We woke up to a heavy snow cover in our campground the second morning of our visit here. We had been watching the weather forecast and expected snow over a large area, we just could not judge how much would fall at our location, which was a higher elevation than that used in the weather forecasts .
Snow in Bandelier Campground, March 2021, iPhone PhotoSnow in Bandelier Campground, March 2021, iPhone Photo
Judging by the depth of snow on the flat surfaces, it looks like 6-8 inches of cover.
After making a few early morning iPhone photos and taking care of a few housekeeping chores, I began to walk around the campground area with my DSLR.
I managed to isolate a few individual, snow covered trees against the overcast sky.
Snow covers Bandelier Campground, March 2021. Tree and Clouds 1.Snow covers Bandelier Campground, March 2021. Tree and Clouds 2.Snow covers Bandelier Campground, March 2021. Monochrome Tree and Snow.Snow covers Bandelier Campground, March 2021. Skeleton Tree in Snow.Snow covers Bandelier Campground, March 2021. Towering Tree in Snow.
As I walked around, I tried to capture a few small features in the snow covered landscape.
Snow covers Bandelier Campground, March 2021. Grass in Snow 1.Snow covers Bandelier Campground, March 2021. Grass in Snow, Monochrome.
And anything else that looked unique or interesting.
Snow covers Bandelier Campground, March 2021. Crawling Snow Covered Tree Creature.
A distant mountainside was visible through the forest and I tried to frame that in a few photographs, but the 24-70mm lens did not allow for close ups of the distant mountains tops.
Snow covers Bandelier Campground, March 2021. Distant Mountains 1.Snow covers Bandelier Campground, March 2021. Distant Mountains 2.
I think the individual trees are the best images that I captured here; but here are a few miscellaneous other images to give a feel for the general look of the snow covered forest area around the campground.
Snow covers Bandelier Campground, March 2021. Snow Forest 1.Snow covers Bandelier Campground, March 2021. Snow Forest 2.Snow covers Bandelier Campground, March 2021. Snow Forest 3.Snow covers Bandelier Campground, March 2021. Snow Forest 4.Snow covers Bandelier Campground, March 2021. Snow Forest 5.Snow covers Bandelier Campground, March 2021. Snow Forest 6.Snow covers Bandelier Campground, March 2021. Old and Fallen, Old and Standing.
It is good that I got out early to capture the snow, since it began to melt away even as I made my way back to my van. It was essentially all gone by late morning.
This post was prematurely published due to a mistake by the author, during the editing and preview process, getting my blogs out of chronological order and maybe causing confusion of followers. Consequently, I’ve made a few edits, trying to correct poor writing and/or errors and now I will republish this item and hope there are no more glaring errors. My apologies for the confusion.
After setting up in the campground at Bandelier National Monument, we drove down into the canyon to the visitor center and made a scouting hike upstream along the stream that runs through the Frijoles Canyon. Actually, the stream is referred to as the Frijoles River, even though it is usually just a narrow stream of water. I suppose at times of heavy precipitation, that little stream can become a raging river. We hiked an undetermined distance, but I’m guessing maybe about a mile along the river before turning back.
We decided that the photographic opportunities would be slim along that trail, unless there was early morning frost or maybe snow cover to provide more interest.
We returned to the canyon the next (first) morning of our stay here with our cameras, hoping for better photographic opportunities than we had seen on our scouting hike.
The park gate opening and closing times limit the access time to the canyon, so golden hour photography was not a possibility during our visit. This might not matter, since the canyon walls limit the time of the sunlight arriving and exiting the canyon. Some times of the year may be better than others.
Unfortunately, we did not get snow, nor even a heavy frost. Nevertheless, we continued hiking and trying to get a few interesting photographs. I was mostly unsuccessful in my efforts and I have chosen not to present any of the results of my attempts at creative photography here.
Early on the hike, we came upon several deer that seemed curious about us, but not concerned. I suppose they were accustomed to humans.
Deer, Bandelier National Monument, March 2021Deer, Bandelier National Monument, March 2021
A second deer, going in the opposite direction of this first one, came along and they each eyed each other in an appraising manner, before continuing on their way.
Deer, Bandelier National Monument, March 2021
There are many Native American ruins and cave dwelling in the canyon with many near the visitors’ center. Having toured those on previous trips, we continued along the trail towards a more distant ruin called the Alcove House. My son had visited the Alcove House during a previous visit, but it was not open when I was first here, so this was my first time to see this area of the park.
To get up to the Alcove House ruins requires climbing a number of ladders and steps up the canyon side.
Ladder & Sign, Bandelier National Monument, March 2021
Much of the area at the final destination is roped off, which limits photographic compositions.
Native American Ruins in Bandelier National Monument, March 2021
In the afternoon, we made a scouting hike of a loop trail through Tsankawi, a Native American area near White Rock, New Mexico that is a part of the Bandelier National Monument. Unfortunately, I forgot to bring my iPhone along, so I did not get any scouting photographs, which is too bad, since I think I missed opportunities to get photographs under a more interesting sky than we had during later visits.
Stranded with a vehicle electrical problem in Albuquerque, at least I had my Kindle Reader and other reading materiel to occupy some of my time, especially at night, when I had to stay in my vehicle.
I had a full day in Albuquerque on Sunday and I needed to find something to do. I checked a map application on my phone, looking for some place within walking distance to visit. I noted a number of places of interest, but most were long walks there and back. I suppose I could have called a Taxi, but I needed exercise, so I looked for places not excessively far away.
I found a “Wildflower Park” on the map not too far away, so I headed there. The park was much smaller than I expected and there were no wildflowers. Most of the trees were still barren, too. There was a small group of several people flying a drone around the park and a lady walking her dog.
I walked to the far side of the park, crossed a bridge over a drainage canal and checked my map app again. I found a hot air balloon park on the map not too far away. Rather than walk back through the park, the way the map directions suggested, I walked along the canal, since it appeared that could get to another street and a shorter route to the balloon park that way. When I got near the street of my destination, there were high fences on my side of the canal. I had to cross the canal to get to the street. The sides of the concrete canal were steep, but there was no water in the canal and there were iron loops set into the concrete where I crossed, which I suspect are there for emergency egress from the canal. I did not need to use those bars to walk down into the canal nor up the other side.
After a short walk, I got to the edge of the balloon park, with metal bar gates across the street entrances from my side of the park. I could either go around the ends of the barrier or step over from where I stood, so I stepped over and walked along a dirt path beside a fence until I came to a street and I could see a large building in the distance, which turned out to be the Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum.
Hot Air Balloon Museum, iPhone Photo
I paid the nominal entrance fee and went inside, wearing my mask as required. There were interesting exhibits, photographs and much information about the history of hot air ballooning in this museum.
Hot Air Balloon Camera, iPhone Photo
I used my iPhone to capture some of the more interesting and easily photographed items. There were many large displays that did not lend themselves to being easily photographed.
I captured my reflection in a number of the photos, such as the one above, but I cropped my head off in the post processing.
Poster in Albuquerque hot air museum, iPhone Photo
In the early days of hot air ballooning, entrepreneurs used them to provide entertainment, as depicted in the poster above with the young lady in the swing hanging from the bottom of the balloon basket. She seems rather scantily clad for that era.
Poster, Albuquerque hot air balloon museum, iPhone Photo
I have to wonder, if the poster above is realistic or just a come on. The parachute seems rather small and hanging onto that small handle with one hand, while dropping from 8000 feet seems rather risky. Better have a good grip and no sweaty palms.
Hot air balloon trapeze, iPhone Photo
This display contains one of the actual swings used in these balloon trapeze acts. It looks rather small, too.
When I finished my tour of the balloon museum, I walked back to the Tin Can Alley food court, where I had a late lunch, early dinner BBQ sandwich and a couple of pale ale draft beers, then I went back to my vehicle for the remainder of the day.
After trips to Colorado in September and to Indiana in October, not much else happened with my photography hobby during the middle winter months of November, 2020 through February, 2021.
Part of this inactivity might be blamed upon the COVID19 pandemic, which suppressed much activity, but I’ve found that the deep winter months with holidays and severe weather and numerous personal things that tend to happen in this interval always seem to suppress my photography activity. Each year, I have tentative plans in this interval that always seem to get squashed for some reason or another.
This year was no different. My wife and I did get out more frequently after we received our COVID19 vaccinations and I made a few iPhone images on those outings, but nothing new or exciting. We were still wearing masks and taking precautions, which greatly reduce the pleasure of being out of the house.
March of Bottles, iPhone Photo of old bottles in an antique mallWhiskey Bottles in an antique mall, iPhone Photo
In the middle of February the great Texas freeze of 2021 hit, which kept most people home for a week or so. We were fortunate that we never lost electric power, so we were able to stay comfortable in our home, unlike so many others.
Texas Big Freeze, Feb 2021, iPhone Photo
It is not uncommon to get a brief, strong cold front here, but this one was exceptional. We’ve had ice form along the edges of the waterfall from the pool spa in the past, but this is the first time we’ve had the surface of the pool freeze. There was not enough ice in our pool to cause any damage, but some pools in this area were damaged due to the frozen pool water surface.
This is a continuation of my iPhone photography in Indiana Antique Stores in October, 2020.
Pile of Cameras, iPhone Photos
I think the camera in the middle is an Argus brand. I had an Argus C3 that I acquired, when I was in high school. I do not know what happened to that camera.
There are always lots of old jars, bottles, dishes and glassware in the antique malls. Sometimes the displays make interesting photograph subjects, sometimes not.
Old Glasses, Monochrome, iPhone PhotoAn antique lard bucket, iPhone Photo
Lard was a common cooking item up until not so many years ago and I suppose some people may still use it. It was a common item in my childhood home.
Mild and Satisfying?, iPhone PhotoOld Scythes and Hand Saw, iPhone Photo
One of those tools looks out of place. I even have a rusting Sears Craftsman handsaw in my garage, that I’ve not used for many years. It does not have the carvings on the wood handle that this older one has.
Antique Bottles, iPhone Photo
More bottles and jars.
Antique Jars, iPhone PhotoAn old Automobile Service Station Jar, iPhone Photo
Was this bottle used to contain gasoline or motor oil?
Old Blue Jars, iPhone PhotoAntique Wood Spoke Ford Automobile Wheel, iPhone Photo
This wheel was still attached to an old automobile or truck in the backyard of an antique store in a Indiana small town. The blue bottles in the photo above the wheel photo were in the same outdoor space near the automobile.
A cold front blew through on one of our days in Indiana in October, 2020, bringing rain and significantly colder temperatures. The wind caused a temporary power outage in our country cabin that lasted for a few hours.
My wife had been out into the local area with relatives, visiting antique and craft stores, while I was out shooting photos. She wanted to see a few more of these places and venture further away, so we made plans to do this, during the colder, rainy weather.
I did not take my DSLR on our outing, but I used my iPhone to capture a few images of some of the items on display in the antique stores.
Antique Jars with Lids, iPhone PhotoA collection of old woodworker hand planes, iPhone Photo
I’m not much for acquiring these old items, but am intrigued by some of these items. Especially, the old craftsman type tools, maybe because I’m a bit of a do-it-yourselfer, with some experience with woodworking.
Old Woodworker Chisels, iPhone PhotoOld Carpenter Rules and Tools, iPhone Photo
I actually have a collection of old rules (and a few marking gauges, too). My rules are very much like those in the photo above. I was into collecting these years ago. I still like these old rules and I’m tempted to purchase others, but so far, I’m resisting the urge to acquire more.
Golden Wedding Whiskey Bottle, iPhone Photo
I wonder what the honeymoon was like after consuming a bottle of Golden Wedding Whiskey?
Norma Jean, aka Marilyn, iPhone Photo
Maybe with Marilyn it would still be a good honeymoon.
To find places to get out into nature and find prospective places for outdoor photography, I frequently look at maps, either paper maps or digital maps with satellite views. Using this method I found that the Yellowwood State Forest was only a few miles from the cabin, where we were staying. So I had to take time to explore that area.
There is a sizable lake in Yellowwood State Forest with a trail that goes around the lake. The first part of the trail beginning at a parking lot was not of great interest. It was sandwiched between the lake and a roadway for maybe a half mile before it began to depart from the roadway at the end of the lake.
Near where the trail turned away from the roadway, I found an old dead tree that looked like a good photography subject.
A dead tree in Yellowwood State Forest, Indiana.
On the opposite side of the lake from the parking area, a branch went away from the lake; but I continued along the trail that followed the lake shoreline. The trail became more scenic there with the lake on one side and deeper woods on the other side.
Big Leaf. Yellowwood State Forest, IndianaHiking Trail in Yellowwood State Forest, Indiana
It was a little early in the afternoon for the best light for outdoor photography, so including any portion of the sky produced unpleasant results and I did not try to use any filters, while shooting handheld. I posted a cropped version of the hiking trail image (above) on Flickr. I think you will agree that taking out the sky improved this image.
Four Left Turns. Yellowwood State Forest, Indiana.
I found the growth pattern of the vine in the above photo interesting. Why did it make those right angle turns? It eventually went up the tree in the normal direction. Maybe it got its directions from Apple Maps.
I began to look for ways to exclude the sky from my compositions. Sometimes portions of the sky were necessary to get the desired parts of the landscape into my compositions with my lens of choice, then I cropped the sky out in post processing.
Fall in Yellowwood State Forest, Indiana
There is also a cropped version, isolating the back lit leaves on the forest floor, of the image above on Flickr.
Fall in Yellowwood State Forest, IndianaA red leaf in Yellowwood State Forest, Indiana.A Toadstool in Yellowwood State Forest, Indiana.
The toadstool image here is a cropped version of one that is posted to Flickr. I thought that there were distracting parts of the original image, so I severely cropped it; but I actually still prefer the original version.
Fall in Yellowwood State Forest, Indiana
Back lighted leaf and shadows, Yellowwood State Forest, Indiana.Yellowwood State Forest, Indiana.Pink leaves of fall, Yellowwood State Forest, Indiana
The portions of my images from this trip that include the upper parts of the larger, more mature trees, show the lack of foliage on them. This would have been a much more successful visit for outdoor fall photography had I been here a few days earlier; but that is the gamble one makes, with long range planning. One has to adapt and being outdoors in natural surroundings is always a joy.
I left Ogle Lake and drove back towards the main roadway. I stopped at a pull out before getting to the main route and walked along the roadway to shoot more just off the road. As I walked beside the road I came to a trail, so I decided to take a short walk along the trail.
Hiking Trail in Brown County State Park, Indiana
The trail was covered with fallen leaves along much of the route that I walked. The trail is just barely discernible in the lower left of the image above.
Fall in Brown County State Park, IndianaYellow Leaf and Moss on an old log, Brown County State Park, IndianaLeaf and Fungi on an old log, Brown County State Park, IndianaBrown County State Park, Indiana
It was mostly overcast on this day. The dullness of the sky in the background gives the images too much of a fuzzy look for my taste; but it was what I was given today.
Brown County State Park, IndianaBrown County State Park, Indiana
My short walk along the trail turned into a longer hike than I had planned. The trail meandered through the forest with frequent changes in direction, eventually following high above a ravine. The trail followed the ravine for quite a way, then crossed the ravine, then went along side the ravine in the opposite direction. I eventually came to a junction in the trail near a park roadway. I walked out of the woods to the road. I did not know which road I was on, but I knew the direction I needed to go to find my vehicle. I walked the roadway to a junction, which turned out to be the route to Ogle Lake. I only had to walk a short distance along the road towards Ogle Lake to my vehicle.
On my way out of the park I stopped to shoot at an overlook.
Brown County State Park, IndianaBrown County State Park, Indiana
After stoping at a number of pull outs along the main roadway in Brown County State Park, I continued to Ogle Lake and hiked the loop trail that goes around the lake.
At the end of the lake nearest the parking lot, I went off the trail down to the waters edge to get this image:
Ogle Lake, Brown County State Park, Indiana
I walked along the edge of the lake towards the north until I got back to the official trail, where I stopped to photograph reflections in the lake.
Fall Reflections, Ogle Lake, Brown County State Park, Indiana
There were not many others here today, so it was not difficult to keep a safe distance from others and I only had to standby occasionally to let others clear out of my compositions.
Brown County State Park, IndianaBrown County State Park, Indiana
At least a couple of hikers asked what I was photographing. The first to ask seemed to think that there must be something special that was not apparent along the trail to photograph. The second was a photographer with a long lens. He was photographing birds and thought I must be doing the same. I guess we all have our own thoughts about what is worthy of photographing.
Brown County State Park, IndianaBrown County State Park, Indiana
As I rounded the end of the lake and began to hike along the south side, I noted some very nice reflections on north side of the lake.
Fall Reflections, Ogle Lake, Brown County State ParkFall Reflections, Ogle Lake, Brown County State Park, IndianaFall Reflections, Ogle Lake, Brown County State Park, IndianaFall Reflections, Ogle Lake, Brown County State Park
The reflections in the lake seemed to me to be the best images that I’ve gotten so far and I struggled to make interesting compositions for the rest of the hike.
Brown County State Park, IndianaBrown County State Park, IndianaGrafiti Tree, Brown County State Park, Indiana
I visited Brown County State Park on the second day of our Fall of 2020 visit to Indiana, where I photographed near a number of pull outs along roadways through the park and while hiking a couple of trails in the park.
This post will consist of the photos made near the roadway.
Dew Drops and Grass, Brown County State Park, IndianaIndiana Fall, Brown County State ParkBrown County State Park, IndianaBig Fall Leaves, Brown County State Park, IndianaAutumn Gold, Brown County State Park, IndianaYellow and Green, Brown County State Park, IndianaA Trio of Fall Maple Leaves, Brown County State Park, Indiana
