Posted by Darren Huski on January 26, 2011 at 12:13 PM
When I was out in Big Bend National Park last fall, I got a chance to complete a 3 day drive of the rough River Road in the backcountry of the park.
Big Bend has a great backroad system that takes you to many neat and out of the way areas. The River Road is some 55 miles of rough road that is high clearance and sometimes 4x4.
One of the nights I spent on the road was down along the river where thanks to loops and turns has me still in the USA but south of the Rio Grande!
This view is from my camp looking north toward the Chisos Mountains (These are Sierra de la Punta). I am south of the Rio Grande, but note it is flowing from right to left as I am in one of the loops.
The campsites here on the River Road are nothing more than a gravel patch on the roadside. No tables, no nuthin. But wow...what a view.
Posted by Darren Huski on January 26, 2011 at 12:17 PM
Here is the view of the campsite, which is just a short way from the bluff overlooking the river. Even though it was November, it was warm and the sun was hot. What better way to spend the mid afternoon tha with a cool Gatorade on the veranda (AKA shade we made ourselves)
Posted by Darren Huski on January 26, 2011 at 12:19 PM
Lastly the view from the dark night. No lights or signs of anything can be seen from here.
It's a little noisy but that is about all I can coax out of cropped sensor cameras. Also defished which is the warping of the sky.
You can see more on my blog about Big Bend
Posted by Wayne Rhodus on January 26, 2011 at 4:02 PM
The first image is wonderful Darren. Beautiful light and a fantastic comp. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by Ken Bachman on January 26, 2011 at 6:31 PM
Looks like a great place to explore, at least in Winter. I love "off the beaten track" places like that. Just watch out for those Mexican drug gangs.
I'm curious about your star picture because I'm trying to learn more about the technique, it looks a liitle soft or blurred. Is that from noise reduction or camera movement during a long exposure, (or wind)?
Thanks for sharing these.
Posted by Merle Cook on January 26, 2011 at 7:31 PM
Hey Darren, The pink in the clouds reflecting down on the entire shot makes it for me in the first one. I like the comp with the river leading the eye into the frame. I do agree with Ken - the drug gangs would keep me up at night....
Posted by Larry Fischer on January 27, 2011 at 7:36 AM
Wanderlust with a camera.
Don't get no better.
Keep it up, Darren !!!!
I like the first photo.
the fisch.
Posted by Darren Huski on January 27, 2011 at 7:36 AM
Big Bend is a very safe park. You will not find the bad guys out here.
Despite what you have heard on the news, there are only a few bad areas in Mexico. Juarez is one but right across the river is El Paso and it is one of the safest cities in the USA.
When you are out here you will not see anyone else-on either side of the river.
Ken, I am not sure about the softness. Could have been using my fisheye wide open and that is a little soft wide open. Stop it down to f/8 and its super sharp.
I just aim wide and open the camera up for 15 minutes at iso 800 or so.
Posted by Tom Kennon on January 27, 2011 at 10:35 PM
Darren, sounds like you had a great trip. Really nice photos, my favorite is your campsite view.
Discussion
8 repliesBig Bend has a great backroad system that takes you to many neat and out of the way areas. The River Road is some 55 miles of rough road that is high clearance and sometimes 4x4.
One of the nights I spent on the road was down along the river where thanks to loops and turns has me still in the USA but south of the Rio Grande!
This view is from my camp looking north toward the Chisos Mountains (These are Sierra de la Punta). I am south of the Rio Grande, but note it is flowing from right to left as I am in one of the loops.
The campsites here on the River Road are nothing more than a gravel patch on the roadside. No tables, no nuthin. But wow...what a view.
It's a little noisy but that is about all I can coax out of cropped sensor cameras. Also defished which is the warping of the sky.
You can see more on my blog about Big Bend
I'm curious about your star picture because I'm trying to learn more about the technique, it looks a liitle soft or blurred. Is that from noise reduction or camera movement during a long exposure, (or wind)?
Thanks for sharing these.
Don't get no better.
Keep it up, Darren !!!!
I like the first photo.
the fisch.
Despite what you have heard on the news, there are only a few bad areas in Mexico. Juarez is one but right across the river is El Paso and it is one of the safest cities in the USA.
When you are out here you will not see anyone else-on either side of the river.
Ken, I am not sure about the softness. Could have been using my fisheye wide open and that is a little soft wide open. Stop it down to f/8 and its super sharp.
I just aim wide and open the camera up for 15 minutes at iso 800 or so.