea was either a state park or to be added to neighboring Big Bend National Park.

Our esteemed public officials decided the state parks cannot manage it (no money) and that they would sell it to the highest bidder. The whole thing is just a mess. The NPS will take it but the Land Commissioner will not give it to them. The newspaper has reported that the group who originally gave the donation may rebuy it and give it to the NPS.

This is such a unique opportunity to add land to a major park that I hope the Land Commission comes to their senses and makes this part of BBNP.

Dunefield

2008-02-02T09:03:00.000-06:00

Another image of the white gypsum sand dunes on the westeren side of Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

The view here is westerly and the mountains you see in the distance are the Cornudas Range.

I greatly enjoy a trip out to these dunes. They are not well known (except by photographers) and are a long way from anywhere.

If one looks close you can find the two other photographers I am with in the image.

Delaware Mountain Wind Turbines

2008-01-30T20:17:00.002-06:00

The Delaware Mountains are due south of of the Guadalupes. They drop off steeply to the west and are very windy.

That wind has drawn the interest of alternative energy and the summits are now lined with wind turbines.

Flying home from El Paso late in the day, I saw the turbines as little white sticks as we fly over the Delawares. The turbines are huge in reality but so small out the window so we must already be up over 25,000'.

Dozens of turbines spinning and generating clean quiet power.

Closed Canyon-Dry

2008-01-29T19:22:00.001-06:00

Closed Canyon in Big Bend Ranch State Park is a true hidden gem. It shares alot of characteristics with what one might find in Utah. I would even go as far to say it often reminds me of the Narrows in Zion National Park minus the running water.

Even though it is dry, the signs of past rains and flood are readily visible. The walls are mostly red and rough, but the bottom 6 feet or so is gray-white and smooth. Yes, the water has roared through here 6 feet deep or so. Rocks, gravel, and sand occasional are found along the bottom.

The sun rarely strikes down this deep in the canyon making it cool. It only adds to the sense that water has, can, and will wash this canyon clean. It is only dry temporarily.

Closed Canyon

2008-01-28T21:30:00.000-06:00

Closed Canyon is a narrow canyon found in Big Bend Ranch State Park. The rock is reddish. The walls are high. The canyon is sometimes 15-20 feet across. It looks more like something you would find in Utah rather than Texas.

It is a great hike anytime but especially cool on a hot day. It is also a great place for the sleep in photographer as the best photography light is closer to mid day.

One morning I photographed the sunrise in Big Bend National Park, caught breakfast, and then went over to hike Closed Canyon in the mid day.

Normally I put the cameras away between 9am and 4pm, but with the reflected light bouncing off the canyon walls opened up new daytime photo possibilities.

I liked this place so much, I made a second trip back the next day. Go see it. It is that neat.

Brokeoff Mountains

2008-01-26T20:19:00.001-06:00

The Brokeoff Mountains are really hills that spill west of the Guadalupes near the New Mexico state line.

One afternoon on a flight into El Paso I got a great view on the approach.

It is empty and dry looking but it also looks to have great potential to explore.

Salt Flats

2008-01-24T16:44:00.002-06:00

The salt flats west of the Guadalupes are flat and almost plantless.

On the same cold morning I could see the Sierra Diablos I turned to see the moon setting and the pink glow of the clear sky and just took this quick snap.

The powerlines add leading lines by mere chance. Talk about luck.

Sierra Diablo Dawn

2008-01-22T20:38:00.002-06:00

The Sierra Diablo are a range southwest of the Guadalupes. The are dry and on private land. Your best chance to get a good view of them are to drive on Hwy 54 or US 180.

One cold winter morning that was severe clear I was on the salt flats off US 180 and watched the light strike the Diablos. I liked the way the flatness of the salt gives way to the warm reddish light on the distant range.

The road to Van Horn

2008-01-19T10:52:00.000-06:00

As you leave the Guadalupes and drive south towards Van Horn you pass through this great valley.

To your east is the Delaware Mountains. To your west is the Sierra Diablo. Behind you to the north is the great prow of the Guadalupes.

As I was driving to Van Horn and breakfast at Chuy's I saw some mules and a few horses near the road. I stopped to see if I could get a picture of them with the Sierra Diablo. Well when I stopped they came over toward the fence and I was able to get an image with the Guadalupes and the Patterson Hills behind them.

As you can see this is dry desert country, but wow what a view. It's almost like being on the set of a John Ford movie.

The Prow

2008-01-16T18:27:00.000-06:00

This is the prow of El Capitan as seen from the Salt Basin Overlook trail in Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

The hike around the mountains is rocky, open, and very deserty. There is no shade and it is easy to get sunburned, wind burned, and drenched.

I got all three on a single afternoon. On a late summer afternoon I hiked out around the basin overlook trail. It was sunny and windy at first but the clouds kept building and on the hike back it rained pretty heavy.

This image is on the way back a few minutes before the sky opened up.

The Guadalupe Grasslands

2008-01-14T18:19:00.000-06:00

The eastern side of the Guadalupes is a high grassland. The mile high elevation is a bit cooler and a bit wetter than the lower western deserty side. They can be quite lush at times of rain, or just dry yellowy grass. I was here in late August and found the grass to be rather lush.

One early predawn I was out on the grassland watching the stars above the peaks. At first I was photographing star trails but as the light was slowly starting to signal the end of night I got a few images when the camera would record the sky, the stars and put a hint of color in the clouds.

El Capitan rises sharply on the left. Guadalupe Peak (highest point in Texas) is the first highpoint to the right of El Cap(the camera angle makes does not show its true height). This is the heart of Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

El Cap

2008-01-13T16:50:00.000-06:00

The Captain is one of neatest photographs in Texas. Jutting out like a wedge (or maybe the prow of a ship) from the Guadalupe Mountains it looms over the desert below.

When viewed from the top of Guadalupe Peak, it is like looking over the bow of a ship. Hence the name.

When viewed from east, west, or south it is visible from many miles away. It truly stands out. It also has no bad side. It looks good morning and evening.

This image is a morning view from the east side. When the light first strikes the rock it glows with a wonderful orange. I never tire of visiting this park and watching the sunrise and sunset on these cliffs.

The Fiery Past

2008-01-12T15:39:00.001-06:00

Volcanoes in Texas? Yes. In the fiery past of the geologic history of Texas there was a time when the western part of Big Bend National Park was alive with active volcanoes.

Today the remnants of that time for fire can be seen as one traverses the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive. The highlight is probably the sheer sides of Cerro Castellon and the amazing Tuff Canyon.

However, there are other equally scenic area where one can see the remains and signs of this volcanic activity.

While exploring a nondescript area between Sotol Vista and Cottonwood Campground I ran across this scene in late afternoon light. The reddish rocks and hills you see here all from volcanic activity. They could be plugs from vents or the remains of a magma dome that solidified and the surrounding rock has eroded away over the intervening mellenia.

I like this area of the park. It is wild and scenic. It is also left alone as everyone seems to race past this area to the chasm of Santa Elena Canyon. Don't get me wrong, I love the view at Santa Elena, but I also love finding these other locations.

Those hidden in plain sight locations-where fire once was.

Christmas Mountains

2008-01-11T16:43:00.001-06:00

The Christmas Mountains lie just outside Big Bend National Park. They are a dry desert range like many of the others in this part of the state.

They are visible from several locations within the park although they are easy to "overlook" with all the incredible sights and views in the park.

This image was taken early in the morning on my way to the Terlingua Ghost Town. I had been up early photographing star trails and the sky was clear. When the night faded it was cloudless. I had friends waiting for breakfast at the ghost town so I started driving. From the top of the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive I saw this view and there were now even a few clouds. I made a few images and drove on. By the time I got to Terlingua, the sky was completely overcast. .

They are also at the center of a controversy in the state right now. The Christmas Mountains were under private ownership. A foundation gave the entire range to the state of Texas with the thought it would either be added to Big Bend Ranch State Park or Big Bend National Park. Apparently the state land commission decided to sell them. To say that stirred up a hornets nest is putting it mildly. There are alot of people upset over the state selling something that was donated for inclusion in a park.

With any luck this range can be added to the national park.

Tule Mountain

2008-01-10T17:41:00.000-06:00

Tule mountain is in Big Bend National Park. It is on the western side of the park between the Chisos and the town of Study Butte.

The geology of the region and it'd basins, ranges, and faulting has somewhat isolated Tule from the other mesa like features of the area. It helps give it a look of being alone.

I have tried to photograph it on several occasions and I feel most of my images (this one included) are rather plain. I think it has potential to be great. I am just still waiting for the right light and conditions to make it right.

Here is Tule on an overcast day. The flat desert between me and it is plain but still very interesting. There are many ocotillo here and while they seem just a cactus (they are not) they have a wonderful bloom in the spring and take on leaves in the rainy season.

The mountain shape still draws me in even in the flat overcast light of this day. I hope to one day find it in the right conditions and make a really good photograph.

Rocks and Ridges

2008-01-09T19:10:00.001-06:00

The mountains and deserts of west Texas are my favorite part of the state. The vast empty out there is so big and lonely. The sky even seems bigger there.

The Guadalupe Mountains rise up to well over 8,000 ft above sea level here. They contain the highest peak in the state. They contain big pines and colorful maples. They are surrounded by boulder, salt flats, sand dunes, and grasslands.

As a photographer they truly are something special.

Here are rocks, ridges, and the higher part of the Guadalupe range. While I normally include the magnificent El Capitan in images from this area and these boulders, I thought just showing the rocks and ridge lines in the area had as much merit for showing what this corner of the state looked like.

I like the lonely, dry, and rocky landscape here.

The Guadalupes

2008-01-08T19:50:00.001-06:00

The Guadalupe Mountains of far west Texas are both the highest point in the state as well as a national park. They are spectacular for many reasons, not the least of which is the great variety of incredible views.

Here is one of my favorite. These pure white gypsum sand dunes sit in a deep valley west of the peaks. The mountains rise over 5000' above them in most dramatic. This is one of the most remote and quietest places in the state.

It is both a park and a place in the park I always look forward to going back to.

Texas-Like a Whole Other Country

2008-01-08T19:32:00.000-06:00

This blog will all be images from Texas. Mostly landscapes of Texas at that. And most of those will be from west Texas.

On occasion it will be something else, but I expect to have quite a few images from west of the Brazos.

I will add at least an image a week. Texas is a big place and there is alot to photograph.

Hope y'all like.