Friday, August 29, 2014

Mojave Desert-Last Chance Canyon photography...

 While meandering through the Last Chance Canyon, in the El Paso Mountains, I came across the remnants of an old mining camp.

The nearby trees and full water trough show that there is an ample water supply nearby.

Who lived and worked here?


Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Mojave Desert Oasis: Red Rock Canyon...

Another image from the interior of the El Paso Mountain range.  Again, this area of the El Paso Mountains is within the boundary of Red Rock Canyon State Park.

I was here on a very hot day, and there was no water flowing above ground.  However, these trees, along with the tall grass prove that there is water nearby.

I intend to return here in the coming months; perhaps I will see a running stream, then.

1/50th sec. @ f/20.

Monday, August 25, 2014

Mojave Desert Oasis: Red Rock State Park...

Another image from the area of Red Rock Canyon State Park that blends into the El Paso Mountains.

1/125th sec. at f/20.


Thursday, August 21, 2014

Mojave Desert Photographs: Red Rocks in the El Paso Mountains...

..... except that I converted the image to black and white.

Another image from the El Paso Mountains.

1/30th sec. @ f/16.

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Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Mojave Desert Photographs: Pink rocks of the El Paso Mountains.

A section of the El Paso Mountains Extends into Red Rock Canyon State Park.  These two images were taken on a very hot Saturday four days ago.  I placed the sun shield on the my Jeep's dashboard, tucked my water bottle in the pocket of my cargo pants, and off I went to take a closer look at these rocks.  

I have to emphasize that traveling to remote locations such as those described in this blog requires proper planning and preparation.  Death comes to those who don't respect the dangers here.  

     
1/50th sec. @ f/20.


1/30th sec. @ f/20.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Mojave Desert: Image from the heart of the El Paso Mountains..

Photograph by Scott Schwartz.  All rights reserved.

www.elpasomountains.blogspot.com

My trip to the El Paso Mountains took me to some newly-opened trails.  This image was taken along trail EP170.

The temperature was close to one hundred degrees Fahrenheit.

The desert is VERY unforgiving of those who are cavalier in their travels.

1/40th sec. @f/22.


Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Mojave Desert Photography: Mormon Flat...

The heart of California's El Paso Mountains holds Mormon Flat.

I imagine that the area is named for Mormon pioneers who probably passed through the area, and whose identities are lost to the mists of time.

The photograph was taken with a Nikon D70.

1/200th sec. @ f/16.

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Desert Photography....


www.elpasomountains.blogspot.com


Coso Mountains:  Rocks.

1/250th sec. @ f/13.

Monday, August 11, 2014

The sky's the limit, continued....

www.elpasomountains.blogspot.com

With no clouds in the sky, the photographer should capture as little of the sky as possible in the frame.

Here, only a sliver of the sky is visible in the photograph.  Compare this photograph with the images shown in my previous post.

Landscape photography tip: The sky really is the limit..

 ....because too much sky makes for a lifeless, boring photograph.  Look at the photograph on the right.  Notice that nearly half the frame is plain, blue sky.

Now, look at the photograph below.  The reader will notice that the sky occupies less than one third of the frame.  This is a little better.

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Saturday, August 9, 2014

Red Rock Canyon- upcoming trip..

www.elpasomountains.blogspot.com

Hello readers:

One week from today, I'll be exploring the area of the El Paso Mountains that is actually within the boundaries of Red Rock Canyon State Park.  I hope to have some beautiful images to share.

-SS

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Mojave Desert Photography: El Paso Mountains...

www,elpasomountains.blogspot.com

Can any of my readers tell me how these rocks formed?  How did they fracture?

1/250th sec. @ f/16.


Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Mojave Desert Photography: El Paso Mountains.....

www.elpasomountains.blogspot.com

Beyond the spidery creosote, in the distance, are the ruins of an old mining camp.  The creosote partially obscures the old structure, just as the passing years have obscured the buildings purpose.

1/250th sec. @ f/16.

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Desert Photography: More from the Coso Mountains...

www.elpasomountains.blogspot.com

After years of exploring the California desert, I've developed the ability to spot patterns which stand out.

And so it was, during a drive through the Coso Mountains, that I spotted the large jumble of rocks shown in the attached photograph.

Folks, I implore you to allow enough time, during your trips to really observe, rather than merely see.

1/250th sec. @ f/13.

Monday, August 4, 2014

Mojave Desert Diary.....Coso Mountain Ruins...

www.elpasomountains.blogspot.com

The world of four-wheel-drive.

Folks, there's more to owning a four-wheel-drive vehicle than modifying it, tinkering with, and making so many changes, that one has to have the Vehicle Identification Number decoded in order to determine the make and model of the vehicle.

An unmodified vehicle can still transport you to country that is unknown to most.

Here is a photograph of some ruins that I came across in the Coso Mountains.  My guess is that they are connected with the mining activity that once took place in this area.  Now, only ghosts remain.

1/50th sec. at f/14.