Ready for Spring
I am ready for Spring. We've survived Snowpocalypse 2021, I took the Moderna vaccine (the second shot kicked my arse), and now I'm ready for things to warm up. This has been a challenging last few months, and I'm hopeful we're rounding a corner. I'm not as hopeful for the upcoming bluebonnet season. The lack of rainfall this past autumn and winter has not helped with spring's blooms. On our land, we have about 1/3 of the rosettes we usually have. The good news is that for those seedlings that sprouted, nearly all seemed to have survived the single-digit temperatures from a few weeks ago. Many of our oak trees were not so lucky, and we've been pruning the dead and broken branches the past several days.
From the Snowpocalypse of February, 2021, ice hangs on the leaves and branches of a frozen tree in the hill Country.
I was supposed to be at Big Bend this weekend, but the first game of my daughter's soccer season was moved up to this weekend, and I wanted to be at that (they won 7-1). I was looking forward to getting out and shooting again, but alas, I'll hopefully get out next week.
In the meantime, I've spent time perusing work from the past few years. In a nice surprise, I found a sunset photograph from the top of Lost Mine Trail in Big Bend National Park. It is an easy 5-mile round trip to this look-out, all of it a gradual slope. From here, Casa Grande Peak rises into the sky and Juniper Canyon stretches out far below:
Casa Grande Peak in Big Bend National Park rests under a cold, December sunset. Seen here from the end of the Lost Mine Trail, this landscape shows the stunning scenery of this remote Texas park. It was a beautiful evening.
A few more photographs from Big Bend include one from the unmarked Tornillo Flats. The first one (below) shows one of the hidden hoodoos at sunset:
After a short walk down a wash and across a portion of the desert just north of the Chisos, a series of hoodoos stands along in the Tornillo Flats. I've never seen anyone in this area of Big Bend, but the views from out here are pretty incredible in a rugged, isolated sort of way.
And this image takes in a view overlooking the Rio Grande River as the Chisos Mountains are silhouetted by the setting sun in the distance:
With the Chisos Mountains rising in the west, the Rio Grande ambles its way east thorugh Big Bend National Park as it divides Mexico and Texas. This image of this amazing place was taken from the east side of the park on a cool March evening.
One of my favorite state parks, Palo Duro Canyon, always has so much to offer. One of the iconic hikes in the park is the Lighthouse Trail, an easy 6-mile round trip walk through a wide red-rocked valley. This single hoodoo stands as a sentinel at the end of the hike. The views from up here spread out across the valley, and if you stay until sunset, you'll likely have the place to yourself.
From a rocky trail just west of the iconic Lighthouse hoodoo in Palo Duro Canyon, this view shows the soft pastel colors of a late Autumn evening in the canyon. The trail is easy and scenic and the views spectacular in this gem just 30 minutes from Amarillo, Texas.
Last, a bit closer to home in the Hill Country, the Pedernales River winds through a valley of limestone at Pedernales Falls State Park. The sun's last rays of light and color light up the evening sky.
From a cliff high above the Pedernales River, this view shoes a beautiful bend in the river's path as it winds through the hill country. In the distance, the last rays of sunset rise into the quickly fading sky.
One last photo which has been modified through the brilliance of photoshop is a landscape from Big Bend. The sky and moon, if you looked hard and long enough, almost resembled a Texas flag. I had a client asked if I could work with it to bring out the flag look, so here is what I came up with:
From the eastern slope of the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend National Park, the full moon fades in the cold November morning. In the foreground, an ocitillo and prickly pear cactus are ready to stick anything that walks by.
The sky resembled the Texas flag, and upon a client's request, a little digital manipulation helped the appearance of the flag and the colors more apparent.
I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe. Even though I'm fully vaccinated, I'll be wearing a mask to help keep others safe. Have a good month of March!
Safe Travels, Texas.
~ Rob
Casa Grande Peak in Big Bend National Park rests under a cold, December sunset. Seen here from the end of the Lost Mine Trail, this landscape shows the stunning scenery of this remote Texas park. It was a beautiful evening.
