Petrified Forest – Almost Over

Posted on September 22, 2012 by Rich

The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. – Marcel Proust, Remembrance of Things Past

Today is Saturday, essentially the next to last day at Petrified Forest. Tomorrow morning I will make one last dawn trip to Blue Mesa, then clean the cabin and pack up, leaving early Monday morning for Sorrel River Ranch in Moab, UT. Today I probably won’t shoot much, but will spend time looking at what images I have taken, try to figure out what I have missed, and cover that tomorrow. [Between drafting this last night and posting this morning, I got some good shots of a 3 foot gopher snake right in front of the cabin.  Although we saw some during the road survey, this was live and in its natural habitat.]

I haven’t spent much time off the beaten path in the dessert with the exception of Blue Mesa and the Painted Desert below the Inn. Early and late are the key times, midday the light is uninteresting or unpleasant, being contrasty and glaring. Also I noticed that as the day goes on the air seems to get hazy, so looking out to bluffs toward the horizon doesn’t work.

Did some wide angle images yesterday, getting right down on the ground to put big chunks of petrified wood against the formations. Some of them may have worked.

In general I am finding that after about two weeks at these parks I have exhausted my immediate ideas, and hit the high points, and would either need much, much longer, or need to leave for a while and then come back in few months. There are some physical limitations as well – I know there were opportunities on the higher peaks in the Rockies, but it was just beyond my capabilities – although I am slowly improving my physical condition. I would consider returning here in the future as this is actually a good season to be here. I caught part of the “monsoon” season and got some rain, rainbows, and a little of the dramatic skies, but there were only a few days with “interesting” weather.

Although I am making an effort to post more consistently, I probably won’t post Sunday or Monday, but hope to have something new from Moab on Tuesday.

 

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Road Cruise Amphibian and Reptile Survey

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Rich

Had a good time on the road last night with Andy and Margaret.  We found a Hopi (Prairie) rattlesnake, several gopher snakes and a Chihuahuan night snake.  Unfortunately several of the gopher snakes and the rattlesnake were mortally injured by cars and needed to be put down — very disappointing.  We also found numerous small live Plains spadefoot toads and a Mexican spadefoot.  We saw several squashed horned toads (which are actually lizards).  Andy collected environmental data at the start, turnaround and end for this ongoing study.  Various live traps and other studies supplement this information.  We left at dusk and returned after a full circuit of the park road around 11 pm.The gopher snake was the most commonly found snake last night. It looks similar to the night snake but can be readily distinguished because the nightsnake has spots behind the eyes.

The spadefoot toads have spurs on their hind legs that they use to burrow backwards into the soil during the winter.  They can puff themselves up to convince predators not to eat them.  Altogether a very enjoyable and interesting night.

 

 

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A Little Behind the Scenes at Petrified Forest

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Rich

I do not understand how anyone can live without some small place of enchantment to turn to.  —  Majorie Kinnan Rawlings, Cross Creek

My first and only required presentation for this park went OK, but only 4 people attended, one of whom was the other resident artist. The presentation was on my photographic influences, but I added a section on technology — stacked focus and diffusers — hoping it might be useful.  Afterward, Matt took me and Anna Marie (the other resident artist) on a tour through “collections” of fossils and specimens. Matt is a paleontologist who curates the various fossils and artifacts and prepares various presentations and public materials. Really fascinating work; he was very generous with his time considering his workload.

We also met Andy the wildlife biologist. I will be going out with him and someone else for a “road survey” tonight from 6 until they stop finding animals. Many desert animals are nocturnal and/or come out to warm themselves on the road. I haven’t seen much wildlife during the day, so I hope to capture some at night. Depending on how many animals they encounter, could be out until 1 AM…won’t be getting up for dawn light on Friday. Also found out that they have images of many of the local flowers, which will really help with identification.

Increasingly I think I am tending toward simple graphic images of the red formations: black shadow, red crumbly rock, and bright blue sky. Somewhat reminiscent of Namibian dunes.

 

 

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Mid-point Evaluation

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Rich

You only get one chance. You have one journey through life; you cannot repeat even one moment or retrace one footstep. It seems that we are meant to inhabit and live everything that comes toward us. – John O’Donohue

I am now slightly more than halfway through the three awarded residencies for this year (Rocky Mountains, Petrified Forest, and Homestead) and it is probably time for a little reflection on what I have accomplished and what opportunities I may be missing. A private week long workshop/residency at Sorrel River Ranch in Moab, UT next week will give me a shot as some scenes in Professor Valley, as well as another shot at Arches.  (Big Cypress Swamp in Florida is scheduled for early next year.)

I left home on August 8: What have I accomplished in the last 6 weeks?

I have taken approximately 4500 photographs primarily distributed between the two parks with residencies and several nearby parks (Arches, Mesa Verde, Canyon de Chelly). I have driven 4600 miles, spent $655 on gas and almost $3000 in total.

Geographically and culturally I have developed at least a superficial understanding for parts of Colorado and Arizona, and a slightly deeper feeling for two major national parks, particularly the smaller Petrified Forest. Looking at pictographs of the various southwestern Pueblo peoples I have felt some of the mystery, their generally peaceful way of life, and a little sensibility for their culture. A visit to the Georgia O’Keefe museum in Santa Fe was interesting and really points out that I should spend much more time studying art in general and not just photography.

My Rocky Mountain project, to compare current scenes to archival photographs of the same scenes from the time of the Park’s dedication, found nothing major: basically the Park has been successful in preserving the environment and habitats, but was interesting to me personally. I will prepare a report for the Park on the project based on the powerpoint presentation I gave as part of my public interaction deliverable. Participation in the BioBlitz and some discussion with folks from iLCP was exciting, and Clay Bolt’s “Meet Your Neighbor” is a possible future direction for at least a part of my photography. Reviewing the RMNP images, I think that I have developed a reasonable body of work representative of the season, this particular year, and the more readily accessible areas. What is missing but was at least theoretically possible, is a much better survey of fauna and flora, and views from some of the higher individual peaks, although I did find the alpine/tundra areas impressive and photographed several times, I still feel it is superficial, but also limited by the season. I am preparing an “ecological composite” image for the Park, but I am not really satisfied with its artistic merits (comments on the work in progress below are welcome) and will probably offer the Park a choice of some individual images as the required submission for one piece of art.

Colors and shapes dominate my photography at Petrified Forest. Yesterday evening in the Painted Desert, the contrast between the blue sky, red butte, and nearly black shadow was very striking. The layering of eroded cliffs at Blue Mesa and dawn across the desert are all valuable personal experiences. Perhaps the most urgent need is to evaluate what I need to add to the Petrified Forest work while I still have the chance. I would like to capture at least some wildlife. I think I also want to do more work from the desert floor, rather than looking down from the canyon rims.

Professionally, I was in the right place at the right time to participate with a reporter and picture editor from a major eastern urban newspaper on an article on colors that might lead to some photo credits and a little cash. There may be an opportunity for a guest submission to an Albuquerque gallery and an article about my residency was published in the Estes Park Gazette. Adding additional residencies to my resume is a good thing (acceptance seems to range from less than 10% at RMNP up to at least 25%) as is adding extensively to the geographic extent of my portfolio.

(Take these map locations with a grain of salt.  Although taken with a Nikon GPS directly connected to my camera, it showed locations in Montana and South Dakota, places I haven’t been.)

Over the next five days, I need to spend more time talking to Park Rangers and getting ideas on what I have missed. Comments on what I have done, what you would like to see, and your ideas are welcome.

 

 

 

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Painted Desert Inn

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Rich

Yesterday I focused on housing: the Painted Desert Inn and the “cabin” where I am staying. The cabin is more than roomy enough for 1. There is a desk and a folding table in the bedroom/work room, and a small kitchen. There is a little utility room with drawers and cabinets, that I could use for clothes if so inclined (I tend to live out of suitcase and duffle).

The Painted Desert Inn is right across the street and has a significant history associated with Route 66. Originally built on bentonite clay, the foundation was unstable and it was renovated several times and once papers were signed for it to be demolished, but it got a reprieve. One of the more interesting aspects are the murals painted by Hopi artist Fred Kaboti.  

Lunch room and soda fountain.  There were also slot machines at one time.

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Sorry I have been so inactive – Hopefully these images will make up for it.

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Rich

Sorry I have been so remiss about updating.  I can rationalize that it is two miles each way to get email access, and the room I work in is a mail room that doesn’t really lend itself to creative thinking.  Nevertheless I am grateful that the Park provides internet access at all.

I have been doing a lot of shooting at Petrified Forest.  The shapes and colors are fantastic early and late, but the colors are washed out midday.  I think that Blue Mesa in the southern part of the Park will turnout to be my favorite area.  There is a trail that leads down into the canyon and you can wind your way around the layered buttes – it is like Alice in Wonderland – huge multi-colored buttes towering over you and around each corner. I went in the evening yesterday, but morning seems to be better.

The historic Painted Desert Inn (which is now just a landmark and no longer functions as an inn) is right across from where I am staying.  Two great trails start there:  the Rim Trail runs parallel to the road right at the rim of the canyon, giving a great view into Painted Desert (good morning light).  The Wilderness Trail runs right down into the Painted Desert, which in this area is a Wilderness area, meaning no vehicles, pets or facilities: only great view and colors.  I walked down to the canyon without camera, but didn’t stay long because it was getting late, but did shoot later from part way down the trail.

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Pueblos

Posted on September 6, 2012 by Rich

I don’t know if it is the light, the structure or the adobe brick, but there is really something special about the remains of these ancient communities. Looking out from the  Long House pueblo down a canyon that probably hasn’t changed substantially in 900 years, even with a crowd of people around, you could almost imagine yourself as part of that community, waking to the quiet of the canyon and thinking about getting adequate water or weeding your little patch of squash and beans. One thing I learned that I hadn’t anticipated was that at the back of the cave was a water seep, probably one of the reasons it was selected.  Apparently, water seeps through the sandstone above the structure until it hits an impermeable layer of shale, which forced it out behind the buildings.

At Antelope Canyon, you can see round “kivas” which are believed to be ceremonial areas.  In some canyons there were apparently communities as large as a thousand people.

The actual rooms where people lived were actually quite small, even given that stature was generally smaller than modern day people.  Although a few people may have lived to as old as 60 years, average life span was probably closer to 30.

Breeding usually started young and mortality from childbirth was high. Also, they ground corn into flour between two stones (mano and metate) and their flour had a lot of sand in it, which ground down their teeth relatively quickly.  

An important part of the Native American cultural record are petroglyphs scratched or pecked into rock faces.  Most are on cliff faces, but this one was on a boulder sitting on the ground off of a dirt road in Kane Canyon. It shows a birth, which is apparently uncommon; animals and hunting more generally are depicted.  Like these from inside Arches National Park.

The southwestern native American evolution of cultures is really fascinating and worth a visit if you should ever get a chance.

 

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Rocky Mountains to Arches

Posted on September 2, 2012 by Rich

From the mountains to the desert.  Returned for a second time to the alpine area.  At the top of the Tundra Trail going up from Rock Cut, it was like being on the top of the world. The tundra fell away in all directions, with huge puffy clouds seemingly just above your head.  With the high altitude it was difficult slogging uphill.

Forest Canyon overlook also had some really good views.  

Terra Tomah mountain bordered the canyon with Hayden spire, and an adjacent glacial cirque. The cirque was smaller, and I couldn’t get as good a picture, but here are the mountain and spire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the mountains to the desert of Moab, Utah at Arches National Park.  It is all about the light here.

But the best light might last only five minutes.  Delicate arch is to the left; this was taken from the high overlook.

The gossips are lit in the morning, but here they were in shadow from another butte, while the surrounding area was lit with early sunlight.  You can see where the light just catches the “head” of one of the gossips.

 

 

Heading to Mesa Verde tomorrow.

 


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Project, BioBlitz and iLCP

Posted on August 25, 2012 by Rich

My Artist-In-Residence Program project proposal was to compare landscapes from images taken around the the time of the Park’s dedication in 1915 to the same landscapes today.  Interesting project for me.  Changes really aren’t extensive, mostly reforestation, and some succession from grass meadows to shrubbery.  Generally less snow cover on peaks, but that could be due to minimal snow fall last winter and a warm spring and summer as much as to climate change.

BioBlitz is neat; second session this afternoon.  In a BioBlitz, scientists and helpers do a 24 hour diversity study, finding as many different species as possible.  National Geographic and the iLCP (the International League of Conservation Photographers –  www.ilcp.com ) are participants with many local scientists.

Six iLCP members gave a very interesting presentation in the evening. Although the imagery was great, there was more focus on the conservation activities, including projects on fishing cats in Thailand (Morgan Heim, Colorado), the impact of the border wall on wildlife at the Texas/Mexico border (Krista Schlyer,  DC), working on conservation projects with young people (Kevin Fitzpatrick, Asheville, NC), highlands and frogs in South America (Joe Riis), human wildlife interactions (Karine Aigner), and macrophotography combined with an international net-based program at www.meetyourneighbours.net (yes the “u” is correct and it is net not com), that explores the more common animals and plants that you can see in your neighborhood.

Good mix of real science with public education and fun.  I did a workshop with youngsters on “Create a Creature”  a lesson on adaptation that seemed particularly appropriate to activities on biodiversity.

Finally got some decent light and skies after a storm.

Hallett’s Peak from William White Cabin, Rocky Mountain National Park.

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Elk

Posted on August 19, 2012 by Rich

These are some of the elk that caused the elk jam.

Elk are too common in the park and have caused significant damage to aspen and willow trees. During the winter, the elk scrape the bark for food, and can girdle the tree, killing it.  In some areas, 30 acre exclosures keep the elk out so the trees can recover.  There is about 18″ of ground clearance so small animals are not hindered.  Below is an example of aspens damaged by winter elk browsing.

 

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Small Wildlife

Posted on August 19, 2012 by Rich

Golden mantled ground squirrel, least chipmunk and Clark’s nutcracker.  The ground squirrel and chipmunk are really fast little rascals.  They are very used to people and show little fear.  One practically ran over my feet the other day.  It was so fast, I am not sure which of them it was.

The Clark’s nutcracker and Stellars Jay are both about the same size and fairly common.  I am still looking for a good image of the jay.
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Elk Jam

Posted on August 16, 2012 by Rich

I gave my first (of two) presentation last night.  About 80 people attended and it seemed to go well. Yesterday I really got out to shoot a lot more.  The haze from forest fires is noticable, and nothing at a great distance (like mountain peaks) seems really sharp.  Not much I can do about it.  For the project to compare scenes photographed in the 1920’s, about the time of the Park’s dedication in 1915 to the same scene today, I finally managed to locate two.  The historic images often aren’t well documented, but with some local help, I matched up to two USGS images.  Will post more images after they are reviewed and documented.

Experienced my first “Elk Jam” today — When an elk herd grazes by the road, everyone stops for a peek and a photo until the road backs up.  Just like rubber-necking at home.  More pictures on Sunday.

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Initial images

Posted on August 14, 2012 by Rich

On Sunday afternoon there were tons of wildlife:  two deer, a coyote that looked at my car as if to ask “where the hell did this come from,” a hummingbird, a chipmunk and a ground squirrel (looks like an over-sized chipmunk, but was so fast I only got a blur). This is probably a mule deer. Two of them stayed and ate and chewed on the hill leading up to the cabin.Mule deer

Longs Peak

 

 

 

 

 

Longs Peak is the view directly from porch.  There are at least 16 major peaks.  I did a panorama, but need to re-do as there is too much haze.  The haze gets bad in the afternoon.  This was taken right after sunrise.

 

 

This is the cabin where I am staying.  It is down Bear Lake Road from the Moraine Park visitors center.

William White Cabin

William White Cabin.

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Day 2

Posted on August 9, 2012 by Rich

Understanding must move with the flow of the process, must join it and flow with it.
—  Frank Herbert, Dune

Left Wednesday morning 8/8/12 as scheduled.  Made it to London, OH that night and on to Columbia, MO tonight.  I am a little surprised that I am not impatient with the driving, or having difficulty staying alert after driving all day.  I guess that having made the commitment to drive for 3-4 days there is no sense getting impatient because the delays are minor relative to the total trip.  I am excited about getting to RMNP and at this point I am making sufficiently good time I may have an extra day in the area.  Any recommendations for locations in the Denver area to photograph before going on to RMNP?

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An Encore Career

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Rich

“A beginning is the time for taking the most delicate care that the balances are correct.” —  Frank Herbert

I am starting this blog as I begin a new chapter in my life. Newly retired, writing these thoughts out will help to define the remainder of my life journey.

This blog is primarily about my photographic journey, but I hope it will be about more than just taking pictures. The directions I take reveal what is important to me and how I perceive the world. It is also a transition from having a job where expectations were defined by others or my understanding of those expectations, to having sole and complete responsibility for how I spend my time. Thus it is also a case study on retirement. Not least, with a Ph.D. in ecology and more than 20 years with a state environmental agency, I hope that through my photography and more directly, I can continue to make a contribution to conservation of natural areas, wildlife habitat and species diversity.

In a little more than a week I will be heading to Colorado to begin the first of four artist residencies I have been awarded by the National Park Service. The “journey” will be quite literal for the next six months as I travel to Rocky Mountain and Petrified Forest National Parks, Homestead National Monument and Big Cypress National Preserve in Colorado, Arizona, Nebraska and Florida, respectively. A private residency in Moab, Utah between Petrified Forest and Homestead also seems likely.

During this time, I hope to better define my photographic vision and style, and set the stage for a second career that combines artistic perceptions with technical skill and ecological knowledge.  I will not always have web access, but hope to post at least three times per week.

I hope my family, friends and colleagues will follow my journey, and what follows, and share their thoughts with me as I go down a new road. If my photography is at all successful, perhaps they will vicariously share the beauty of sunrise on the mountains or desert, the marvel of diverse animals, and the wondrous complexity of natural systems across the country.

 

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