Category: Abstract

On My Own Again

After a look at some of our pictures this morning we were given a box lunch and set free to pursue our own adventures. I decided to head back up to the Blue Ridge Parkway to make my way back to the North Carolina side of the Park where I will be staying the next two nights. I stopped along the way to practice creating a forest abstract using intentional movement of the camera. I’ve been trying to get a good result with this all week and finally got one I like.

BRP1

View from the Blue Ridge Parkway

 

Forest_abstract

Forest Abstract

I then spent some time photographing along the Oconaluftee River practicing my new skills with running water. Then I stop back in at the Farm Museum to play with my Lensbaby Sweet 50 which hadn’t been out of the bag yet this trip.

OcanolufteeRiver

Oconaluftee River

Chain

Chain

Iris

Iris

Now settled into my hotel in Cherokee, I’ll set out tomorrow morning in search of waterfalls in the Deep Creek area.  

Route66

There were no photos yesterday because yesterday was all about getting from Bishop to Kingman, Arizona. And honestly, there is not a whole lot between Bishop and Kingman except sagebrush and barren mountains. And Las Vegas. What I remember about Las Vegas is five lanes of traffic going 80 mph. Then there was the Sunday afternoon traffic going home to Phoenix from Vegas. All in all, not a fun time. So glad I didn’t need to get on I-40 eastbound at Kingman. At least, I got my first taste of really good Mexican food since I left the southwest 4 years ago.

But today! TodCadillacAbstractay was all about Route 66!  There is a stretch of the old highway now maintained by the State of Arizona as AZ66 which veers far away from the interstate and passes through some towns which have dedicated themselves to preserving the history of the iconic route. I had the most fun just looking for abstracts of parts of old cars and trucks.

On my first stop I got this shot of the side panel of a Cadillac from the 1960s. DesotoThe next two, a wrecked DeSoto and the hood ornament of a dodge ram truck from the 1930s were found at the Hackberry General store which is a treasure trove of old cars, coca cola signs, gasoline signs and even an old tractor or two.

By the time I got to Seligman the tour buses had started to show up. So, I drove on through and made a vow to try again on my way back. Instead, I pushed on for RamAbstracta sneak peak at Williams where I will be staying on the first night headed back. Williams is a city that has built its economy on its erstwhile position on Route 66 and its proximity to the Grand Canyon. If you are looking for Route 66 kitsch, you will find it in Williams. I found this 1950s ford reflecting its red and white restored gas station for a great hood ornament abstract.

I made it to Phoenix in one piece and hooked up with my Road ScholarFordAbstract group this evening. I’m looking forward to letting someone else do the driving for a week. I was disappointed to learn that absolutely no photographs are allowed on the Hopi Reservation where we will be going tomorrow but at least I will be able to get some shots at the Heard museum before we head back north. Assuming, of course, we will be able to head back north given the forecast of snow in Flagstaff.