Why I am here .. in the wilderness .. to capture this .. for you

[DemoTex]

"Be Still My Heart"



Perhaps, the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen. No camera on earth could do it justice. The color was a 360-degree phantasmagoria of color and hue. I shot this (and about 100 more frames) with a Canon 5D MK3 with a 14mm f2.8 lens. I had to bump the ISO up to 500 to get out on the rock and do hand-held. This was at about 7:25 PM local time in south Arizona. I had Natasha Paremski playing Rachmaninoff's "Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini" playing during this whole incredible sunset.

I also had some good sunrise shots today, but I will not attenuate the effect of the sunset shot with those. I'll post some more tomorrow.

[Sissyk]

1. Another gorgeous shot from you, DemoTex!

Please keep them coming, and I hope you are doing well out in the wilderness.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Omigod, my dear DemoTex...

That is just stunning. STUNNING.

Thank you for sharing it with us...

[Tansy_Gold]

3. They will take your breath away, DemoTex

I've been here almost 30 years, and the Arizona sky still astonishes.

I hope you're enjoying your stay here.

[DemoTex]

6. They tell me it gets better as monsoonal moisture arrives.

This color is due to: 1. moisture and thin clouds coming in on a strong SW flow (with a Red Flag tomorrow); 2. Sonoran dust kicked up on that flow, and; 3. drift smoke from Mexico.

Looks like when they run that Red Flag up the pole tomorrow (and, probably Tuesday) I'll have to salute it. That means losing a day off or two. That's OK.

[Tansy_Gold]

13. Monsoon clouds

can be like nothing you've ever seen before. Sometimes they seem to be alive.

And the lightning? That's when you'll get photographs --- unless you're watching for fires!

[DemoTex]

28. I'm here for lightning

And star-scapes.

[William769]

4. Beautiful!

Thanks for sharing.

[elleng]

5. THANK YOU!

[DemoTex]

10. No elleng, THANK YOU!!!! PERFECT!

That is it! Maybe I should do my own YOUTUBE? But, if you never have, listen to the other movements of that great work too! Funny how in sync we all seem to be at DU, eh? Imagine a Tea Party group even knowing what we are talking about! "Rachmaninoff .. ain't he some commie?"

[elleng]

18. I'm certainly familiar with the whole piece,

but the pic was apropos!

VERY glad you're where you are! HERE's one of where I am, early morning sun reflecting on a BIG old tree, river in the background, southern MD:

[DemoTex]

22. I figured you knew the whole piece.

Have you been in Maryland for a while? I lived in Alexandria (Old Town), VA, for quite some time. So I kinda know the area.

[elleng]

25. Moved to DC in '78,

married + kids, + moved to MD in '06.

[Generic Other]

7. Always love your photos!

What a life!

[spanone]

8. thanks Demo Tex

[merrily]

9. Thank you, both for sharing that beautiful sunset with DU and for

using phantasmagoria. I don't think I've ever used that word, but, now, I'll find a way to work it into a conversation.

I live on the east coast, where I've seen some beautiful sunrises on the ocean and, in some parts of Cape Cod, some gorgeous sunsets on the ocean, too. But, the most beautiful sunset I ever saw was from a rooftop of what once was a small Coca Cola plant in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

There's just something special about the sunsets in that part of the country.

[Beartracks]

41. +1000 for Santa Fe sunsets. n/t

[Botany]

11. Thank you for the pix .....

..... your new friends in Arizona are already looking out for you.

[DemoTex]

19. HA! The puma followed me from the Deschutes NF in Oregon!

Seriously, they are near. But they are feasting on the bighorn sheep that were re-introduced into the Pusch Ridge Wilderness to my west. Half of those sheep are gone now. Would I like a photo like that in my portfolio? Hell yes. Did that cat eat the photographer? I doubt it. Will I seek photos like that? Absolutely. I'm 66 and pushing some limits. I find myself on rocks that I would not have done - not dangerous or technical - but now I want the photo. Like Weegee said (Arthur "Weegee" Felig): "f/8 and be there." The "BE THERE" is the operative portion of this photographic advice from the great street photographer.

I was just explaining to a friend in Bend (OR) tonight why a fire lookout gig is the best platform for great photos in any given area. As a visitor, even with a few days to spend, what are the chances of epic sunsets/lightning/birds/etc? Not saying my photos are great, or even good, but I am here .. and I do have a Canon 5D-MK3 (not to mention two MK-2s) that always has a 50mm lens (f 1.2) residing, with f/8 - 1/125 and auto-focus off, at the ready! With that lens, I can go so fast up or down, that cropping is the only thing I have to do. Well, maybe in the PhotoShop.

[aggiesal]

12. Beautiful ...

Effects of the San Diego fires.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. I got a decent shot of the "blood moon" the other day

It was...smoke.

I am not to your level, I realize that. I used a Nikon 5100 on a tripod on actually f 2.5 and 70-300 lens, remote trigger. Oh and I forgot, this shot is on 100 ISO and should have cropped it.

Oh and the smell of smoke at a still 5:30 in the morning was quite noticeable. I could not pass the opportunity, which i know you will surely understand.

(God, I think I am hear exhaustion to make that mistake with the model of camera)

[DemoTex]

24. Take care, dear!

The fire spotlight is on SoCal. We have the Red Flag running up the pole tomorrow. Lots of drunken party fires here this weekend. Insane.

[nadinbrzezinski]

26. You take care.

The pattern broke here. Might be back the week I am in Mexico City, better not. Or am afraid I will be doing scanner duty with silly apps. They work though...

This is climate change Mac. It is not going to get better in our lifetime. Though next year they think El Niño, like 1997, major floods back then. Burn scars, rain, torrential. I do not want to even think about it.

[Jenoch]

15. I have gotten some really cool photos

of the northern lights at our northern Minnesota property. No outdoor lights to get in the way. We have too many trees to get a shot of the horizon/sunset.

[Hekate]

16. Thank you, thank you, thank you.... nt

[woo me with science]

17. Beautiful.

Thank you.

[1000words]

20. While themes of isolation (and loneliness?) are obviously forefront, given the setting ...

your work captures it with warmth and acceptance.

Rec'd

[DemoTex]

21. Loneliness? Never enough, here!

Old lookout joke:

The lookout ranger had hiked in and been on duty on a high peak for almost a month. A helicopter had resupplied him with some radio batteries and perishables. He was happy as a lark. One day, scanning a traversing trail - that led into the lookout - about a mile away, he saw a single hiker, heading his way. "Oh, shit," said the lookout ranger, "here comes a damn crowd!"

[1000words]

29. A single light in a simple window.

While dwarfed by magnificence yonder,

No less a feat of wonder

Home. (For now, at least.)

Until the next wind blows ...

[DemoTex]

30. Excellent critical analysis, 1000words

You hit the nail on the head

[1000words]

31. Thanks

Your stuff is good.

[adirondacker]

23. I wonder if the fires in southern cal had anything to do with it.

Nice photos btw!

[DemoTex]

27. Nope .. winds are wrong

Sonoran dust, a bit of moisture from Baja, and lots of fires down Mexico way.

[awoke_in_2003]

32. As always, beautiful. nt

[2naSalit]

33. Love your pictures!

And thank you so much for sharing them. I have several acquaintances who are either jumpers, lookouts, or in the air directing things... our contributions make me stop and think about them, and you and what you all do independently and combined.

I am thankful for all of you and all that you share when so inclined. My next door neighbor is just down the slope from you and getting ready to spend the rest of the season in the air, perhaps you two will talk - business of course - and I hope you all stay safe.

[aquart]

34. Thank you.

[panader0]

35. I was up in Tucson the other day to visit my brother.

I looked up at Mt Lemmon and thought of you up there. If you get down to Sierra Vista look me up. Great mountains here too.
And you're right about the sunsets getting even more spectacular during the monsoon. Hurry up rain!

[madokie]

36. I hate to bring up old memories

but some of the most beautiful sunsets I ever seen was when I was in South Vietnam. I've often wonder if all the smoke and dust in the air from the bombing didn't have something to do with it

this is an awesome picture you have here though and I don't mean to take anything from that with what I just said
Peace

[DemoTex]

40. I agree, my friend.

I had a photo of a fantastic sunset over Laos, taken by me - with a Pentax Spotmatic-II - on a mission on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Wish I could find that slide.

[just us]

37. It will get better

Each year more and more carbon in the air tints our skies redder and redder.

[asjr]

38. It is amazing to me how much a

scene/picture can alter my feelings from glum to a feeling of wellness within myself. Thanks for sending this.

[hopemountain]

39. you are living my dream, demotex ~

a solitary life in the wilderness with 360 degree views of wonder and beauty.
thank you very much for sharing your pics with us.

[Beartracks]

42. Those kinds of sunsets are simply uncapturable, DemoTex.

But your photo is beautiful nonetheless! Thank you for sharing. Southwest sunsets, in my experience, are the most breathtaking, all-encompassing experiences.

=======================

[MindMover]

43. Our world is wonderful, unfortunately too many of us don't give two shits about it ... nt