A Sitting Place (4)

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A Sitting Place (4)

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Guadalupe Mountains National Park, NE Texas.

One of the reasons we bought a Jeep Wrangler was to be able to get "off the beaten path" once in awhile. Recently, we were visiting Guadalupe Mountains National Park in NE Texas when we learned of a "road" leading to a historic ranch house at the base of the mountains. The "road" turned out to be a "path" of sorts that wound through gullies and dried-up riverbeds, and over some fairly large boulders. It took us over an hour to make the 7 mile journey, but when we arrived we were treating to a spectacular view of the Chihuahua Desert stretching into the distance. Thank God for 4-wheel drive! :)

This image was taken from the porch of the Williams Ranch homestead looking west into the afternoon sun. The image is an HDR composite of two images (one exposed for the shadows and the other exposed for the highlights). HDR processing was done by Photomatix Pro. Other processing (levels, sharpening, cropping, etc.) were done using GIMP.

Comments, ratings, and suggestions for improvements are always welcome!

Regards, Chris

Edit: I noticed an unwanted object in the originally-posted image, so I cloned it out.

Photographer:	X Chris O'Neill ♥ ¤ $
Folder:	Sitting Places
Uploaded:	2010-Mar-04 14:17 EST
Current Rating:	7.33/3 (Weighted rating: 7.71) View all ratings Delete my rating
Copying allowed:	No
Camera:	Olympus E-500
Lens:	Olympus 14-45mm f3.5/5.6
Lens Adapter:	None
ISO:	100
Aperture:	F9
Shutter Speed:
Focal Length:	14mm
Flash:	No
Tripod/Monopod:	Yes
Critique Level:	Dead Honest Critique

Comment/Rate Critique Guideline Share this Image

NE = SW?

Chris:

Dis your compass experience a magnetic pole reversal?

The Guadalupe Mountains National Park I know is in SW Texas.

Anyway, this is a pleasant image, quite evocative of the spirit of the landscape...wherever it is.

Best wishes...

joe

Joe Sneed HoF ♥ ¤ at 15:14 EST on 2010-Mar-04 [Reply]

NE = SW? Nope! NE = NW!

Hi, Joe: Thanks for viewing my image, commenting, and providing a rating. Much appreciated! The Guadalupe Mountains are, indeed, in the western part of Texas... silly me! They may run all the way into the southwest of Texas, but the National Park is in the northWEST about about 110 miles east of El Paso, and 40 miles south of Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico. See here for more info: Guadalupe Mountains National Park Anyway, we stopped at there more as an afterthought after spending a couple of days visiting Carlsbad Caverns just up the road. We're glad we stopped, though, because the Park is truly amazing for it's rugged but beautiful scenery. Thanks, again... Regards, Chris

Chris O'Neill ♥ ¤ $ at 16:25 EST on 2010-Mar-04 [Reply]

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A beautiful scene Chris. looks very peacefull. i think you've done a good job on the HDR (not something i've tried yet). thanks for sharing.

Thorin Croll ♥ ¤ at 18:29 EST on 2010-Mar-04 [Reply]

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Chris,

I like the photo and narrative. Your seven mile trip reminded me of trip I took in the summer of 1968 from Gotera El Salvador to Cacaopera in a forty year old bus, up a primitive road. We walked back at night and it only took us little bit longer that bus trip.

c. stirling bartholomew ♥ ¤ at 18:32 EST on 2010-Mar-04 [Reply]

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Thank you, Thorin, for viewing and commenting. Yes, it was *very* peaceful up there. We spent most of the afternoon on the journey and didn't see another soul. One interesting note... the man who built the house, Robert Belcher, built it in 1908 for his new bride. She stayed exactly one day and one night, and then left! Apparently the isolated setting didn't suit her, as it couldn't have been the view! ;)

Thanks, again...

Regards, Chris

Chris O'Neill ♥ ¤ $ at 20:45 EST on 2010-Mar-04 [Reply]

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Thanks, Clayton, for the look-see and comment. Yes, that's about what the trip was like... in many places we could've walked it faster! ;) Calling that a "road" is a big exaggeration!

It was great, though... with my wife's bad heart and my bad lungs, we're not able to do much hiking anymore. So, the Jeep is our way of getting away from the crowds. Long live 4X4! :D

Thanks, again...

Regards, Chris

Chris O'Neill ♥ ¤ $ at 20:51 EST on 2010-Mar-04 [Reply]

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didn't know Texas has a NP! LOL.... but this place certainly seems like a good place to retire?

dee vee HoF Win ♥ ¤ $1 at 23:41 EST on 2010-Mar-04 [Reply]

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Thanks, Don, for stopping to view and comment. Actually, Texas has two National Parks, Guadalupe Mountains and Big Bend, and a whole bunch of National Monuments, National Memorial Sites, etc. You're probably like me... I can name the well-known Parks (Yellowstone, Yosemite, etc.), but I'm not familiar with many of the lessor-known Parks. I'm quickly learning, though, that these Parks have ALOT to offer their visitors. We recently bought an annual pass and we're going to visit as many as we can over the next year, so stay tuned for pictures! (Wink!)

Thanks, again...

Regards, Chris

Chris O'Neill ♥ ¤1 $ at 09:46 EST on 2010-Mar-05 [Reply]

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What a magnificent place to sit and think and enjoy this vista... like your POV

Robert Melnyk HoF ♥ ¤ $1 at 18:55 EST on 2010-Mar-05 [Reply]

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Thanks, Robert, for viewing and for the comment. Yes, one could sit here for hours and watch the world go by in peace and solitude. I would've loved to stay and capture the sunset (can you image the stars at night from this vantage point?!?), but Park regulations required us to be out of the area before sunset and, besides, I don't think I would've wanted to travel that "road" at night.

Thanks, again...

Regards, Chris

Chris O'Neill ♥ ¤1 $ at 19:13 EST on 2010-Mar-05 [Reply]

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Everything is big in TX, and it shows here, great composition, I like it! :D TFS

Qvee Q ♥ ¤1 at 23:09 EST on 2010-Mar-07 [Reply]

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Hi, Qvee Q: I'm happy you enjoyed viewing my image. Thanks for your comment.

Yes, Texas is pretty big, and very diverse too. Guadalupe Mountains National Park is a desert environment, but was also drove through forests in other parts of the state. (I was amazed at the time because I always thought Texas was all desert!). As well, the people were VERY friendly everywhere we went.

In short, I highly recommend Texas (particularly GMNP as a vacation/travel destination for anyone heading that direction!

Thanks, again...

Regards, Chris

Chris O'Neill ♥ ¤1 $ at 16:12 EST on 2010-Mar-08 [Reply]