For me, as a recently retired Park Ranger, 2022 is about creating an image of myself, the future, and with the camera. I want to fill the year with travel, laughter, and fun.
Wish you could have been here to share the cloud dances on the eve of a new year. What will the new year bring, we ask. What can I expect? What image have I created for my immediate future? Right NOW, today, I am still thoroughly enjoying my desert experience, the apricity and deserquies. I see myself sharing desert passion with a small friendly group of like minded people. We are camped barely in sight of each other without blocking views. A centralized firepit, chairs, and a few small tables. After a morning meeting of the minds, each of us organize ourselves for a short ride to the end of the road and a half-mile Palm Canyon hike. Bring water, snacks, camera, and childlike wonder to this Geogypsy Journey. We arrive to the actual overlook of a side canyon shortly before noon when the overhead sun lights up the only known native Palm trees found in the state. Only one reason this is the preserved Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. (I saw a gathering, more later.)
First day of this new year and it was a little chilly especially with a brutal north wind that kept me inside most of the day only stepping out briefly for a quick yet colorful sunset. I’ve been struggling with my camera creating an image that’s consistently in focus. Seems I’ve had this problem before. Research tells me the Nikon D5600 takes about 7 seconds to focus. That’s long. I bracket my shots and it does seem the second, also darkest, is often the better focus. I usually make landscape photos, a scene that isn’t moving much, so I’m reminding myself to slow down, recompose, take a stance, keep my elbows against my body, and hold my breath for the click. Yet the camera is heavy and after a few hours of shooting I feel the burn in my left and worse shoulder, and both wrists. I want a lighter camera but that will have to wait for price drop and income increase. I’m creating that image too, a lightweight mirrorless camera around my neck. Can you see it?
I paid for those clear skies the next morning when I got up the first time to 34°, then turned the heat on before crawling back under the covers. I fell back to sleep by creating an image of me being warm. Later in the day, playing with the phone, I tried creating an image of both Sierra and myselfie. I only recently started taking more photos with my phone but I’m not finding it easy to hold still with the phone while creating an image.
Also started notes for a book idea as a Forest Ranger at Mt St Helens. So many stories. Now I’m creating an image of me actually writing the book then marketing myself doing presentations while I travel. Did get a pretty sunset.
Hope I’m not creating an image of me only sitting inside the camper all the time, surrounded by the beautiful desert nature around me. If it’s too cold that may be true. I do spend a lot of time on my laptop and that just isn’t comfortable working outside with glaring sun or chilly shade. Thank goodness for sunshine, light wind, and the camper as a wind block, so I do get out and enjoy the desert apricity. I usually sit and read, soaking up the warmth, sometimes creating an image of shorts and sandals and maybe a swimming pool. Just kidding. Even in the low 60s that’s not warm enough for me to bear much skin.
I have worked on creating an image of myself. You saw a few of my fun hats. Jewelry is also a wonderful creative expression and I have enough to open a store. I dug into packed jewelry and felt the magic of wearing some of my favorite turquoise. Used to be a most important part of getting dressed and often the deciding factor for what to wear to match the jewelry. I let it slide and now want to feel the comfort of the stones once again. I’ve always collected rocks and for years made jewelry with semi-precious stones and beads. Once I started blogging and improving my photography in 2008, crafts went out the window.
Neighbors on both sides left so I had no problem creating an image of the desert and Kofa Mountains with no white van to avoid in the frame. Yet the brilliant blue cloudless sky didn’t lend itself to creating an image until the end of the day with a touch of crescent moon.
As clouds returned, the wind slowed, and the temperatures rose, a perfect combination in my mind. Yet cold and ice in the upper atmosphere were creating an image of a morning sundog.
Wasn’t long and a new neighbor moved into my window view, at a good distance mind you. I went for a couple hour stroll going barely a mile and took over 200 photos.
I am intrigued by the twisted shapes of the dead trees that are part of the desert story for a long time.
So many desert plants look distressed and perhaps dead but are not, simply conserving energy during the driest of times. Like the fountain-shaped Ocotillo only bearing well-spaced leaves and brilliant red flowers after some healthy rain.
Late in the afternoon and just before sunset a Skoolie (school bus conversion) pulled in across the road joining a van and car. One woman in their group had an overly loud voice that carried far across the land. A prelude of more to come.
I hated to leave this (otherwise) quiet piece of desert but it was time to dump and fill the camper tanks, and I planned to return. I didn’t have to rush out in the morning so spent some extra time with Sierra. She’s never happy when I tell her, “We’re going to roll.” Not usually a very vocal cat, she gives me a dirty look, “meow”, and crawls under the bed covers until we are absolutely stopped in our new space.
Because it’s January, the busiest month in Quartzsite, I had called Shady Lane RV Park to make a reservation. The same small space I’ve parked in for years provided the hookups I needed plus the $1.50 15-minute hot shower was divine. The owners, Finius and Breezy, stopped by to say hi as we’ve gotten to be friends over the years. They are very busy at the “campiest camp in town” and I highly recommend a stay there while in Quartzsite. Make it for several days and you might get to go with them to their mining claim and climb around in the desert. Or, just follow Finius the Skinniest on FB because he’s funny.
I like Shady Lane, but it’s in town, and town is bright and noisy. One night was enough. After getting the propane tanks filled in the morning—I didn’t cuss once, good on me—I drove 30 minutes west on freeway (yuk) to Blythe for a grocery run. Can somebody explain to me why emery boards—along with mascara and fake eyelashes—would be in a locked glass-fronted case? I cooked my pizza lunch while in the parking lot as pizza just won’t fit in the freezer. Between that and a fuel stop, I didn’t get back to camp until 2:30pm. Town always feels like an all day ordeal. I need to work on creating a better image of that.
I instinctively headed to my previous campsite as I really like the view, vegetation, and only one mile of gravel road. But what the… That one Skoolie, was now a gathering of possibly 50 vehicles parked across the road in two parallel lines. Mostly vans with a few buses and RVs. OK? They were surprisingly quiet all afternoon.
Then at sunset, the music started. By 8pm there was a whole lot of whooping going on and all I heard was drum beat. I don’t want to complain as I’d be right there with them, when I was young(er), and if I’d been invited. I just hoped it wouldn’t last all night as I fell asleep to the beat while creating an image of me swirling to the beat, as the go-go girl I was 50 years ago.
OMW I’ve seen you and Sierra “nosing” on Facebook. But here above one of the images, she is looking so intently into the camera. What a beautiful lady. I enjoyed scrolling through your sky and sunset images. Dang near perfect, Gaelyn. xx Jo
Sierra says thank you meow. She knows you’re a cat woman. She is a beauty, but oh all that long fur is everywhere.
I hate the cold too. Maybe its the dark of a northern winter. I want to live a life where the Sonoran Desert is the northernmost location in winter. I’m open to South America in the winter. That way I never have to live in winter again – summer all the time!
How do you travel to the coldest place on earth? I couldn’t wear enough clothes to stay warm. I have dreamed of the endless summer forever, with just a touch of spring and fall thrown in. I’ll take South African during our winter.
I do not need t tell you how much I hate the cold, think you have heard it all before. After days of cold and wet here we have a day of cold and sun which is a whole lot better.
Love all these photos and your focus is a whole lot better than mine. I have given up with selfies I just cannot get them right. That lost sunset shot is a favourite, love it. I have still not had a chance to try photo stacking, the weather has been chronic and nothing worth taking photos of. Will get there eventually.
Keep safe warm hugs from us both. Diane and Nigel
Today was a decent temp but the wind felt cold. I do love sunshine, with clouds for interest. Stay warm, summer’s coming.
Here’s a link to the camera carrier that I now use: https://www.cottoncarrier.com/collections/skout It’s changed my life. I have a closet full of camera carry bags and systems I’ve tried. My Cotton Skout is my forever camera carrier. A little expensive but worth every penny. It’s comfortable and comes with an attached rain cover. I love your photos, keep shooting.
Thank you for the compliment and suggestion. With two lousy shoulders I don’t know how I’d ever get the strap around my back.
I like reading about how you’re re-imagining yourself and making your dreams come true. Beautiful skies — sorry it is so cold. 2022 Is really the start of more than a New Year for you. I’m wishing you all kinds of good things.
Thank you for the well wishes. It has gotten a little warmer, if out of the wind.
A thoughtful collection of photos as usual, very enjoyable. When you bracket, is the camera setup to change aperture or shutter speed? Also, a thought, it seemed my D7000 focused faster when I was A priority and set on F8-F11 range. Not sure why, or if that was my imagination. I bracket in Aperature priority, so the change is shutter speed. Both can affect the final focus. A shorter shutter speed for the darker bracket, or a tighter aperture, helps a little. I struggle getting focus right all the time, my eyes not so good these days.
Take care, Kevin
Thanks. I bracket on all settings but shoot mostly Aperature priority F8-11. I’m seeing improvement if I slow down. My eyes aren’t good enough for much manual focusing. Nice to know I’m not alone.
Wonderfully long and thoughtful post. It is amazing to be in a part of your life where you have the ability to create it as you choose. My 5600 is in the cupboard, and I rarely bring it out any more. Focus issues are always a pain in the whatever no matter the camera I think. Or maybe it is just me. Getting to love the simplicity of my Galaxy Note 20. Not the top of the line, but it sure does a great job of basically documenting memories for me. I am beyond attempting to create the perfect photo. I have more100,000 photos in my Lightroom. some good, some not so good, some just awful documentation of things I don’t want to forget. Like the blog, I now take photos to remember rather than working so hard to make something beautiful when so many more people (like you, Bob Miller, Mark Johnson, some guy that does that Adventure hiking blog, Erin, so so many do such a great job. Best to you on creating your own reality! Yeah, I still remember that mantra.
Thanks, I always look forward to your insightful comments. I no longer strive for making money off my photos, other than the calendar, but still enjoy the challenge. I feel honored to be on that list, including Tim. Phone just doesn’t cut it for much more than capturing a memory, and nothing wrong with that. I’ve always tried to create my own reality but am floundering a bit lately. Nice that I can think out loud on the blog.
Oh dear, how could I forget Timm Chapman in that group! Have you seen his photos of Iceland and the volcano, and ice and such?
I love his work!
The problem with naming names is that I miss some important ones. I’ll stop after this. Michael Gordon. Bet you know every one of these guys, Gaelyn. Each of you has your own specialty, thank goodness.
Now I’m humbled that you would think to include me in this group. Thank you.
I loved you and Sierra looking at each other and in mad hatter. All so clear to me, even after eye dilation today:) Oh, the question What image have I created for my immediate future? Mm. I think nature helps bring these searches, eventual answers. Like heaven on earth, where we are. Thank you.
Thanks. Sometimes, she’s a pretty good poser. 😉 Nature is the answer to everything. Or is that chocolate?
I like the concept of creating an image of myself and striving to be in focus in that image. I think I am mentally in that seven second phase of trying to get a clear shot of myself. Loved this post, Gaelyn!
Thanks. The focus part is hard.
See it. Be it. I had a coworker (a consistently unhappy person) say to me “Of course you’re always happy, you have a great life.” I laughed and corrected her. “I have a great life because I always choose happy.” I love that you’re creating pictures of a life to step into – both small and large. Also love those you’re capturing with your camera, and grateful you share them with us! The pics of you and Sierra are adorable – should be in next year’s calendar :-))
Thanks. I love your attitude. “See it. Be it.” That’s good. I’ve been the unhappy person and it’s not my preference.
Love the picture of Sierra kissing your nose !
Thanks. I got lucky with that one.
I learn so much from you! I have the same camera and I didn’t know it took seven seconds to focus!! And you bracket your shots? I did that when I was doing homemade hdr photos. I’ll have to start doing that again cuz sometimes gettin the exposure is hard. I didn’t think about it maybe helping focus.
And I like your concept of making images of yourself. You’d look damn good with a mirrorless camera, hell, you look damn good with the camera you got.
I always bracket and mostly use Aperture priority. Thanks, see me with a lighter camera and less soreness.
Travel, laughter and fun sounds perfect. I’ll have what you’re having please. Brutal north winds and 34 degrees excepted. I’ve had the same camera problem, different camera. Shot in best focus is darker. I’ll be interested in seeing what camera you choose. Pictures of you and Sierra are wonderful. That first of her is fantastic. What a sage she looks like. The second set looks framed. The two of you are a great duo. Also love your hat! Perfect for you. Love the idea of creating images of what you want to come into your life. Lots of folks believe in manifesting with images. Hope it works for you. But the best image for me is of you as a go go girl! ALL RIGHT NOW!!
Sure glad my north winds aren’t that brutal. If the darker photo is in focus out of three I figure it’s because the shutter was faster and therefor I didn’t have time to jiggle the camera as much. If not too dark, I can usually process it to workable. What are you using for post processing? It will probably be a while until I can afford another camera. Just bought this set up last year. The second set of Sierra and me photos is a mirror reflection. I have used the idea of creating images of my future life most of my adult life. Sometimes it works, or I change my mind. Sorry no pics of me as a go-go girl. LOL!