Spring Break, Part III

That evening I scouted out the trailhead for Progression Panel.  I hadn't seen it since last century.

When I stepped off into the wash it was 36 degrees, but comfortable.

Gorgeous as ever.

I had about two hours there alone.  Early in the morning.  

I wanted a negative of a piece of the panel, I think.

 It was an important place.

After coming off Progression I went up the road a mile and walked in to Monarch Cave Ruin.

Shot a couple of negatives and once again had the place to myself most of the time.

Spring Break Part II

  The next morning I had a ride to River House on Comb Ridge with Steve Mulligan, and old friend of mine from Sam Houston State University.  He was taking a jeep down.  My 4-runner wouldn't have made it.

River House is a terrific ruin.  Very glad to get an opportunity to see it.

Snake calendar.

Steve Mulligan has a terrific portfolio of work called "Prehistoric Suns."  He was at River House to look at an equinox marker.

This is a doorway I had wanted to see for a long time.

Big Raven track.  Dragging that middle toe.  We also saw some Mountain Lion tracks.

Spring Break in the West, 2017

A pause from the routine during Spring Break.  I planned a trip into the Four Corners area that had several components.  First, the long slant across Texas and into New Mexico, first night at Santa Rosa, 625 miles out.

The Santa Rosa Grill in front of the La Quinta.

 Cholla in the desert

I"ve loved these signs for years, but you have to take time and be willing to work off the interstate.

   Stopped in Albuquerque to see a terrific photo show at the UNM Museum of Art.  Then on to Malpais National Monument and El Morrow National Monument to investigate artist-in-residence opportunities.  Finally, that night, I was at Shiprock.

   The next morning, with a Navajo guide I wanted to try and get up to a higher vantage point to photograph the evening shadow.

 We went right up the rock, past some favorite places.

My guide got leg cramps and we had to turn back just as things were getting interesting.

The only shot of me coming off the rock by my guide.  Now I'm kicking myself for not being more aggressive, leaving him in the shade and going up another couple of pitches.  A lot of time, effort and money to get this far, and still came up short.  I think I could free-climb most of it now, trail a rope and rappel off.  Should have explored more, but was worried about rescuing guide at this point.

That afternoon I chased dots in the desert.  Shot off the top of my 4-runner.  Film shots are closer than this....it was moving quickly.

 Then shot a nearly perfect moonrise.

The next morning I got up and worked around the rock.

Checked with old friends.

Lightning man.

  That afternoon I broke it off and headed up into Utah, settling at the Recapture Lodge in Bluff.

February 2017

Hand games.

Hat Trick.

Flower Hat.

Nautilus, Squared.

Paper bag Pistol.

Puzzle jug.

  I'd post more but I have to go process film from the last two days.

I keep hoping to be called a "passionate visionary."

But instead:

http://artdaily.com/news/93485/Acclaimed-local-photographer-Langham-turns-lens-on-Tylerites-with-TMA-s-Brickstreet-Anthology#.WJOMi7GZNBy

The Hand of Sabazuis.

In a previous life and a previous century I visited and exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston of 200 items that had just been excavated from Pompeii.  The items had a very familiar feel to them, all being "Western" art.  They were Western but pre-Christian.  They still felt like home.  Among the items was a bronze cult item, a human hand built to be placed on a staff:  The Hand of Sabazuis.  It was slightly smaller than full size with an acorn, a snake, a flame, a little seated man, et attached to it.  For some reason I never forgot it.  

  Human hands are an iconic item.  They show up on cave ceilings and historical ruins throughout human history.  I've used them in many images in the Blackfork Bestiary.  They are showing up in Magic & Logic, my kinetic still life series.  Enough to make their own show at the point.

Handful of acorns.

Snail Hand, from the Blackfork Bestiary.

Cicada Hand, from the Blackfork Bestiary.

Puzzle hand.