You have a pretty good list. Here are a few comments.
El Paso is a great central location to photograph several areas from. In many ways it is similar to Vegas in that regard. Most of the locations are landscape orientated. A few places are close enough you can afternoon them. Others can be day tripped from El Paso.
The two best will probably be White Sands and Guadalupe Mountains. Both are about 100 miles from El Paso. White Sands is manily sand (whodathunkit) and the Guadalupes have more variety (mountains, desert, sand dunes, salt flats etc) I wrote an article on them for NPN.
Both of those locations can easily fill a day and The Guads could fill several. I'd make them my top two picks. If you are a camper and hiker I'd say the Guadalupes would be an excellent choice for 2-3 days. And you can tie in Carlsbad (tripod friendly) Caverns in too.
In close to town you have the Franklins. A great State Park smack dab in the midle of town. I think they are better for hikes than great photography but when I am in El Paso on business they are a great way to spend an evening.
The Gila Wilderness is only a few hours north of El Paso and a great way to get up into elevation and away from the heat. In particular I love the drive from Deming to Silver City.
Hueco Tanks is a neat area plus has great climbing and rock art. BUT it has draconian regulations these days. You have to sit through a 30 minute movie to even be allowed in the park and then they have a visitor quota so you may have to wait several hours before you are allowed in. This used to be one of my favorite state parks, but it is such a pain now I'd skip it.
Bosque del Apache is a few hours north of El Paso and a great birdning destination in winter. Not sure if it is worth it for summertime.
Big Bend is probably too far from El Paso. You could string a trip together that went from EP to BB but at 6 hour drive it is not a day trip. The Davis Mountains would be a few hours closer and might be worth a visit.
There are several BLM areas NW of El Paso in New Mexico that might be of interest too but I'd stick to White Sands and the Guads as my top too.
I have not done anything in downtown so cannot comment. I'd avoid Juarez and skip crossing the border.
And for a taste of classic El Paso, be sure to stop at a Chicos Tacos!!!! Think White Castle goes Tex-Mex.
Discussion
1 repliesDon't post much here but just if anyone know of any cool places to photograph near El Paso?
So far I'm guessing Guadalupe Mtn, Franklin Mtns, Wueco Tanks, White Sands, Organ Mtns, Carlsbad, maybe even Big Bend.
Or even anything to do near downtown?
I'll probably head out to San Antonio and Austin also but just downtown there?
Any suggestions would be greatly appriciated.
Steve Sieren
You have a pretty good list. Here are a few comments.
El Paso is a great central location to photograph several areas from. In many ways it is similar to Vegas in that regard. Most of the locations are landscape orientated. A few places are close enough you can afternoon them. Others can be day tripped from El Paso.
The two best will probably be White Sands and Guadalupe Mountains. Both are about 100 miles from El Paso. White Sands is manily sand (whodathunkit) and the Guadalupes have more variety (mountains, desert, sand dunes, salt flats etc) I wrote an article on them for NPN.
http://www.naturephotographers.net/articles0409/dh0409-1.html
Both of those locations can easily fill a day and The Guads could fill several. I'd make them my top two picks. If you are a camper and hiker I'd say the Guadalupes would be an excellent choice for 2-3 days. And you can tie in Carlsbad (tripod friendly) Caverns in too.
In close to town you have the Franklins. A great State Park smack dab in the midle of town. I think they are better for hikes than great photography but when I am in El Paso on business they are a great way to spend an evening.
The Gila Wilderness is only a few hours north of El Paso and a great way to get up into elevation and away from the heat. In particular I love the drive from Deming to Silver City.
Hueco Tanks is a neat area plus has great climbing and rock art. BUT it has draconian regulations these days. You have to sit through a 30 minute movie to even be allowed in the park and then they have a visitor quota so you may have to wait several hours before you are allowed in. This used to be one of my favorite state parks, but it is such a pain now I'd skip it.
Bosque del Apache is a few hours north of El Paso and a great birdning destination in winter. Not sure if it is worth it for summertime.
Big Bend is probably too far from El Paso. You could string a trip together that went from EP to BB but at 6 hour drive it is not a day trip. The Davis Mountains would be a few hours closer and might be worth a visit.
There are several BLM areas NW of El Paso in New Mexico that might be of interest too but I'd stick to White Sands and the Guads as my top too.
I have not done anything in downtown so cannot comment. I'd avoid Juarez and skip crossing the border.
And for a taste of classic El Paso, be sure to stop at a Chicos Tacos!!!! Think White Castle goes Tex-Mex.
Have fun!!