art, landscape, nature, photography, travel, writing

an overnighter

Another quick stop I made on the road trip was Guadalupe Mountains National Park, on the border of Texas and New Mexico.

Yet another first for me. I mean, I’ve passed this park on the long drive from Dallas to El Paso a few times, but never stopped long enough to photograph.

So, on my way from ABQ airport, where I dropped Elle off, to Big Bend National Park, I stopped to stay the night at Pine Springs Campground the Guadalupe Mountains.

I arrived after dark… so the darkened outline of mountains against a big sky full of stars were all I could see…

The Milky Way shone bright and colorful.

I got a few hours of sleep, then woke before the sun to find a spot to photograph what is called “the signature peak” of West Texas, El Capitan.

This exercise reminded me how insanely difficult it is to show up, in the dark, at a brand new location, and expect to find “the perfect” location for a sunrise shot.

I did my very best, but never really felt I came away with the image wanted. Oh well… a good excuse to go back and explore this beautiful park!

I tried several locations, and then decided it was time to move on and high tail it to Big Bend!

On the way, the ranches of the Chihuahuan Desert beckoned me to stop frequently to shoot…

I was excited and anxious to get to Big Bend. Like I’ve said before, I’ve been going to Big Bend every year for the last 10+, with the exception of 2012.

It was high time to get in a good visit to this desert/ mountain/ river paradise.

all images + content © andrew r. slaton | photographer 2013

art, film, landscape, nature, photography, travel

petrified forest + painted desert

A really great spot we happened upon was Petrified Forest National Park.

You probably won’t want to spend a week there, but it’s a fascinating and beautiful day trip at least.

They do have backcountry camping, but I would not advise it in the summer.

Thankfully, we had great clouds and summer storms to add to the already dramatic landscape.

Remnants of ancient trees litter the desert…. now huge, colorful stones that were once a lush forest.

And the painted desert! Probably my favorite section of this park, for the amazing earthen colors and big blue sky.

The historic Painted Desert Inn. Worth a quick stop. Ask a ranger to show you one of the rooms… amazing! Great views too.

a l l images and content © andrew r. slaton | photographer 2013

art, photography, random thought, travel

a look back // nyc

I woke up this morning with New York on my mind.

Not sure why. Perhaps a dream I can’t remember?

But then, while morning interweb surfing, I came across Jay Maisel workshops…. I want to go to there.

More on Jay later.

It reminded me of the amazing times I have had in New York. And then I started to remember specific images, and I wanted to see them again.

So, sorry if this nostalgic post bores you. It’s more for me than it is for you :)

Elle has never been, and I haven’t visited since 2010! So I feel a NYC trip is in order soon…

Until then, however, I’ll remember the feel of this lovely city through a few photographs I made in the past.

I believe my style has changed quite a bit since these pictures were made on my first visit to NY in 2008, but I loved the gritty feel.

It really captures the way the city felt to me.

Colorful and rich, yet grainy and rough with heavy brush strokes.

New York, to me, feels like humanity in a hyper-state of artistic realism.

A land of living contradiction.

It’s so fast paced, but at any moment, one can feel as though he is moving in slow motion.

It’s hardened and tough, yet I found strangers to be quite friendly and helpful. It’s hip and trendy… but also the oldest of old-school.

It’s graceful, and at the same time dirty.

Perhaps like a soul.

What is your experience? What about you NYC dwellers out there? Is this a more a voyeuristic, outsider-looking-in, idealistic interpretation?

I’d love to hear all of your comments… so HAVE AT IT!! Thanks for reading…

a ll images & content © andrew r. slaton | photographer 2013

art, film, landscape, nature, photography, travel

canyon de chelly // a disappearing act

When I was in college, I worked for a man who frequently raved about Canyon de Chelly National Monument in Arizona.

But I’m rarely passing through Arizona unfortunately, so it doesn’t often pop into my periphery.

On this trip, however, because of my planned route, a visit to the little known canyon that Ansel Adams photographed a half century ago began to materialize.

Crossing into Navajo country near Four Corners was a whole new experience.

The vast, open, dry plains and amazing monuments rising out of the desert floor were simply awe-inspiring.

And, at least for a while, the clouds didn’t disappoint.

But then we got to the canyon…

This ancient place was inhabited by the Anasazi first, it is believed, several thousand years ago. Until, they seemingly disappeared. Just like in Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon.

Then the Navajo moved in and began cultivating and farming the fertile canyon floor, and are still living off the land there to this day.

Since the Navajo own, and many of their families inhabit this land, it is illegal to venture into the canyon without a Native guide.

The only exception being the White House hiking trail. And since we were just passing through, and didn’t have a tour planned, we decided just to hike down.