I have worked in Photoshop for nearly 30 years.
I often have dreams of retouching the world around me, like a layered Photoshop image. Sometimes those dreams become nightmares because I'm on an impossible work deadline. That said, a vacation should be an escape from work pressures. But as a landscape photographer aficionado and full time Photoshop artist, even a camping vacation in desert wilderness becomes an opportunity to experiment with things such as galaxy photography, low light High Dynamic Range shots and large scale panoramic landscapes.
The Stars At Night
Living in Dallas, the only lights in the night sky are typically aircraft. Occasionally one can make out brighter stars and planets, but most of the horizon is obscured by suburbia. I shoot with a Nikon D7100, a good general purpose camera, but with a cropped sensor that is not the best tool for astrophotography. Still, this was my first opportunity in a while to escape the glow of city lights and capture the stars in a park recognized internationally as one of the darkest wilderness areas in the United States.
Desert Sky
The Milky Way galaxy hovers over Rattlesnake Mountain campsite, just before sunrise. This photo was one of a few taken early that morning, but has become so popular that it is now available on Getty Images.
Mars Ascending
The planet Mars rises along side the Milky Way galaxy over Rattlesnake Mountain campsite, just before sunrise. It took over a day to properly map out the planets, constellations and nebula.
Camping Beneath the Cosmos
The Milky Way sets at our campsite at the Grapevine Hills, in Big Bend National Park. The Andromeda galaxy is visible above the tent near the top of the image.
Guardian of Forever
The Milky Way rises behind Balanced Rock at Big Bend National Park in Texas. A dangerous shoot because it's only accessible by foot and we made the two mile round trip canyon hike at night by flashlight. We had bright moonlight at the beginning, but it dipped below the canyon wall before arriving at the formation.
A Long Dangerous Hike for a Single Image
I took a total of 21 exposures for this one shot although I only used three for the final image. To capture the stars behind the rock, my aperture was between ƒ3.5-4.0. ISO between 8,000 and 10,000, shutter times between 10-15 sec.
For the rock exposures, I experimented 10-15 second exposures using LED flashlights, a hand held flash but my best results came from using my friend's Yongnuo YN360 LED light bar. The light bar was able to output a brilliant yet soft light to light the massive truck size boulder.
First Night Sky Exploration
Top left, my camping pal, Trent Tidmore adjusts his camera to capture the mountains at dusk. Top center, the Milky Way galaxy arcs over the tent at the Rattlesnake Mountain campsite. Top right, another predawn image. Bottom, the western sky is full of interesting sights as the moon descends to the surrounding hills.
The Mariscal Mercury Mine
In 1900, cinnabar ore, a bright red brick colored form of mercury(II) sulfide, was discovered in the Mariscal area of what is now Big Bend National Park. The Mariscal mine, established in 1900, was built on eastern slope of Mariscal Mountain. It produced nearly 48,000 kilos of refined mercury, until it ceased operations and was abandoned in 1943.
The hundred year old ore processing buildings more closely resemble ancient Persian ruins than an early 20th century industrial complex.
The Concrete Shelters
At the base of the mountain surrounding the mine are a dozen concrete and stucco houses built as work housing for the miners between 1942-43, but never occupied. Against the morning desert sunrise, the abandoned shelters evoked a sense of loneliness and deep isolation.
Desert Surrealism
The dark shadowed walls of the concrete structures in contrast to the colorful sunrise, gave me an idea. Compositing images I had taken the evening before, onto the shadowed walls, I was able to create surrealistic landscapes.
Sunrise to Sunset
A day in Big Bend National Park.
P A N O R A M I C S
Nothing captures the sweeping majesty of a national park like a panoramic photo.
Open Road
The Chisos mountain range approaching Chisos Basin, at Big Bend National Park in Texas. This wide panoramic is comprised of 14 vertical photos, stitched together in Photoshop.
Chisos Basin Vista
The Chisos mountain range going toward Chisos Basin, at Big Bend National Park in Texas. This wide panoramic is comprised of 13 vertical photos, stitched together in Photoshop.
Big Ridge
One of countless eroded sandstone ridges at Big Bend National Park in Texas. This wide panoramic is comprised of 13 vertical photos, stitched together in Photoshop.
Ghosts of Terlingua
Terlingua Texas is a tiny, mostly abandoned ghost town just outside of Big Bend. Once part of a mercury mining operation, today it's remaining inhabitants cater to tourists.
