Chuck Lockett Photo
Photographing America's natural places.
26-27 MAR: PETRIFIED FOREST NATIONAL PARK
Petrified Forest seems to be all about contrast, pattern, and color…and very unique terrain. The terrain itself has varied hues – ranging from white to gray to purple to red…this is paralleled in the kaleidoscope of colors in the petrified logs.
Petrified Logs Detail. Nikon D300, Nikon 70-200mm, Singh Ray warming polarizer, Gitzo tripod, Kirk BH-3 ballhead. (c)Chuck Lockett Photo
Although, I photographed several locations in the park, all the elements come together at Blue Mesa…where the terrain is almost otherworldly.
Petrified Logs at Blue Mesa. Nikon D300, Nikon 70-200mm, Singh Ray warming polarizer, Gitzo tripod, Kirk BH-3 ballhead. (c)Chuck Lockett Photo
25-26 MAR: SIDE TRIP: SUPERSTITION WILDERNESS/LOST DUTCHMAN STATE PARK
The Superstition Mountains face west…with the vibrant color of the setting sun behind me and the wonderful light on the mountains in front of me…a magical evening. The real challenge was choosing a strong foreground element – in this case a saguaro with enough clearance around it to stand out against the mountains behind.
Once the light faded on the mountain in front of me, I still had enough time to capture a saguaro silhouetted against the last glow of the setting sun to the west.
Lone saguaro against the setting sun from Lost Dutchman SP near Apache Junction AZ. Nikon D300, Nikon 17-35mm, Singh Ray warming polarizer, Gitzo tripod, Kirk BH-3 ballhead. (c)Chuck Lockett Photo.
I hiked the Siphon Trail the next morning – mostly up! About halfway, a small pool of water lay at the base of what would be a waterfall at wetter times of the year. Even so, this small pool provides an important source of water. While sitting there, the quiet was broken by a loud and rhythmic hum…how a creature as small as a hummingbird can make so much noise is beyond me. On the way down, I finally found some of the flowers I hoped for in this area.
Mexican Poppy. Lost Dutchman SP AZ. Nikon D300, Nikon 105mm macro, Gitzo tripod, Kirk BH-3 ballhead,Photoflex LiteDisc diffuser. (c)Chuck Lockett Photography
MAR 25: ON THE ROAD
I spent the night in the BOQ at Davis Mothan AFB in Tucson. My 4Runner is clean, my laundry is clean, and I’m clean…and ready for the next stage of the trip. The DV Quarters where I’m staying are decorated with some great landscape photos of this area – many from locations I plan to visit. I wish I had the opportunity to talk to the photographer.
MAR 24-25: SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK
To me, Saguaro NP is all about the namesake cactus and intimate landscape. I photographed the west section in late afternoon to past sunset. From about 4PM, the light was magical, imparting a warm glow to the west facing landscape and sharply defining the green saguaro against the reddish hillsides. The sunset was the best of the trip so far. The following morning, I photographed the east section of the park. Again, wonderful morning light. I particularly enjoyed the ravines and washes along the Rincon Mountains. I scrambled over lots of rocks to get to photo spots, and although early in the day, rattlesnakes were on my mind…no joy and no snake photos!
Just after sunrise from Cactus Forest Drive in the Rincon section of Saguaro NP. Nikon D300, Nikon 17-35mm, Singh Ray Warming Polarizer, Gitzo Tripod, Kirk BH-3 Ballhead. (c)Chuck Lockett Photography
MAR 24: ON THE ROAD
I dropped Dave off at the El Paso airport after a great week of catching up, reminiscing, giving each other grief – and some photography – just being brothers. The trip from El Paso to Tucson AZ was a trip through a Louis L’Amour western. As a reader of the late western philosopher, I recognized many of the town’s names and associated terrain from his novels – Lordsburg, Shakespeare, Animas in NM; Bisbee, Oracle, and Tombstone in AZ. I arrived in Tucson in time to photograph late afternoon and sunset at Saquaro NP.
MAR 23: ON THE ROAD
Not much to note in the drive from Big Bend to El Paso. We did pass one “unusual” building. Imagine a highway passing through flat, desolate terrain broken up by a few towns like Alpine and Marfa TX – and then seeing this building. I was so surprised that I had to turn around for a second look and a photo. With two daughters, Prada means something!
Prada and the middle of west Texas somehow doesn't fit. Nikon D300, Nikon 17-35mm. Hand Held. (c) Chuck Lockett Photography
We had lunch at Chuy’s in Van Horn, TX…a landmark restaurant frequented by NFL John Madden on his cross country bus tours. Excellent food and thanks to my food expert neighbor for the recommendation!
Chuy's...an icon since 1959...Great food in Van Horn TX. Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5. (c) Chuck Lockett Photography
MAR 19-23: BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK
Some of the same weather, in terms of wind, plagued us early at Big Bend NP. By the second day, the wind died and the clouds cleared to blue skies during the day and star filled skies at night. With almost zero ambient light, the night sky was incredible…with Jupiter and Saturn burning brightly. My impression of Big Bend is one of remoteness, stark beauty, and incredible diversity…from the Rio Grande River basin and Santa Elena Canyon, to the rugged deserts to the higher altitude Chisnos Basin. We spent the first few days photographing and hiking in the lower elevation desert areas…along the river and Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive. We moved for the final few days to the Chisnos Basin, at 5000 plus feet, a greener and cooler environment. On the final morning, we photographed sunrise at one of the parks iconic locations – Balanced Rock.
Sunrise at Balanced Rock. Located at the end of a 7 mile dirt road (drivable) and a mile hike on a well-marked trail, Balanced Rock is one of the most photographed subjects in the park. Requires some scrambling for the best tripod spots. Nikon D300, Nikon 17-35mm, Singh Ray Warming Polarizer, Gitzo Tripod, Kirk BH-3 Ballhead. (c)Chuck Lockett Photography
MAR 17-19: GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS AND CARLSBAD CAVERNS NATIONAL PARKS
Although Guadalupe Mountains NP appears to be a great location, photographically we didn’t have much opportunity due to the weather. We experienced the southern edge of a storm system that dumped 18 inches of snow to the north. At Guadalupe, this translated as high winds (60 mph gusts reported) and wet snow. On the only clear afternoon, the day we arrived, the light was fairly weak. This park deserves a future repeat visit.
We did make a side trip to Carlsbad Caverns NP, about 40 miles north, in New Mexico…Fascinating underground topography. The National Park Service has done a great job of using lighting to showcase the accessible portions of these caverns.
Whale's Mouth. The National Park Service has done a great job with lighting of the features in Carlsbad Caverns. You can almost imagine Captain Ahab facing down this whale. Nikon D300, Nikon 17-35mm. Hand Held. (c)Chuck Lockett Photography
MAR 15-17: ON THE ROAD
After 2/12 days of travel, mostly through Texas, I’m ready for some photography. I picked up my brother, Dave, in El Paso this morning and then we’re off to Guadalupe Mountains National Park. We should be there in time to shoot our first sunset of this trip.
Flickr Photos
Chuck Lockett Photo 