Tag Archives: big bend

Our 3rd and 4th days we’re spent camping and canoeing through Santa Elena Canyon. This was a captivating experience and immediately I knew it wouldn’t be our last trip.

Canyon walls framed this star shot at 3am

Canyon walls framed this star shot, cropping Orion at 3am

Light floods in over the walls and then in the next bend your floating in shadows. This presented it’s own challenges shooting with my Sony a6000 as I am using all old full manual Nikkor 25mm and 35mm prime lenses. These lenses are great for static shots, but with our boat moving and then our river partners boat moving it wasn’t easy to get the focus dialed. Thus, most of my “action” shots didn’t make it into this batch of photos. I do really enjoy the subtle cool whites these lenses achieve though, seen in the photograph below @ right corner.

My favorite co-pilot Michelle, steady’s the boat for a river portrait.

Our campsite for night 3, now bathed in morning light

Once the sun broke over the East canyon wall Kody jumped in for an invigorating morning bath

Our dry well, $15 bin, roof straps to secure & it’s the most convenient way to stow your gear.

Standing to stretch her legs, thanks for these 2 photos Kody Gibson

Each bend in the canyon offers a new cascade of light and shadow

Kody and Jenny worked together and steered their 1980’s Mohawk canoe through a bunch of fun Class I & II rapids

Scouting Rock Slide Rapid

The river walls are full of features torn into the canyon

At the canyon’s end, lines in the walls sending you out into the park.

One more entry of photographs to come, all detail shots from the trip! Check back shortly…

Santa Elena Canyon via Canoe: 4 Dias y 3 Noches, Part 1

December 14, 2016

Photography, Travel

7 Comments

Double Exposure, Spinning Eclipse

Michelle and I had done a number of extended trips on the water, but this was our first multi-day excursion in our new old canoe. Paddling through Big Bend National Park, we went from Lajitas through Santa Elena Canyon with our friends Kody and Jenny, soaking in vast starscapes, glowing canyon walls and some fun Class II water. My goal for the trip was to find some desert inspiration for photos and sketches, enjoy the company of good friends and immerse ourselves in Big Bend’s border waterway the Rio Grande.

At camp, Kody lights up the wall while firelight dances orange through the canyon.

Loaded down with our gear for a 4 day trip luckily didn’t have to make any significant portages. I had done a lot of new outfitting to the boat to ready for the trip so everything went real smooth and comfy. Organized and prepared we were able to focus on the views and relaxing. Each night our campsites continued to impress us and since we accomplished a 2-3 day trip in 3-4 days we got to spend nearly 2 whole days inside of the canyon. Camping in the canyon was an incredible experience, scroll down to see some of my favorite photos from the trip.

Starting the trip with clear skies and still water.

Setting up our first campsite at dusk

We awoke to stomping horse hoofs. Rounding our tent and then narrowly passing by this mother horse tried to distract us from her colt across the river.

Excited for day 2, our canoe was ready to float us onward

A shallow rapid awaited us at each river bend, most of which at this low flow rate pushed straight into the rivers walls. Here Kody and Jenny navigate one of the more rewarding rapids of the day near a confluence.

A shallow stony rapid awaited us at each river bend, most of which at this low 200cfs flow rate would push straight into the river’s walls. Here Kody and Jenny navigate one of the more rewarding rapids of the day near a confluence just above our second campsite.

Today as it happened was Thanksgiving, so a tasty meal of stuffing, taters, summer sausage and gravy was served up. Great way to celebrate the holiday with friends and a warm sunset.

Today as it happened was Thanksgiving, so after a refreshing skinny dip in the Rio Grande, a tasty meal of stuffing, taters, summer sausage and gravy was served up. Great way to celebrate the holiday with friends and a warm sunset.

This was my first chance on the trip to shoot some night shots, since on day one I crawled into my tent at 8PM and crashed…

I shot with a few prime lenses this trip, this one a 35mm, so tried to do my cropping by moving forward and backward of the subject. I was excited about this composition reminding me of the small scenes from the corners of landscape romanticism paintings.

Rain was in the forecast this morning, as we woke up to a light drizzle. We went on a day hike out to a bluff and a nearby slot canyon. Michelle poses with her trusty “snack pack”, cheesing it up for the camera with Jenny. Traveling with Michelle is a constant inspiration to stop and enjoy the details of what is around you. Here she teaches us about Resurrection moss and leafing Ocotillo.

Beautiful pink thorny Barrel cactus sprouts and retains water in this harsh scape

PART 2 posting soon: entering the canyon via canoe, more night shots, impressive canyon views and some sketches to share.

All shots are taken manual from a Sony a6000 with a suite of vintage 25mm & 35mm prime lenses.

Dark n’ Sunny: Big Bend

February 22, 2016

Art Projects, Photography, Travel

3 Comments

West Contrabando Dark Sky Site

We recently spent a long weekend in Big Bend soaking in the massive night skies and glowing morning sunrises out of our tent.

Lunch time view between rides, Pen and Ink, BBRSP

Love this candid of Michelle looking up from the mine shaft

Big Bend Ranch SP has an abandoned mercury mine out in the park to explore

Sun baked textures in the desert

View from Big Bend National Park Hot Springs, Pen and Ink

Everything is exposed and sun baked. Topographic features visibly exist on the mountainsides undisturbed by trees. Trails here are dynamic and range from fast flowing, to rocky scree, to jeep roads. The light is dynamic and fun to photograph and the distances enjoyable to sketch from rare spots of shade.

Michelle and her CHUMBA URSA on Crystal mtn trail, yes, those are all quartz crystals!

The mine area has some cool artifacts like this ole’Chevy

Kept my map handy in my Wanderlust Gear Rattlesnake bag, sweet patch from Everything Will Be Noble thanks to Brent Knepper!

Recent fire damage in the Big Bend Nat. Park, native plants will likely come back strong and happy with new seeds being activated by the fires to grow.

Back in the Studio

October 31, 2015

Art Projects, Travel

2 Comments

I am excited to finally have my studio together at our new home. I’ve spent the last year+ focused on sketching off of my bike during trips throughout the US and abroad in Ecuador. I’ll be continuing to seek inspiration through new biking trips coming up to Colorado, Big Bend, TX and Arizona. Some of the sketches will find their way into bigger drawings and paintings in my studio. I’ll be updating the blog with the drawings that the views inspired and a few of my favorite photographs from the trips. Thanks to CHUMBA USA and Wanderlust Gear for all the support!